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Residents tell Aransas Pass council of alleged retaliation, unclear complaint process at Housing Authority
Summary
Multiple residents told the April 20 council that a Housing Authority employee treated tenants abusively, charged an unaffordable replacement-key fee, and that internal complaint routes are unclear; city staff said the Housing Authority is a separate entity under federal oversight.
Aransas Pass — Several residents told the Aransas Pass City Council on April 20, 2025, that staff at the Aransas Pass Housing Authority had mistreated tenants, levied a $45 replacement-key fee against a disabled resident, and made it difficult for residents to file complaints.
Kelly Volmering said her mother-in-law, an elderly, disabled tenant, waited more than a week for a replacement key and was then charged $45 — about 5% of the tenant’s total income, Volmering said. Volmering described an encounter she characterized as confrontational and said she believes the conduct violates federal fair-housing protections and retaliation rules passed in 2016.
“She is inappropriate. She is vile. She is loud. She is mean,” Volmering said of the housing authority employee, and she told the council she would pursue the complaint until there was a fitting consequence.
City staff provided a jurisdictional clarification in response: the city does not have operational control over the Housing Authority. “The city has no jurisdiction over the Housing Authority,” a city staff member said, noting the Housing Authority is a separate entity and that federal oversight (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; HUD) and regional HUD offices handle many complaints.
Volmering said she had met with the Housing Authority chairman, who indicated an investigation would be pursued; she also said some residents are afraid to come forward because they fear losing housing. Other speakers in public comment echoed concerns about staff behavior and the difficulty of filing complaints.
Why this matters: Although the city’s mayor appoints Housing Authority board members, the Housing Authority operates separately; complaints alleging discrimination, retaliation or violations of fair-housing law are typically pursued through HUD and related administrative channels. Residents said they want the council to press the Housing Authority and to ensure a complaint process that protects tenants.
What’s next: The Housing Authority’s chair was reported to be looking into the matter and an investigation was referenced in public comment. The council did not take formal action at the meeting to change Housing Authority operations; several residents said they will pursue external complaint channels.
Ending: Residents urged clearer complaint processes and enforcement of fair-housing protections; city staff reiterated the limits of municipal authority over the housing authority’s personnel and operations.
