Levelland council backs developer's tax-credit application, awards trucks, fills boards and adjusts municipal judge pay

The Levelland City Council on Feb. 3 unanimously approved a resolution supporting a proposed affordable-rental development'and took a series of smaller votes approving vehicle purchases, board appointments and a compensation adjustment for the municipal judge after executive session.

Resolution supporting tax-credit application: Council voted to approve Resolution 2025-02 supporting Domira Companies (applicant) in its application to the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs for housing tax credits and to reduce related city administrative fees. Nathan Joseph, owner of Domira Companies, described a proposed 53-unit development with primarily two- and three-bedroom townhomes and said half of the units would be two-bedroom and the other half three-bedroom. He discussed tentative total-tenant-payment rents “around $900” for two-bedroom units and “around $1,200” for three-bedroom units, and said rents include utilities. Todd Paxton, a local broker who said he represents the seller, urged council support during public comment and disclosed his representation on the record. Councilmember Sherritt recused himself from discussion and voting because his brokerage represents the project.

Vehicle and equipment awards: The council approved staff recommendations to accept low or best-value bids for several city vehicles under separate motions. Staff recommended awarding two trucks and the inspection and cemetery vehicles to Levelland Chevrolet, the street truck to Brownfield Ford, and the water-department truck to Levelland Chevrolet; the council made findings to follow up with a written local-preference resolution as required. The council also approved a separate motion to award a rear-loader sanitation truck to Roberts Truck Center for $246,474.09; staff told council the bid was dramatically under the $400,000 budgeted amount and includes a trade-in allowance (discussed later in the meeting). Council discussed whether to retain or wholesale the trade-in unit; the transcript records the trade-in wholesale value stated as $55,000.

Board and commission appointments: The council conducted multiple reappointments and new appointments across boards and committees, including reappointments to the Levelland Economic Development Corporation, Levelland Community Development Corporation, Planning and Zoning Commission, Zoning Board of Adjustments, Housing Standards Board, Airport Advisory Board and others. The council appointed Albert Garcia to the Main Street Advisory Board and made additional appointments to the Centennial Committee and cemetery advisory board as recorded in the meeting minutes.

Executive session outcome: After an executive session the council voted to adjust the municipal judge’s salary “as discussed” in executive session; the public transcript records the motion and vote but does not state the adjusted salary amount.

Votes at a glance: (each motion was approved unless otherwise noted) - Resolution 2025-02: Support for Domira Companies'housing tax-credit application; outcome: approved (recusal: Councilmember Sherritt). Provenance: discussion began when item was called (agenda item 4) and vote recorded at 19:12:45 in the transcript. - Ordinance/motion to award four city trucks (inspection, cemetery, street, water): winners included Levelland Chevrolet (multiple), Brownfield Ford (street); outcome: approved. Provenance: staff recommendation and motion recorded across the 32:18'–37:40 portion of the transcript. - Award rear-loader sanitation truck to Roberts Truck Center: $246,474.09; outcome: approved. Provenance: staff presentation and motion recorded at 38:19''' through 43:51 in the transcript. - Main Street Advisory Board appointment: Albert Garcia appointed; outcome: approved. Provenance: motion and vote recorded during board appointments segment. - Animal Shelter Advisory Board appointment: Liz Farrell appointed; outcome: approved. Provenance: appointments and motion recorded during board appointments segment. - Multiple additional board/commission reappointments and removals (Economic Development Corp., TIF boards, Planning & Zoning, Zoning Board of Adjustments, Housing Standards, Airport Advisory, Cemetery Advisory, Centennial Committee): actions recorded; outcomes: approved. Provenance: recorded during the post-executive-session appointments sequence. - Municipal judge compensation adjustment: motion to adjust Judge Roland's salary "as discussed in executive session"; outcome: approved; amount not specified in record. Provenance: recorded immediately after executive session.

Council statements and recusal: Councilmember Sherritt stated on the record that he would recuse himself from discussion and voting on the housing resolution because his broker represents the applicant. City staff confirmed the reduced administrative permit fees sought by the applicant are minor (the staff estimate discussed in the meeting was approximately $250).

What the council did not decide in public: The housing resolution is a support letter for the applicant’s state tax-credit application; site plans, final financing, HUD/HCD approvals and any required local permits remain to be reviewed. The municipal judge's salary adjustment was handled in executive session and the public transcript does not include the specific amount.