Winnsboro council approves gun-club lease, defeases part of 2022 bond and OKs $1.233M tax note

Winnsboro — On Tuesday, May 12, the Winnsboro City Council approved a series of routine and finance-related items, including a lease with the Winnsboro Gun Club, a resolution to defease a portion of the city’s 2022 bond issuance and an ordinance to issue a $1,233,000 Limited Tax Note, Series 2026.

Council members voted unanimously to approve the lease for the gun club after a representative spoke in support and council members asked clarifying questions about the acreage (the representative said the property discussed is about 50 acres). The council’s action authorizes the lease as presented.

The council also moved to address unspent proceeds from the 2022 $6.5 million bond for an animal shelter and road and utility infrastructure projects. A staff presenter told the council, “what we're recommending is that we would pay down $2,200,000,” which the presenter said would reduce annual debt service by about $180,000 and free an estimated $1,233,000 for reissuance. The presenter characterized these numbers as estimates: “These are all estimated numbers.” The council approved Resolution 2026-06 authorizing the defeasance and related actions.

Following the defeasance vote, the council approved Ordinance 1097-2026 to issue the city’s $1,233,000 Limited Tax Note, Series 2026, to support the financing adjustment and related sale documents. Bond counsel emphasized that projects funded by the notes must fall within the scope listed in the resolution.

Other items approved included:

- An agreement with TXP for commercial real estate advisory services (EDC recommendation), estimated at roughly 30 hours and not to exceed $9,000 without additional authorization, to evaluate two Main Street parcels and identify suitable businesses.

- An amendment to the downtown hanging-sign ordinance to allow signs to extend up to 100% of a canopy width (the prior limit was 50%) while maintaining ADA and pedestrian-clearance compliance.

- Opening a separate Broad Street Bank account to accept SNAP benefits at the farmers market, with staff to return later with paperwork naming account signers; staff said the system would track vendor payments and enable ACH disbursements to vendors once or twice monthly.

- Appointment of CJ Thatcher as Mayor Pro Tem for a one-year term.

At the meeting’s end the council canvassed the May 9 election results and approved the canvass. The transcript records vote totals and declares Andrea/Antoinette Shepherd (name spelling inconsistent in the transcript), Jenny Angelo (surname spelling inconsistent in the transcript) and CJ Thatcher duly elected; the council approved those results.

The council then convened into an executive session under Texas Local Government Code §551.074 to discuss personnel matters related to the city administrator; the public meeting recessed at 6:05 p.m.

Votes at a glance (as recorded at the meeting): - Consent agenda (item 6.1): motion carried (ayes recorded). - Ordinance amendment, accessory-building setbacks (item 7.1): motion carried (unanimous). - Lease with Winnsboro Gun Club (item 7.2): motion carried (unanimous). - Resolution 2026-06 (defeasance/redemption): motion carried (unanimous). - Ordinance authorizing Limited Tax Note, Series 2026 (item 7.3): motion carried (unanimous). - EDC agreement with TXP (item 7.5): motion carried (unanimous). - Downtown hanging-sign ordinance amendment (item 7.6): motion carried (unanimous). - Broad Street Bank account for SNAP payments (item 7.7): motion carried (unanimous). - Appointment of Mayor Pro Tem (item 7.8): motion carried (unanimous). - Canvass of May 9 election results (item 7.9): motion carried (unanimous).

What to watch next: staff should return with final paperwork for the Broad Street Bank account (including signers) and with project-level decisions for projects eligible under the note/resolution, as the resolution limits expenditures to the projects listed in the financing documents.