Port Arthur City Council on Oct. 27, 2025, authorized city staff to negotiate change order No. 1 to the contract between the city and MK Painting Inc. for the Procter Street Elevated Storage Tank Rehabilitation Project, the council said after returning from an executive session.

The action came after the council met in a closed executive session to discuss a range of legal and personnel matters. City Attorney (unnamed) told the council, “Yes, mayor. The city attorney is looking for action involving a contract for Procter Street Extension Elevated Storage Tank Rehabilitation.” Following that, a council member moved “to authorize the city manager, city attorney, and engineering consultant to negotiate change order number 1 to the contract between the city and MK Painting Inc on the Procter Street Elevated Storage Tank Rehabilitation Project in an amount in compliance with state law.”

Council members voted in favor when the motion was called; the chair asked, “All in favor?” and members responded “Aye.” The motion was approved. Council Member Hamilton Everfield was recorded as not present for the roll call earlier in the meeting.

The council did not state a dollar amount for the change order during the public portion of the meeting; the motion specified that any negotiated amount must be “in compliance with state law.” The mayor directed the city attorney to begin negotiations on those terms.

The item was introduced immediately after the executive session; the initial request for action came from the city attorney and the formal motion authorized the city manager, city attorney and the city’s engineering consultant to negotiate the change order with MK Painting Inc. The council did not provide further detail in open session about the specific scope changes covered by change order No. 1, the expected cost, or the project schedule.

No other formal actions were taken on the record following that vote. The council had earlier announced it would consider multiple closed-session matters, including pending litigation, collective bargaining with the Port Arthur Police Association, outstanding hotel occupancy tax issues, discussions about Cormorant Clean Energy LLC, and personnel evaluations; the meeting record shows only the change-order authorization was moved and approved upon return to open session.

City officials did not provide additional public comment on next steps, funding sources, or a timetable for when a finalized change order would be returned to council for approval. Any subsequent required council action was not specified at the time of the vote.