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Lufkin City Council cancels May 2 election, approves sale of small alley parcel
Summary
The council approved an ordinance cancelling the May 2, 2026 general election because all council candidates ran unopposed and approved abandoning and selling a 0.047-acre alley segment to Oakdale Manor LLC for $4,150; the mayor recused from the alley item and council returned from executive session with no action taken.
At its regular meeting the Lufkin City Council approved three routine items: acceptance of the March 3, 2026 minutes, a second-reading ordinance cancelling the May 2, 2026 general election and an ordinance abandoning and selling a small alley segment in the 100 block of the Bonner Addition.
City staff (Kevin) told the council that "Texas Election Code permits a municipality to cancel an election if each candidate is unopposed," and recommended cancelling the May 2 election because only one candidate filed for each council position. The ordinance declared Jimmy Ford elected to Ward 5 and William Price elected to Ward 6; the newly elected members are to be administered the oath of office at the May 5, 2026 city council meeting. Council moved, seconded and approved the ordinance; the transcript records the motion carrying but does not include a roll-call vote by name.
On a separate item, the presiding officer said he had a financial interest in agenda item three and yielded to Councilmember Mr. Shankle to present. Staff described a request from EGA Consultants on behalf of Oakdale Manor LLC to purchase approximately 0.047 acres of alley right-of-way in the 100 block of the Bonner Addition. Staff reported no utilities or city improvements were identified in the segment, recommended the abandonment and sale under Texas Local Government Code chapters 252 and 272, and said the proposed total sale amount would be $4,150 (the appraised value plus an appraisal fee plus a $50 filing fee). A council member moved to approve, another seconded, and the motion passed; the transcript records the motion carrying but does not show individual roll-call votes by council member.
The council recessed to executive session under Texas Government Code §551.087 (economic development negotiations) and §551.071 (consultation with the city attorney) and later returned to open session at 5:51 p.m., with the presiding officer stating that no action had been taken in executive session. City staff also reported that the February sales tax showed a 2.4% increase compared with February 2025 and that fiscal-year-to-date revenues were 1.8% higher than the prior fiscal year; detailed statements were provided in the meeting packet.
Actions taken at the meeting were procedural and routine; the council did not record individual roll-call votes in the provided transcript excerpt.
