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City manager denies directing KEDC to ignore grocery efforts; council debates oversight process
Summary
City Manager Mr. Cagle denied allegations that he instructed Killeen Economic Development Corporation staff to ignore grocery prospects. The exchange prompted a prolonged council discussion about process, oversight and how to handle future inquiries; several council members later urged apologies and better procedures.
City Manager Mr. Cagle forcefully denied claims reported in local media that he had directed Killeen Economic Development Corporation (KEDC) staff to ignore a city priority to recruit a grocery for North Killeen.
“I have never ordered anyone to ignore a council directive,” Mr. Cagle told the council when the KEDC item was taken up at the July 7 meeting. He said he serves ex officio on the KEDC board in an advisory role and that any questions about city incentives or staff direction should be handled by the board president.
The item grew into an extended and sometimes tense council discussion. Several council members said they had been told by community stakeholders that a KEDC representative told them the organization would not prioritize certain retail recruitment. Others said the public allegation should have been handled more carefully and that the word “investigation” and the naming of staff members in public reporting had harmed the city manager’s reputation.
Mayor and council members repeatedly pressed for a clear process for how alleged staff interference or missed priorities should be handled in the future — whether by an executive‑session review, a formal documented inquiry, or an outside firm if necessary. Several council members who brought the matter forward later said the council misstepped by airing the matter publicly without an established procedure; others defended public transparency and said the city manager had the opportunity to respond on the record.
Cagle said he has worked actively on grocery prospects and other North Side priorities and that, in his view, the city and KEDC had followed up on all leads. Multiple council members closed their remarks by urging a return to process and offering public thanks to Mr. Cagle for his service during a demanding budget season.
What happens next: Council did not open a formal disciplinary process in public session; members asked staff to clarify procedures for future inquiries and oversight so similar allegations can be handled in a way that protects both staff due process and public transparency.
