The Cleburne City Council approved multiple routine and substantive items at its Oct. 14 meeting, voting unanimously to pass the consent agenda and several separate resolutions and contracts that address staffing, water infrastructure and street repairs.

On the consent agenda the council approved minutes from the Sept. 23 regular meeting; a resolution denying Encore Electric Delivery Companies LLC's application to change rates within the city; a resolution updating the special events policy attachment regarding hiring off-duty officers; ordinances addressing civil service pays and recruitment incentives for police and fire classified positions; an amendment to the city code (Title 9, Chapter 93) related to fire protection work periods; an updated pay scale for civil service employees; and a 30-day plat extension for Torres Estates Number 2 (13 single-family lots, approximately 3.7 acres near the northeast intersection of Cedar Street and Window Avenue).

The council then considered and approved a resolution to extend a monetary recruitment incentive for qualified lateral-entry police officers. City staff described the program, which was first offered in 2023: a $7,500 total hiring incentive for qualified lateral candidates (comprised in prior policy of $3,500 at completion of field training and $4,000 after 360 days of service), recoupment provisions if the officer leaves within three years, and referral incentives for current employees (paid in stages of $500, $2,000 and $2,500 tied to employment milestones). Staff reported the program has helped recruit seven officers and resulted in one referral payment to date. “After we enacted this, from this we've already hired 7 officers and we've had 1 referral paid out,” a police department representative said. The council voted to continue the program for another 12 months.

The council also approved acceptance of a public water utility easement and temporary construction easement from property owners Paul Branca Leon and Lesseides for the FM4 to Rodega Road 16-inch water transmission main project. Staff said the project will include about 1,500 linear feet of 16-inch transmission line and roughly 1,100 square yards of new asphalt where the roadway will be disturbed. The easement payment totals $12,195 plus associated closing costs; funding is available from combination tax and revenue certificates issued in 2024 for the project.

Finally, the council authorized a contract renewal with Westhill Construction, Inc., for the FY2026 pavement repair program in an amount not to exceed $250,000. City staff said the contract allows the city to leverage third-party crews for major asphalt and concrete repairs and cited prior satisfactory work performed by the contractor.

After voting, the council recessed into executive session to consult the city attorney under Texas Government Code section 551.071 on three matters: pending litigation related to a petition by Johnson County Power LLC before the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, contract awards and bid rejections for Lake Shore Park and Buddy Stewart Park projects, and a Sept. 24, 2025 letter from the Texas Comptroller requesting repayment of sales and use tax. No action was taken in executive session; the council reconvened and adjourned the meeting.