McGregor City Council approves multiple ordinances, interlocal agreements and event street closures

The McGregor City Council voted on a package of ordinances, contracts and event closures during its May 12 meeting, approving a property-exchange resolution with the McGregor Independent School District, a set of zoning and permitting ordinances, an interlocal agreement with McLennan County for road reconstruction, and two temporary street closures for summer events.

Votes at a glance - Resolution R-09-2025 — Authorizing the exchange of identified city property (referred to in discussion as “C3/A100/Granite Hill”) with the McGregor Independent School District (school gym, old Woods Field and adjacent lot). Motion to approve carried unanimously. - Interlocal cooperative agreement with McLennan County — Reconstruction of about 4,000 linear feet of Wildflower (referred to in discussion as Wildflower/Wild) at a county-provided price of $41,800. Motion to approve carried unanimously; funds to come from the city’s Street and Alley budget. - Ordinance O-06-2025 — Amending Appendix C (zoning) to add definitions and require specific-use permits for tattoo studios and piercing parlors in Central Business, General Commercial and Neighborhood Commercial zones. Public hearing held with no public speakers; motion to adopt carried unanimously. - Ordinance O-07-2025 — Adding a requirement that a licensed surveyor mark forms before concrete slabs are poured so foundations meet setback requirements. Motion to adopt carried unanimously. - Ordinance O-09-2025 — Establishing monthly and yearly limits on staff time for processing requests for public information to reduce abusive or duplicative requests. Council adopted the ordinance; the motion passed with one vote opposed (the name of the dissenting member was not stated on the record). - Industry track agreement with BNSF Railway Company — Standard industry track agreement approved unanimously. - Street closures approved: Fourth Street (Main to S. Jefferson) for a Tobacco Junction-hosted car show on June 6, 2025 (First Friday) and Sixth Street (Taylor to Monroe) from 6–8 p.m. on June 8, 2025 for Rhett Revolutions bike night. Motions to approve both closures carried unanimously; council directed staff to set up barricades as requested. - Consent items and minutes — Minutes from the April 14, 2025 meeting were approved. - Financials — Council received the financial statements through March 31, 2025, and the quarterly investment report; no formal vote beyond receipt was recorded.

Councilors and staff framed several approvals as routine or corrective: the zoning amendment for tattoo studios was drafted after a Valentine’s Day pop-up raised questions about whether such uses were permitted under current code; the form-survey requirement was presented as a response to a foundation poured inside setback lines on a previous project; and the interlocal agreement with McLennan County was described as a cost-effective way to complete a 4,000-foot section of Wildflower while county crews are nearby.

The public-information ordinance drew the most substantive discussion. City staff and the city attorney described the measure as allowed by state law and intended to limit abusive, repetitive requests that consume staff time while preserving access to public records. One council member voted against final adoption; the record does not identify who cast that vote.

The meeting also included administration of oaths to newly elected or re-elected council members and the unanimous selection of Renee Flores to another term as mayor pro tem.

No formal actions arising from the council’s closed session were announced when the meeting returned to open session.