Wichita Falls Council confirms city manager and fire chief; approves EDC funding, property sale and public health grants

The Wichita Falls City Council on April 1 confirmed Cody Melton as fire chief and appointed Jeffrey Jenkins as city manager, approved Economic Development Corporation expenditures and property actions related to an aviation industrial park and Midwestern State University, and accepted two public-health grant appropriations totaling $154,416.

Council voted to confirm Cody Melton as fire chief after a brief presentation and remarks from Melton; Melton said, “I’m truly honored and excited to be appointed as the next fire chief for the Wichita Falls Fire Department. This is a responsibility I do not take lightly.” The council also adopted a resolution appointing Jeffrey Jenkins as city manager with a base salary of $278,000; the council stated Jenkins’ expected start date as June 9, 2025.

The council approved multiple Economic Development Corporation (4A) items brought forward by staff and the Chamber of Commerce. The measures included reimbursement of up to $55,850 to the Wichita Falls Chamber of Commerce for due-diligence fees associated with a proposed Wichita Falls Aviation Industrial Park; amending an existing performance agreement to provide up to $1,000,000 in funding to Midwestern State University for a proposed Student Success and Military Education Center at MSU’s main campus; sale of approximately 1.31 acres in the Wichita Falls Business Park to Centrio Solutions, LLC for $35,000; and authorization of up to $500,000 to the Wichita Falls Chamber of Commerce for real estate acquisition due diligence.

In health-related business, the council approved two ordinances appropriating grant funds to the city’s Special Revenue Fund: $30,000 from the American Cancer Society for the “Get Screened” colorectal cancer outreach project, and $124,416 from the Texas Department of State Health Services for public-health preparedness activities.

Auditor Paul (Fleming & Fleming) told council that the city’s annual comprehensive financial report and audit work produced no findings, saying, “Through all of our testing, we had no findings. The staff does a great job.”

Votes at a glance - Ordinance: Appropriation of $30,000 from the American Cancer Society for the “Get Screened” project — approved (voice vote). - Ordinance: Appropriation of $124,416 from the Department of State Health Services for public-health preparedness — approved (voice vote). - Resolution: Confirming the appointment of Cody Melton as fire chief — approved (voice vote). - Resolution: Appointing Jeffrey Jenkins as city manager and authorizing negotiation of a professional services agreement with a $278,000 base salary — approved (voice vote); start date June 9, 2025. - Resolution: Amend EDC programs and reimburse Wichita Falls Chamber of Commerce up to $55,850 for due diligence on proposed Wichita Falls Aviation Industrial Park — approved (voice vote). - Resolution: Amend performance agreement with Midwestern State University for up to $1,000,000 for a Student Success and Military Education Center — approved (voice vote). - Resolution: Approve sale of ~1.31 acres in Wichita Falls Business Park to Centrio Solutions, LLC for $35,000 — approved (voice vote). - Resolution: Authorize up to $500,000 to Wichita Falls Chamber of Commerce for real estate acquisition due diligence — approved (voice vote).

Council did not record roll-call tallies in the meeting transcript excerpt; actions were adopted by voice vote with the mayor calling for “all in favor, say aye.”

Why it matters: The council’s actions set the city’s senior administration (city manager, fire chief) and advance several economic-development projects that staff said will require additional engineering, infrastructure and follow-up approvals; the EDC measures also move city-backed due diligence and potential property acquisition forward. The public-health grants fund cancer outreach and preparedness work that city staff said supports mitigation, planning and response activities.

Next steps: Staff said the aviation park due diligence is ongoing and federal infrastructure requests for the site have been submitted; staff expect to return to council for further approvals in roughly six months. Jenkins’ effective start date was listed as June 9, 2025.