Seymour council approves audit, zoning changes, CDBG steps and greenlights skate-park grant application

The Seymour City Council on a February 2025 evening accepted the city udit for fiscal years 202223, approved a specific-use permit allowing placement of 20 shipping-container storage units, rezoned a city-owned lot for a dog park and authorized staff to complete a grant application for a proposed skate park.

The council accepted the independent auditor—inding of a clean financial opinion for the 202223 audit, and approved multiple grant-related resolutions to advance a downtown revitalization/utility project funded through a Texas CDBG award. Councilors also approved a proclamation designating April as Fair Housing Month and adopted an ordinance cancelling the May 2025 city election because mayoral and council seats were unopposed.

Why it matters: The audit acceptance signals the city ccounting is back on track after prior reconciliation work; zoning approvals permit new private storage and a community dog park; CDBG resolutions and signatures allow the city to move ahead with design and grant compliance; and the skate-park application could bring up to $125,000 for new recreational infrastructure with no city cash match required.

Key votes at a glance

- 202223 City of Seymour audit — approved (motion seconded; council vote: all in favor). Auditor Paul Fleming described the report as a "non modified opinion, meaning a clean opinion on the financial statements." The audit shows modest net fund increases in enterprise funds and progress reconciling bank accounts.

- Specific-use permit, 312 W. 12th Street (Lot 20, Block 2, S & D) — approved. The permit allows placement of up to 20 shipping containers to be rented as storage units.

- Straight rezone, 701 NE (Lot 22, Block 7, McLean Subdivision) — approved. The rezoning changes the city-owned lot esignation so a youth leadership group may develop a dog park; Jeremiah Bobbs of the youth group thanked the council for support, saying, "I would just like to come here and thank you, council, for your support on through the whole process of the dog park."

- Skate-park grant application (Pretty Foundation) — council authorized staff to complete and submit a full application for $125,000 with no city match. Staff described a proposed 90-by-50-foot concrete pad (4 inches thick) and modular ramps from American Ramp Company; staff recommended ordering equipment by May and pouring concrete around mid-July if funded.

- CDBG-related actions (downtown revitalization/waterline project) — council adopted Resolution 15-82 to designate authorized signatories for Texas CDBG grant CDB23-0141 and adopted Resolution 15-83 to accept required civil-rights policies for the CDBG program. Both measures passed on voice votes.

- Proclamation: April declared Fair Housing Month — adopted.

- Ordinance 2025-03: cancel May 2025 city election (unopposed mayoral/council seats) — adopted.

What council discussed and why: Auditor Paul Fleming highlighted that the audit covered FY 202223 and that the independent auditor—oncluded a clean opinion, noting improvements including reconciled records through September 2024 and fund-balance increases in the water/sewer and electric funds. City Administrator Dr. Jeff Brazier and staff, including Finance Director Suzanne Shumate, detailed work to finalize pooled-cash accounting and reconcile October 2024 entries so future reporting will be more current and readable.

Staff also described property cleanup efforts recognized earlier in the meeting; Dr. Brazier and the mayor thanked community volunteers (Tommy and Jeannie Albritton, Lloyd Studer, Sam Boone, Lance and Amy Burnett) for recent demolition and lot remediation.

Clarifying details from the meeting: the shipping-container permit covers 20 units; the skate-park LOI seeks $125,000 with no in-kind or cash match; proposed skate-park concrete pad is 90x50 feet at 4 inches thick, with equipment lead time of about 34 months; GrantWorks is assisting CDBG grant administration; the CDBG grant agreement is identified in packet materials as CDB23-0141 and tied to downtown sidewalk/utility improvements.

Next steps and timeline: Staff will proceed with documentation for the CDBG grant, order materials and finalize a full Pretty Foundation application by the February 28 deadline (staff asked council permission to complete the application). The council set the next regular meeting for March 20 at 7:00 p.m. at Seymour City Hall.

Ending: The meeting closed its action-item business and moved toward an executive session later in the agenda.