During the meeting's public-comment period, resident Eddie Pugh urged Abilene officials to investigate and hold a public hearing on group homes he described as "discipleship homes" associated with Rise Church on Pioneer Drive.

Pugh, who said he lives in Potosi, told the council he had previously exposed what he described as corruption and that city and county officials had failed to act on long-running problems he asserts are occurring at the homes. "Our city is infested with illegal activity taking place in some of our so-called churches. The most obvious is Rise Church located on Pioneer Drive," Pugh said. He said the property operates what he called "Rise South Ship Homes" and alleged residents had experienced violence, overcrowding and other abuses.

Pugh described graphic conditions and alleged a recent homicide: "They saw the bunk beds, the bloodstains all over the mattress that Matthew Fowles was sleeping on, the blood splattered on the walls, the floors, and throughout the home," he said, and later added, "There has been murder, [abuse of] minors, human trafficking, and every form of abuse you can think of going on in these homes for years." He said judges, police and the district attorney were aware of the homes and their status but had taken no action.

Pugh demanded the council place the issue on an agenda with a public hearing at the next meeting and said he would litigate if he believed his constitutional rights were violated in future public engagements.

The council did not take formal action during the public-comment period. City staff and council members did not announce a plan to add the topic to an upcoming agenda during the meeting. Public comment is not a period for council votes, and the mayor reminded speakers that no formal action is taken during public comment.

Because the statements made to council are allegations by a private resident, the transcript does not establish the city's findings about zoning, licensing or criminal conduct. Pugh asserted that some homes "are not licensed by the state of Texas Health and Human Services Committee to operate as a faith based home or any other form of home," but the city did not state whether it has opened a code, licensing or criminal investigation as a result of the remarks.

The council moved on to other agenda items following the public comments.

No motion or referral to staff was recorded on the transcript for this topic at the meeting.