Keene council nominates Peter Svensson to Johnson County appraisal board; several local board appointments approved, one contested Type A vacancy tabled

Keene — The Keene City Council voted Feb. 6 to approve Resolution No. 2025-466, nominating Peter Svensson to the Johnson County Central Appraisal District board following public supporters’ remarks and council discussion. The council also filled or reappointed seats on multiple local boards, and tabled a contested appointment to the Keene Economic Development Type A board.

The nomination came after public endorsements from Craig Hundley and Greg Cooper, who told council members Svensson had spent more than a year participating in appraisal-district meetings and pushing for an independent audit. After the council approved the resolution, Svensson told the council, “You have my commitment, my time, my energy, and all that I’ve learned, I will put forth to help the citizens of Keene, Texas.”

Why it matters: The Central Appraisal District sets property valuations that affect taxable values across the county; the council’s nominee will be one of the voices representing Keene in the district’s governance.

Council business and votes at a glance - Nomination of Peter Svensson to the Central Appraisal District board — motion by Chapman, second by Foster; council approved the resolution. (Resolution No. 2025-466; the city must transmit its nomination to the acting chief appraiser by March 3.) - Keene Economic Development (Type A) board: the council considered two candidates for a single vacancy (Philip Jackson and Troy Smith). A motion to appoint Philip Jackson failed; the council then voted to table that vacancy for further consideration. - Keene Economic Development (Type A) reappointments: the council reappointed Cody Thornton, Wes Schramm and Rolando Calindras Braun to three-year terms ending March 2028. Motion carried unanimously. - Keene Economic Development (Type B) appointments: Nellie Youngbird was appointed to fill a vacancy with a term ending March 2026; Cheryl Schramm and Ricky Stevens were reappointed for two-year terms ending March 2027; consideration of Charles (Chuck) Easley’s reappointment was tabled until he can be present. - Planning & Zoning Commission: Philip Jackson and Chris Rhodes were reappointed for two-year terms ending March 2027; Miguel Espinosa declined reappointment.

Council members and some board chairs debated whether elected officials should simultaneously serve on local Economic Development boards. Samantha Gillen, president of the Type A board, told council the Type A board preferred Troy Smith and urged the council to respect the board’s recommendation. Some council members and the new city attorney, Andy Messer, noted Texas statutes permit council members to serve on EDCs but that doing so can raise an appearance-of-conflict concern; the council discussed possible policy changes but did not adopt any.

Several council motions to appoint or reappoint board members were recorded on the public record; where votes were taken the clerk announced the outcome in open session.

What’s next: The city will forward the approved appraisal-district nomination to the acting chief appraiser and will return the tabled Type A appointment to a future meeting after the council receives additional applications and input.

Ending: Council handled the appointments amid broader agenda items and public comment; members indicated they may revisit policies about council members serving on advisory boards in a future workshop.