Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Votes And Administration topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Seymour council approves budget adjustments, orders three property abatements and OKs employee calendar
Summary
At its Oct. 18 meeting, the Seymour City Council approved fiscal-year budget adjustments, ordered three substandard properties to be abated within 30 days, approved an employee calendar for FY 2025–26 and took a series of other procedural actions.
Seymour City Council on Oct. 18 approved a set of budget adjustments, ordered three properties declared substandard to be brought into compliance within 30 days or abated by the city, and adopted the municipal employee calendar for fiscal year 2025–26.
The council passed Resolution No. 1593, authorizing budget adjustments to balance the current fiscal year. City staff reported the city appeared to have closed the year approximately $271,310 “in the black,” subject to final audit adjustments. Council members said roughly $60,000–$61,000 of adjustments were moved among departments, including about $20,000 from the home demolition account, $10,300 for the electric department, and roughly $9,200 from street reserves. A portion (about $10,000) was taken from a fire-truck reserve with the stated intent to restore it if revenues permit.
The council also approved three orders finding properties to be substandard and declaring them public nuisances. The council gave each owner 30 days to eliminate unhealthy or unsafe conditions, including cleaning and grading the lots, and authorized the city to demolish, clean and grade the properties and establish liens if owners fail to comply. The properties and owners named on the agenda were:
• 205 West McLean — owner listed as Curtis Lynn Thomas; • 801 Northeast Street — owner listed as John Ramsey Living Trust; • 211 South Packet — owner listed as Promise Land Properties.
Council members said the notices were sent multiple times, including certified mail handled through the contracted title/notice service used by the city.
Other procedural actions taken at the meeting included:
• Approval of the consent agenda (routine items) by voice vote; • Approval of the employee calendar for fiscal year 2025–26; • Tabling the item on roof-replacement bids for City Hall, the police department and the fire hall until the November meeting; • Reopening bids for 402 East Morris and continuing bid receipt through the next council meeting; • Granting the Seymour Beautification Group permission to proceed with planned downtown work and offering city assistance as needed (including tree removal and future maintenance); and • Approving the temporary closing of designated downtown streets for the city’s Halloween “Haunted City Hall/Trunk-or-Treat” event.
During the meeting’s closed session the council discussed matters related to Salt Fork (details discussed in executive session) and later voted in open session to authorize the city manager and staff to proceed with the direction provided in closed session. Council members said no formal action was taken regarding a separate Baylor Water matter.
Why it matters: The budget adjustments and property-abatement orders adjust reserve balances and commit the city to follow-through on long-running nuisance properties. The employee calendar, bidding decisions and event street closures affect city operations and public services in the near term.
Items to watch: The city’s audits and the audit timeline were discussed at length by the Texas Municipal League representative and the city manager; the council expects additional audit materials next month. The roof-replacement bids and airport contract adjustments were not resolved and are on the November agenda.
