Decatur council canvasses charter election, approves land-use and zoning changes and casts 228 votes for appraisal-district nominee
November 10, 2025 | Decatur, Wise County, Texas
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The Decatur City Council met Nov. 10 and unanimously approved a slate of routine and policy items, including a formal canvass of the Nov. 4 special election that approved home-rule charter amendments, multiple second-reading ordinances tied to development in and near the city, an interlocal fire-services agreement with Wise County and a city vote cast for a local nominee to the Wise County Appraisal District board.
City staff opened the meeting by asking the council to "formally canvas" the special-election results supplied by the Wise County Elections Office. A motion to approve Resolution R2025-11-30 to canvas those returns carried on a voice vote after a brief staff presentation; the staff member presenting said the ordinance language "allows us to formally adopt those voter-approved amendments" and records the results into the charter.
The council proceeded with first readings and second readings on several ordinance items. On the first reading, staff presented an ordinance to adopt the charter amendments approved by voters on Nov. 4; that ordinance was set for its first reading as the next procedural step to enter the changes into the home-rule charter. A separate first-reading ordinance corrected a clerical omission in the fee schedule so flat fees for platting apply to all plats as originally intended; staff said legal advised returning the item to the council "just for complete transparency." No final vote was taken on those first readings.
On second readings, council approved Ordinance 2025-11-38, which amends the city's comprehensive land-use map, and Ordinance 2025-11-39, which updates the official zoning map (including changes tied to the Paloma Trails area); staff said there had been no changes since the first readings. Council also adopted Ordinance 2025-11-40, amending Appendix 8 (landscape design) to add xeriscape provisions.
Council approved Ordinance 2025-11-41 to establish Reinvestment Zone No. 1 (a Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone, commonly called a TIRZ). Staff told the council consultants confirmed the city can add municipal service fees to the TIRZ plan in the future, but cautioned that "if we move forward without a finance plan and a final project, then we could potentially put those dollars at jeopardy" because only about $22,000 was expected to enter the TIRZ this year. Staff recommended approving the ordinance as drafted to permit collection and then returning to the TIRZ board to set the finance plan and allocate funds through the public process.
On intergovernmental matters, council approved the annual interlocal agreement with Wise County for fire protection and first-responder services. Staff said the contract amount increased from $69,000 last year to $71,009.41 for the coming period, an increase of roughly $2,750. Councilmember (S5) moved to approve the contract and the motion carried by voice vote.
Council also addressed its statutory role in the Wise County Appraisal District board election. Staff explained the city had 228 votes to cast under the Texas Property Tax Code and recommended voting for Chance Overton, a Decatur resident who appeared on the ballot. City Attorney / council staff (S3) flagged a clerical discrepancy in the draft resolution that listed 218 votes; the council confirmed 228 votes and Councilmember (S6) moved to cast Decatur's 228 votes for Chance Overton, a motion the council approved by voice vote.
The consent agenda was approved on a single voice vote, and no members of the public spoke during the meeting. Council recessed to executive session at 6:18 p.m. under Texas Government Code Section 551.074 (personnel) to review the municipal judge's expiring contract and Section 551.087 (economic development) to deliberate financial information and incentives for a potential hotel at the Decatur Conference Center. The council reconvened at 8:41 p.m., reported no further public action, and adjourned at 8:42 p.m.
What happens next: the charter-adoption ordinance will proceed through the required readings to be recorded into the home-rule charter; the TIRZ plan will return to the TIRZ board for finance-plan language and public process before the city assigns collected funds.
City staff opened the meeting by asking the council to "formally canvas" the special-election results supplied by the Wise County Elections Office. A motion to approve Resolution R2025-11-30 to canvas those returns carried on a voice vote after a brief staff presentation; the staff member presenting said the ordinance language "allows us to formally adopt those voter-approved amendments" and records the results into the charter.
The council proceeded with first readings and second readings on several ordinance items. On the first reading, staff presented an ordinance to adopt the charter amendments approved by voters on Nov. 4; that ordinance was set for its first reading as the next procedural step to enter the changes into the home-rule charter. A separate first-reading ordinance corrected a clerical omission in the fee schedule so flat fees for platting apply to all plats as originally intended; staff said legal advised returning the item to the council "just for complete transparency." No final vote was taken on those first readings.
On second readings, council approved Ordinance 2025-11-38, which amends the city's comprehensive land-use map, and Ordinance 2025-11-39, which updates the official zoning map (including changes tied to the Paloma Trails area); staff said there had been no changes since the first readings. Council also adopted Ordinance 2025-11-40, amending Appendix 8 (landscape design) to add xeriscape provisions.
Council approved Ordinance 2025-11-41 to establish Reinvestment Zone No. 1 (a Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone, commonly called a TIRZ). Staff told the council consultants confirmed the city can add municipal service fees to the TIRZ plan in the future, but cautioned that "if we move forward without a finance plan and a final project, then we could potentially put those dollars at jeopardy" because only about $22,000 was expected to enter the TIRZ this year. Staff recommended approving the ordinance as drafted to permit collection and then returning to the TIRZ board to set the finance plan and allocate funds through the public process.
On intergovernmental matters, council approved the annual interlocal agreement with Wise County for fire protection and first-responder services. Staff said the contract amount increased from $69,000 last year to $71,009.41 for the coming period, an increase of roughly $2,750. Councilmember (S5) moved to approve the contract and the motion carried by voice vote.
Council also addressed its statutory role in the Wise County Appraisal District board election. Staff explained the city had 228 votes to cast under the Texas Property Tax Code and recommended voting for Chance Overton, a Decatur resident who appeared on the ballot. City Attorney / council staff (S3) flagged a clerical discrepancy in the draft resolution that listed 218 votes; the council confirmed 228 votes and Councilmember (S6) moved to cast Decatur's 228 votes for Chance Overton, a motion the council approved by voice vote.
The consent agenda was approved on a single voice vote, and no members of the public spoke during the meeting. Council recessed to executive session at 6:18 p.m. under Texas Government Code Section 551.074 (personnel) to review the municipal judge's expiring contract and Section 551.087 (economic development) to deliberate financial information and incentives for a potential hotel at the Decatur Conference Center. The council reconvened at 8:41 p.m., reported no further public action, and adjourned at 8:42 p.m.
What happens next: the charter-adoption ordinance will proceed through the required readings to be recorded into the home-rule charter; the TIRZ plan will return to the TIRZ board for finance-plan language and public process before the city assigns collected funds.
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