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Groves City Council adopts election canvass, amends local alcohol rules and approves six-month moratorium on new game-room applications
Summary
At its Nov. 18 meeting, the Groves City Council canvassed election returns, amended alcoholic-beverage boundaries for one business, adopted a six-month moratorium on new game-room applications while regulations are reviewed, set a Dec. 14 runoff and approved the city’s invoices totaling $469,197.89.
The Groves City Council on Nov. 18 approved a series of routine and regulatory measures, including canvassing Nov. 5 election returns, amending a local alcoholic‑beverage ordinance, imposing a six‑month moratorium on new game‑room applications and formally calling a Dec. 14 runoff election.
Council members first voted to approve the minutes of the Nov. 4, 2024 meeting. They then passed Ordinance 2024‑28, which canvassed returns and declared the results of the Nov. 5 municipal election.
In a separate item the council adopted Ordinance 2024‑27 to amend Chapter 4 (alcoholic beverages) by adding the metes and bounds description for 3814 Main Avenue, Suite F, to permit on‑premises beer and wine service at that location. Staff said the change updates the ordinance to match a license already approved through the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission process and that the metes‑and‑bounds language is required to complete the local record.
Council members also debated and approved Ordinance 2024‑29, a six‑month moratorium on new game‑room applications. City staff explained the pause is intended to allow a review of the city’s current regulations governing game rooms; the ordinance will halt acceptance of new applications for six months. Staff noted that at least one existing permitted game room will have a renewal during that window, which could affect processing of that renewal while the moratorium is in effect.
Council read and posted a formal notice for a runoff election to be held Dec. 14, 2024, for council seats in Ward 2 and Ward 4, listing early‑voting dates and the Groves Recreation Center as a polling location and identifying Clarissa Thibodeaux as the early‑voting clerk. The council then approved Ordinance 2024‑30 formally calling the Dec. 14 runoff.
On financial business the council approved the Nov. 18 invoice list totaling $469,197.89. The list included a $279,663.58 payment to the city’s incremental risk pool for insurance, reimbursement to the Groves Chamber of Commerce ($25,062) and related quarterly payments ($30,000), fuel purchases, two Republic Services invoices and permit and equipment costs cited by staff.
The council also administered the oath of office to Christopher Vaughn, who was sworn in as mayor during the meeting. The body announced it would enter an executive session under Texas Government Code chapter 551 for attorney consultation; no action was taken in that session during the meeting. The council adjourned at about 6:14 p.m.
No formal final decisions were made at this meeting on the two specific‑use permit requests for game rooms; the Planning and Zoning Commission will review those applications and return a recommendation to the council at a future meeting.
