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Residents urge review of street maintenance fee and seek records over golf-course ban; developer group concedes CCN transfer fee
Summary
At the citizens forum, resident George McMaster argued Copperas Cove’s street maintenance fee operates like an unlawful occupation tax and urged repeal; Jeffrey Burke asked for a review of a ban from a public golf course and requested records; a developer representative said her group agreed to a 0% CCN transfer fee.
During the Citizens Forum, several residents addressed the council on distinct concerns.
George McMaster of 111 Magnolia Avenue told the council he believes the street maintenance fund and associated business fees are structured as an unconstitutional occupation or ad valorem tax. McMaster cited court precedent and the city charter in urging the council to "direct city staff not to enforce this thing as a tax and to repeal it as soon as possible." He told the council he reviewed Lowenburg v. Dallas and other legal materials and said the fee calculations (by property classification and trip counts) appear to "raise revenue for the maintenance of city streets" rather than reflect regulatory costs.
Jeffrey Burke, who identified himself as a Killeen resident and veteran, asked the council to review and reverse a ban he said he received from the Hills of Cove Golf Course after an incident. Burke said he was arrested, submitted to police questioning and that charges were later dismissed; he said he received no written notice of a ban and requested all records and communications related to the incident under the Texas Public Information Act.
Separately, a representative who identified herself as Tara for 'WVW' told the council her organization heard concerns voiced earlier and "decided to go with what was suggested... 0% for the CCN transfer fee" to make the city comfortable and to start the project on a good foot.
Council took no immediate enforcement action on the street‑fee allegation during the meeting; staff or legal follow up on McMaster's claim was not recorded in the transcript. Burke's request was recorded as a citizens forum item; the council did not announce a separate administrative action during the meeting.
What happens next: The transcript does not record staff responses or specific follow‑up deadlines for McMaster’s legal claims or Burke’s records request; those matters would typically be handled by city staff and legal counsel.
