Levelland council approves zoning change, $1.54M Ameresco payment and multiple ordinances; cancels unopposed District B election

Levelland — The Levelland City Council on March 17 approved a series of measures including a first-reading ordinance to rezone about 18 parcels along Highway 114 from industrial to B‑2 general business, authorized payment of $1,536,463.31 to Ameresco for the city’s water-meter project, ratified the city’s portion of a regional sealcoat contract and adopted ordinances related to a city Mosaic Restoration Fund and a denial of Atmos Energy’s rate filing. The council also canceled the District B contested election after an unopposed candidate qualified and approved an election services agreement with Hockley County.

The zoning measure and several of the other items were presented as broadly supported by staff; most passed by voice vote with no opposition recorded. The council also accepted an access easement and granted an access easement with a private landowner related to the Oxy Sports Complex, opened the 2025 Main Street façade grant application process, and authorized the mayor and city manager to execute documents to purchase real property following executive session.

Why it matters: the zoning change converts properties along a primary corridor to a business-friendly classification intended to attract commercial investment; the Ameresco payment and the sealcoat contract represent major capital disbursements affecting the city’s FY2025 cash flow and budget planning; the Mosaic Restoration Fund changes how hotel-occupancy-tax revenue may be used to promote tourism.

Zoning change on Highway 114 City staff told the council they reviewed the area after a prospective business hesitated to move to Levelland upon seeing industrial zoning. Joe Shed, the city’s chief building official, said the Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously recommended the change and that staff sent letters to property owners within 200 feet with no objections returned. "We believe that it's going to make this more available for businesses that wanna come to Levelland," Shed said during the public hearing.

Council approved ordinance 1092 on first reading to reclassify roughly 18 parcels along East Highway 114 from industrial to B‑2 general business district. The ordinance text, read aloud at the meeting, cites the city’s zoning code (ordinance 6‑35 / article 9.5) and Texas Local Government Code Chapter 211 as the basis for municipal zoning authority.

Public comment: animal rescue concerns During the citizen statements period, Liz Merrill, co‑owner of From Texas With Love (a local 501(c)(3) dog rescue), urged the council to review a newly released shelter policy she said targeted rescue organizations. "This came across as shots fired and that there are no rescues involved," Merrill said, adding that two longtime rescue volunteers currently serve at the shelter and have invested time and money. She asked the city to consult rescues before implementing the policy.

Capital and infrastructure actions City staff noted the Ameresco contract, approved in October 2024, has reached its third pay application. The city manager described the amount as "a large number" and said bond funds expected to cover the expense should arrive by the end of the week; the payment requested was pay application No. 3 in the amount of $1,536,463.31 for the water meter project. The council approved that payment.

On a separate infrastructure item, the council ratified the city’s portion of a regional sealcoat (Silco) contract. The full multi‑jurisdiction contract amount for the program was read as $3,527,620.41; Levelland’s contract price was listed at $397,246.14. Staff told council the FY2025 budget included $350,000 for the project and that a prior ARPA allocation added $150,000, leaving sufficient funds to cover Levelland’s share; staff noted the actual draw from ARPA would be modest to meet the contract total.

Grants, easements and calendar changes The council opened applications for the 2025 Main Street façade grant program (matching grants intended to help downtown businesses, with individual awards previously capped at about $2,000 per project). It approved two resolutions to exchange and accept access easements with landowner Joe Bob Wells concerning the Oxy Sports Complex property.

Elections and agreements Council passed Resolution 2025‑03 to declare Maxwell Ledesma elected to District B — the city secretary reported Ledesma was the sole qualified candidate — and to cancel the District B election under Texas Election Code Section 2.051. The council also approved the 2025 election services agreement with Hockley County, confirming that the county will administer Levelland’s municipal elections and detailing cost responsibilities.

Ordinances and utility rate action On second reading the council adopted Ordinance 1090 creating a Mosaic Restoration Fund, authorizing up to 15% of the city’s annual hotel‑occupancy‑tax revenue to be used for the creation, restoration and preservation of mosaic artwork and establishing matching grants not to exceed 50% of project cost or $10,000, whichever is less.

Also on second reading the council adopted Ordinance 1091 finding Atmos Energy Corp. — West Texas Division’s October 25, 2024 statement of intent to increase rates (cited in the ordinance as seeking approximately $66,100,000 annually) unreasonable and denying the proposed rate change for customers in Levelland. The ordinance states the city’s reasonable rate case expenses shall be reimbursed by Atmos West Texas.

Executive session and follow‑up After convening in executive session under Texas Government Code sections cited for personnel, real property and economic development deliberations, the council returned and authorized the mayor and/or city manager to execute documents to purchase real property. The motion was approved by the council.

Votes at a glance - Approve minutes (03/03/2025): motion approved by voice vote; outcome: approved. - Ordinance 1092 (first reading) — change zoning from industrial to B‑2 for listed parcels on East Highway 114: passed on first reading; outcome: approved. - Resolution 2025‑03 — declare unopposed District B candidate elected (Maxwell Ledesma) and cancel District B general election: passed; outcome: approved. Ledesma to be sworn at the second May meeting. - 2025 election agreement with Hockley County: passed; outcome: approved. - Item 6 (unspecified on agenda): tabled; outcome: tabled for future meeting. - Pay application No. 3 to Ameresco, $1,536,463.31 (water meter project): passed; outcome: approved. - Open Main Street façade grant program (2025): passed; outcome: approved. - 2025 Silco (sealcoat) project — ratify construction contract; city contract price $397,246.14 of overall $3,527,620.41: passed; outcome: approved. - Change second regular April council meeting from April 21 to April 28, 2025: passed; outcome: approved. - Resolution 2025‑04 — grant access easement to Joe Bob Wells: passed; outcome: approved. - Resolution 2025‑05 — accept access easement from Joe Bob Wells: passed; outcome: approved. - Ordinance 1090 (second reading) — Mosaic Restoration Fund (HOT allocation up to 15%; grants up to 50% or $10,000): passed; outcome: approved. - Ordinance 1091 (second reading) — Deny Atmos Energy West Texas rate filing and require reimbursement of city rate‑case expenses: passed; outcome: approved. - Post‑executive session authorization for mayor/city manager to execute documents for purchase of real property: passed; outcome: approved.

What the record shows and what remains: several items (the zoning ordinance 1092 and others) were approved on first reading or by resolution and will return or be implemented per ordinance timelines; the Mosaic and Atmos ordinances passed on second reading and are effective as stated in their texts. Several staff updates and project schedules (meter installation kickoff April 3, college‑avenue construction continuing, Circle K plans submitted) were reported without council action.

Ending: The council adjourned after the session and staff said they will send additional public notices for upcoming projects and outreach events, including the Ameresco meter work and sealcoat scheduling.