Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Government Ethics topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Resident urges council to investigate Thorn Tree Golf Club payments and city conduct
Summary
At the Oct. 7 DeSoto City Council meeting a resident, Terrence Gore, urged the council to place the city manager on administrative leave and order a forensic audit into payments tied to a proposed Thorn Tree Golf Club acquisition, alleging improper disbursements and use of public funds.
Terrence Gore, a DeSoto resident, told the City Council on Oct. 7 that he is “deeply concerned about the city's acquisition of Thorn Tree Golf Club” and urged immediate action including placing the city manager on administrative leave and ordering a forensic audit.
Gore alleged that since June 2025 “more than $2,200,000 in taxpayers' money” was dispersed to private developers without council approval and without public notice. He also said the entity identified as Thorn Tree Golf Club Venture LLC was not legally registered with the Texas Secretary of State and that a $212,500 payment and a mutual termination agreement followed when “these irregularities surfaced.” He concluded, “DeSoto deserve honest, transparent government.”
The council had convened in executive session earlier in the meeting under Texas Government Code Sec. 551.074 (personnel matters) and Sec. 551.071 (consultation with attorney) and subsequently reconvened in open session; Mayor Rachel Proctor said the council “did convene out of executive session … and there was no action as a result of our executive session.” The transcript does not show any formal council action taken in response to Gore’s public comments during the Oct. 7 meeting.
The statements Gore made were presented as public comment; no formal motion, vote, or staff report addressing his allegations appears in the meeting record. The council did not announce a follow-up action on the Thorn Tree allegations during the session.
