Council meeting 2026-01-05
Agenda · Packet · Minutes · YouTube · 50:14 long
0:16warm.
0:17>> It is warm.
0:19>> Turn the AC down.
0:23>> Just right.
0:24>> Is it?
0:29There we go.
0:32Good evening everyone. We're opening our
0:34city council meeting at this point. It
0:36is now 6 o'clock. With that being said,
0:40we will open with
0:42a prayer and a pledge.
0:45Lord, we're just coming to you this
0:46evening, God, unless we know how. First
0:49of all, thank you, Lord, for touching us
0:50with your finger of love, God, and
0:52waking us to a new day, God, or waking
0:54us to a new year, God. We just praise
0:56you. We glorify you, God. God, we just
0:58ask you right now to um uh protect your
1:01children, God. Um um um please uh lead
1:04us and guide us, God. We're here this
1:06evening to uh tend to the business of
1:08the city, Lord. And we just ask you,
1:10Lord, for clear, concise understanding,
1:13God, and that uh even though we may
1:16disagree, God, that we don't fall out,
1:18Lord. We just ask you, Lord, to continue
1:20to lead us to do the right thing, God,
1:22in the right way, in the right form, the
1:24right manner. God, I just ask you, Lord,
1:26to continue to touch us, bless us, lead
1:28us, and guide us. In your son Jesus name
1:30I pray. Amen.
1:32>> Amen.
1:33>> I pledge
1:35algiance to the flag of the United
1:38States of America and to the republic
1:41for it stands, one nation under God,
1:45indivisible, with liberty and justice
1:48for all.
1:58Okay, at this time we'd like to
1:59recognize all of our visitors here. We
2:01have a crowd. We haven't had one in a
2:03while. So glad that you chose to join
2:04us. And we know that you're here. You
2:07have some concerns or you just want to
2:09enlight us on other things. But either
2:11way, we thank you for joining us. But
2:13just like to remind you, some of you may
2:16not have been here in [clears throat]
2:17terms of uh when we start the ones that
2:21have requested to have words that it is
2:24a reminder on here about the comments
2:26from the audience of the council. It
2:28said at this time anyone will be allowed
2:30to speak on city related matters only.
2:34No personal matters or matters under
2:36litigation will be allowed. The length
2:38of time may not exceed three minutes. No
2:41council discussion or action may take
2:43place on a matter until such matter has
2:46been placed on an agenda and posted in
2:49accordance with the law. And simply what
2:51that says, we would look at you when you
2:53talk, we will smile, but we would not
2:56respond and it would not be any
2:57dialogue. So for those of you that
2:59haven't experienced that, just [snorts]
3:01make sure. So, at this time, um, we do
3:04have several,
3:06and I think the first one is Cat Cross.
3:14Good evening, city council members. Um
3:17well, I I hadn't talked about I didn't
3:19look at what was on the agenda exactly,
3:21but I do want to say that regarding um
3:24the videoing of the city council
3:27meetings, there are times I there's a
3:29double-edged sword because we really
3:30want people to be here in in the seats
3:32and and participate in our government,
3:35but there are times when you just can't
3:36make it, you know, and being able to go
3:39back on those videootapes and listening
3:40to what h what happened is really um I
3:44think it's necessary.
3:45I mean, I I've had many times that I've
3:47had to go back or I want to clarify
3:49something. Maybe I couldn't hear
3:51everybody because they weren't speaking
3:53into their microphones. So, I want to go
3:55have back and clarify something. But the
3:57original reason I wanted to come up here
3:59to speak is those signs that say welcome
4:02to Crockett. Good job, y'all. Those are
4:05absolutely wonderful. It makes me so
4:08proud to drive up into the city from one
4:10of the main corridors and see those
4:13welcome to Crockett signs. Good job,
4:15y'all.
4:16>> Thank you.
4:18>> Uh, next would be Bobby Bolan.
4:23>> Thank you all. Appreciate this
4:24opportunity. I want to remind you a few
4:26things that maybe some of them haven't
4:28considered. by taking on item five by
4:31taking the the uh video out completely.
4:36You need to understand the people at
4:38work. They don't get off to five or
4:406:00. They go home. They want to fix
4:42their suffer for their family and then
4:45when it's through when they're through
4:47then they get to sit down and watch the
4:49YouTube, find out what their
4:50government's doing. They uh may not do
4:53it that night. They may do it the next
4:55morning or the next day, but they have
4:57time then. But they don't have time to
4:59come down here and uh set and then go
5:03home at 9:30, 10:00 at night and fix
5:06supper for their family. It just it
5:08people some of them it just can't
5:09happen. And one thing I just want to
5:12remind you that the bottom line is you
5:16don't burn the barn down to get rid of
5:18the rats. You control that problem on
5:20the onset and that's just something that
5:22you need to think about. Appreciate it.
5:24>> Thank you. At this time, Jean Love Lady
5:31>> Jean
5:33Love Lady.
5:37>> Good evening. I have a concern about the
5:40railroad with the box cars sitting on
5:43the railroad track about three weeks or
5:45longer. And my concern is because
5:49there's a lot of traffic. Sometime you
5:51don't know what they're doing back
5:53there. Um I saw a guy back there one day
5:56looked like he was just looking down in
5:58the neighborhood and that's a concern
6:01for for my neighbors. Uh my next concern
6:05is uh they're speeding on Austin Street.
6:09We need some protection there. Kids is
6:13walking from school. Even adults may be
6:16uh walking but they're driving too fast.
6:20And then we have some bumpy uh some
6:23bumps on Austin Street. Uh they are up
6:27there. Um I can't think of the name.
6:30When you [clears throat] come in on Ford
6:31Street to Austin Street,
6:35you have to go around because it's bump.
6:38And I mentioned this before. And then
6:40you go on around Austin Streets, it it's
6:44so uh and also dogs. I have a lot of
6:48stray dogs. I had two puppies I really
6:50wanted to keep, but I can't afford them.
6:52But dogs is coming in in in my yard and
6:56up on the house next door to me.
6:59>> And I was told that they had a um what
7:03is it? Um they was building
7:06what is it?
7:08>> Dogs.
7:10>> Oh, you just have to explain.
7:12>> Keep your dogs. But anyway, I don't
7:14think it's open yet, but we have we have
7:18a lot of dogs and I do not want them
7:20around my house. I I don't hate dogs,
7:23but I don't want them traveling around
7:25my house. So, thank you.
7:27>> Thank you.
7:31[clears throat]
7:33>> Okay. Uh, James,
7:38>> what was the last
7:42>> dancer?
7:43Okay, it was a little hard to read.
7:49>> Hi.
7:49>> Hi.
7:51>> My name is James Dancer.
7:54I'm not [ __ ] fake.
7:57>> Excuse me.
7:58>> Like your daughter said.
8:01I also didn't beat my mom like your
8:03daughter said.
8:04>> Oh, we're not
8:05>> I know. I know. Just calm down.
8:08>> I'm just state my claims.
8:09>> You just state. Yes,
8:10>> I can state whatever I want.
8:12>> You have three minutes
8:13>> because y'all y'all can use this.
8:16>> So, I'm making sure that I'm heard loud
8:19and [ __ ] clear.
8:20>> No, you cannot use.
8:22>> Yes, I can.
8:23>> Not in here.
8:23>> Actually, I can't. It's my first
8:25amendment right, ma'am.
8:26>> No, not in there.
8:26>> It is. Yes, it is.
8:27>> No, sir.
8:28>> Am I Am I right or am I wrong? Can we
8:30get the sheriff?
8:35>> Okay,
8:37stand down.
8:40First of all, I'm calling your daughter
8:42out cuz she
8:45called me an elderly abuser, which is
8:49the same as a [ __ ] pedophile.
8:51It ain't true, [ __ ]
8:55>> Hold up.
8:56>> It ain't true. It ain't TRUE NOW. NO, I
8:59told you that. I told you that cuz
9:02you're a [ __ ] coward.
9:06>> [name],
9:08>> what are you going to do? You going to
9:09beat my ass?
9:10>> What do we need to do? You going to beat
9:11my ass?
9:12>> Okay, beat my ass.
9:14>> Okay, I I need to have him removed.
9:16That's creating the chaos.
9:18>> You got me.
9:19>> You got me. You got me. You just saw him
9:21threat me. You just [ __ ] saw him
9:23threat me. If you're not going to do
9:24anything, you [ __ ] been told to
9:26leave. That's fine.
9:28>> But you saw him [ __ ] threat me.
9:30>> I didn't see anybody.
9:31>> Yes, you did.
9:32>> Yes, you [ __ ] did.
9:33>> Okay, with that being
9:36uh there are not any more comments.
9:39>> Uh at this time, just like to from the
9:42council would just I'll
9:45one thing I would like a a comment on.
9:47Uh you said you had a comment. Is that
9:49what? Uh
9:50>> yes, ma'am.
9:51>> Okay. You can go ahead and do yours
9:52then.
9:53>> Okay. Um basically
9:57um just kind of wanting that the um
10:02citizens to be aware that um that we've
10:06been having or there have been charter
10:08meetings being conducted and uh the
10:11charter amendments will affect everyone.
10:13Uh
10:15so um I just want to let everyone know
10:17that that we do have conflicting
10:20charters here in the city of Crockett
10:23and the current charter that I believe
10:25that uh the charter committee is working
10:27on uh has not been approved or has been
10:31filed uh with the secretary of state.
10:35So, um there's only one charter that I'm
10:38aware of that's the original charter
10:40that was approved in uh April of 64.
10:45Um currently, I believe the ch the
10:48charter revision com committee is
10:51working on the official home room
10:52charter um of city of Crockett that was
10:56reprinted in February of 1997.
11:00and uh there was that that chart was
11:02never approved by the voters.
11:05So don't know how it actually got
11:07modified.
11:09So from my request
11:12uh there has not been any additional
11:13documentation or available documents to
11:17prove that the 1997 charter is
11:20legitimate or was duly duly constituted
11:23or approved by the voters. So my
11:27question again is which charter is the
11:29committee working from uh trying to
11:32amend also um just to let you all know
11:35that uh in the charter because I've
11:38attended uh several meetings and one of
11:40the meetings I I was actually one of the
11:42members but in my opinion a lot of the
11:45revisions one of them is where the the
11:48intent of the actions are to restructure
11:51or change our local government to weaken
11:54the voices of the people and to strip
11:57strip decision making and the power from
12:00council members to give the give it to
12:02the mayor and the city manager. The
12:05stripping decision is an old technique
12:08used to involuntarily transfer power of
12:11duly elected city council members making
12:14them totally ineffective and our voices
12:17and our votes void.
12:19Um, for this I'm just saying that this
12:23is considered to me as taxation without
12:25representation. Taxing the citizens and
12:29stripping the council members voices
12:31from their con constituents. This system
12:34gives the appearance that uh again
12:36taxation without representation
12:39especially when you try to speak on the
12:41behalf of your constituents. I also want
12:44to advise you that um the charter uh
12:48also leaves a door open um to fostering
12:52corruption, financial debt, leaving the
12:55citizens unprotected, no accountability
12:58for the mayor and the city manager when
13:00poor financial decisions are made. No
13:03one is held accountable for miscence or
13:06wrongdoing. Um, I'd like to reiterate
13:09that leaving the citizens without a
13:12voice unprotected, the mayor and city
13:15manager without checks and balances
13:18system in place for accountability.
13:21Um, I I don't agree with that. Um, but
13:25I'm just bringing this to your attention
13:27that this is coming forward. You may
13:29also
13:30>> You have three minutes.
13:31>> Yes. You may also get a ma'am.
13:34>> You may also get a copy of the ma'am
13:37>> charter from the city.
13:39>> Three minutes.
13:40>> Thank you.
13:41>> Uh did anyone else from the council have
13:44any words? Just like to make a note. Um
13:49it is it was brought to my attention
13:50that the city right now is working with
13:53the churches on the secure on church
13:55security. if any of you in the community
13:58that are interested in it, you can get
14:00back and um they've had a couple of
14:03meetings at different churches, but
14:05they're looking at working with the
14:07independent churches regardless of
14:09denomination about what's best for
14:12security in the churches since we've had
14:14a couple of scares with the churches
14:16with people coming in and drifting in.
14:18So, for security, if you're interested
14:20in following up, you can check with me
14:22later and I'll share some of the
14:24information with you.
14:26Okay, with that being said, if it's not
14:28nothing else from the council,
14:31that brings us to our next item,
14:33approval of minutes for the regular
14:34session December 15, 2025.
14:38Mayor uh and council.
14:41Um I just want to um for the record um
14:47state that I had that I s uh read on the
14:51minutes that I stated uh that I voted
14:55against an item. Um I did not vote
14:57against the item. It clearly stated that
15:00um I had abstained. So, I'm just
15:02requesting that the recording secretary
15:05review that um recording and correct the
15:09U statement that I have made.
15:12>> I would like to make a motion that we
15:14approve regular session from December 15
15:17meetings.
15:18>> Second.
15:18>> Okay. It's been moved and second. All in
15:20favor?
15:22Motion carries. Okay. That brings us to
15:25our item under our reports, the police
15:27department manpower and criminal
15:29incident report for October and November
15:312025.
15:38>> Good evening, Mayor, Council, City
15:40Administrator, Police Department, and
15:42Criminal Activity Report for October of
15:442025.
15:46A total of 15 officers, worked 2,420
15:49hours service, responded to 423 calls,
15:54investigated eight traffic accidents,
15:56made 50 arrests, issued 323 traffic
16:00citations, completed 82 reports, uh
16:04responded to 17 alarm calls, 14 of those
16:07were false alarm. Um below there's a
16:09breakdown of our October criminal
16:12incident.
16:14I'll move on to November. Uh total of 15
16:18officers, 2,218
16:20hours, responded to 396 calls,
16:24investigated 10 traffic accidents,
16:27made 34 arrests, issued 265 traffic
16:31citations,
16:32completed 65 reports, and responded to
16:3524 alarm calls. 20 of those were false
16:38alarms. Below you'll also see a
16:40breakdown for November and I'll
16:42entertain any questions you may have.
16:49>> Are we breaking more more laws? The
16:52reason we have more tickets going out
16:55>> getting a little careless I guess. So
16:58>> thank you.
17:03>> All right. Um,
17:06>> prior
17:08fire department.
17:10>> Good evening, mayor, council members,
17:12city administrator. For the month of
17:14October, we had a total of 34 calls. 18
17:17of those being inside the city limits
17:19and 16 being in our county response
17:21area. Uh, we'll move over to November.
17:24We had a total of 45 calls. U breakdown
17:28is 28 in the city, 17 in our county
17:30response area. And it's there's a
17:33further breakdown in front of y'all if
17:34y'all have any questions on that.
17:40>> Does anyone have any questions?
17:42>> Okay. Thank you.
17:44>> Thank you.
17:46>> Okay. It brings us to our order of
17:48business. Item number four, considering
17:50approved adopting a city council agenda
17:53policy regarding the placement of future
17:55agenda agenda items as presented in the
17:59proposed draft. Mayor and council, at
18:02the last meeting, it was brought up of
18:06the way that agenda items are brought
18:08before or put on the agenda for city
18:12council. This is just a draft for
18:15discussion tonight. It's just part of a
18:17policy that I think there's more
18:20policies in the future that fit in with
18:22this as we conduct council meetings
18:24moving forward. But this is one of the
18:27drafts that we looked at and it's very
18:30similar. Basically, the agenda items for
18:32tonight are all based on what happened
18:35with within public comments at the last
18:37meeting. If you'll look at the agenda
18:39items that are there and so this is just
18:42a draft. The city attorney has reviewed
18:45that. Um so it's for discussion in your
18:49action if you so choose.
18:52>> Um I do have a question. So, so did did
18:56the city attorney create the document or
18:59>> she reviewed the document? I worked on
19:01the document myself.
19:03>> So, did she approve the document?
19:04>> She did. You can ask her.
19:06>> You approved it
19:07>> and you created?
19:09>> Yes.
19:12>> Okay. We got
19:14>> Yeah. Um,
19:16so with that being said, uh, are we
19:19getting any input from the council or
19:23pretty much I mean because it's just a
19:25draft, right?
19:26>> It is just a draft and if you'll read
19:28the agenda item, it says consider and
19:30approve which gives you the option to
19:32consider and approve or just consider
19:35and not approve or but the fact is it is
19:38there to be considered and it is
19:40council's decision whether it gets
19:41approved or not.
19:42>> Okay. Well, I I uh
19:46I move that the wording I I did read it.
19:51Um I move that the wording in the new
19:54business uh agenda draft article 11
19:59section five of Texas Constitution be
20:03struck out. New business items have
20:06nothing to do with the adoption or the
20:09amendment of the charter
20:13and section six of the new business
20:16procedure draft be removed also because
20:20we cannot prohibit any city council
20:24members
20:26from recommending items being placed on
20:29the agenda that I consider as official
20:33oppression.
20:34Therefore,
20:36I would suggest or recommend that we
20:38table the new business item agenda until
20:42the wording complies with the Texas
20:44state statutes.
21:02Okay, that's a You made a
21:03recommendation. Is it a second?
21:13>> Yeah, I second.
21:14>> You second. Okay. Um [clears throat] on
21:17that recommendation, it's been moved and
21:19second.
21:20>> I I'd like to discuss now. We can
21:24>> I mean if we're going to do anything uh
21:27[snorts]
21:28why don't we just
21:31>> do this and also do a
21:35a basically a a policy that
21:41oversees council. I mean just uh
21:45we can tie all of this into more policy.
21:48This was just the section that was
21:49brought up during public comments at the
21:51last meeting was how
21:52>> written a written policy.
21:54>> Yes sir. We can we can table this to go
21:57by
21:57>> we can table this one and be more
21:59inclusive with more policies all
22:01together. That's totally acceptable.
22:05Okay. But on the So right now in
22:07discussing with this
22:09>> it's just to table it
22:10>> is it
22:13>> is a pleasure to table it is that
22:16>> well that's what the motion
22:18is and I was just saying I would like to
22:21see a policy put in place.
22:22>> Well if we table it then we can that's
22:25that that's what could happen. We can
22:27discuss that and everyone could put in
22:30the uh um the policy what they would
22:33like to see.
22:36And that way the the council will have
22:38overall everyone would have an input
22:40instead of someone creating the document
22:43and then put it forward for us just to
22:46vote on it
22:49>> and plus the way it was on the table. Go
22:53ahead. Go ahead.
22:54>> So
22:55>> yeah, you vote on the table.
22:57>> It was on the table to do it and there's
22:59been a first and a second. All in favor?
23:03Motion carries. [snorts]
23:05So it would be table.
23:11Okay. Brings us to item number five.
23:13Consider and approve whether to televise
23:16and or live stream regular and special
23:18meetings of the council.
23:22Council
23:25>> C. I I do have uh something to say on
23:28that note.
23:29>> We need a motion first.
23:30>> Oh, we need a motion. Um, I I I would
23:33like I move that we do not accept um
23:37removing uh the city uh televising the
23:41city on YouTube or for the public to
23:44review.
23:46>> Okay. It's a motion to
23:49>> to not
23:49>> to not remove I guess he's right back
23:53with it. Not remove
23:55the uh television and the uh televising.
24:00I second
24:03>> a live stream. Okay, it's been moved and
24:06second. All in favor?
24:08>> No discussion.
24:08>> Oh, I mean discussion. I'm sorry
24:10everybody.
24:12>> That's all done. Okay. Any any
24:14discussion?
24:17>> No discussion.
24:18>> I I I have something.
24:20>> Okay.
24:20>> I mean I I want I on a
24:24the reason why I mean
24:27uh that I brought this up. I mean, I I'd
24:30like to uh I want to explain
24:32>> Oh, yeah.
24:33>> why I asked to discuss the ending the
24:36streaming. Uh it's not about hiding
24:39anything from the public.
24:42It's about how the meetings have been
24:44embarrassing
24:46and now being seen far beyond our city.
24:51Far beyond our city.
24:53uh meetings once it took 30 minutes now
24:56takes 2 hours or more.
25:00That time is spent meeting
25:03the need is not spent meeting the me
25:06need of the city but spent arguing lies
25:09and drama.
25:12Since I have been on council,
25:16we have not needed a written policy for
25:18council.
25:20That's because we had council members
25:22who acted in good faith
25:25even [clears throat] when they
25:26disagreed.
25:27People respected the process and each
25:30other now has changed.
25:35It seems that one council member now
25:38uses her position to cause chaos, spread
25:42false information, and attacks others.
25:46I believe that since she did not get her
25:51get what she wanted on EDC, now she
25:54wants to use her position to hurt the
25:56city in other ways she can. I volunteer
26:01count
26:02I [clears throat] volunteer as a council
26:04member to help and serve the city.
26:07I refuse to volunteer my time and sit
26:10here to be a part of this embarrassment.
26:14[clears throat] Council members get
26:18an agenda a full week before each
26:21meeting.
26:22That gives plenty of time to read it,
26:24ask questions, and get clarity. Meetings
26:27should not be the first time questions
26:30are asked or homework is done.
26:34Council members are here to make choices
26:36for the city, not to run staff dayto
26:39day. That's why we have city manager and
26:42city attorney. let them do their jobs.
26:46Live streaming has become a platform for
26:48bad behavior instead of a way to keep
26:50the public informed.
26:53It shows chaos, not good leadership.
26:57People outside Crockett, including
26:58business and families taking about
27:01moving, thinking about moving here, see
27:04this and believe it represents our city.
27:07It does not.
27:10Real openness means showing up. Council
27:13meetings are open to everyone. Everyone
27:16who wants to know what's happening in
27:19the city can attend, listen, and take
27:22part. Sitting at home and posting
27:26comments after the meeting are over
27:30and voters are already taking.
27:35It's not I'm I'm sorry. I'm kind of
27:37still upset a little bit right now.
27:40But anyway, uh
27:43I'm not against the public knowing what
27:46we do. I'm against chaos and hate being
27:49used to hurt our city.
27:52That is why I am requesting council to
27:55review and adopt clear rules for council
27:59so meetings can return to being
28:01respectful and focused on serving our
28:04city.
28:07And that's why I asked for it.
28:10>> Okay. Does any other anybody else have
28:12any comments?
28:13>> Yes, ma'am.
28:14>> Um I was in support of uh discussion on
28:18this agenda item because I can see it as
28:20a double-edged sword. Um I see the need
28:23for accessibility
28:25while I can understand what Mr. [name] is
28:28saying as well. Um the the need the need
28:32we need to have and come together for
28:36discussion is apparent. Um I mean we
28:40don't control each other's we don't
28:43control each other's voices. We don't
28:45control each other's actions. um we
28:48agree to disagree and we come together
28:50to have um we come together to debate
28:54and you know that's that's the joy that
28:57I have to to debate to hear the other
29:00person's side idea agenda or that
29:04person's ideas um and when we lose sight
29:08of that um of that goal of that of that
29:12agenda in itself I feel like we do need
29:15to maybe go in another in another
29:18direction and we do need to come up with
29:19policies and procedures and guidelines
29:21and rules and regulations to um to
29:25adhere to to be better to better
29:27ourselves. Um with that being said like
29:30I said like I said earlier with this
29:31being a two-edged sword I do see the
29:34need for accessibility. Um
29:38um we can't take away accessibility to
29:40the public. Um I am I I myself am in
29:45support of discussion of this topic but
29:48I do not see the need to take away the
29:50uh the live stream or this service
29:54because this this this service is a
29:57need. Um but I am here for the debate to
30:00be had. Thank you.
30:01>> Thank you.
30:04>> I just have a couple of questions. I of
30:07course I'm I hadn't been on the council
30:09but a couple of years.
30:11Um, how long has it been being videoed?
30:16When did it start?
30:20>> During CO.
30:21>> During CO,
30:23>> what was the purpose?
30:26>> We couldn't
30:27>> at that at that at that time.
30:28>> No one could attend.
30:29>> No, you No, just
30:31>> Yeah.
30:32>> No one could attend in person.
30:35>> All right. The purpose was
30:37for the public to to know what was going
30:40on.
30:41Okay.
30:42Then before that,
30:45how did the public know what was
30:49happening at city council
30:54>> that came to the meeting?
30:56>> They either
30:57>> Well, was there another avenue for it to
31:01be? Was it in the paper?
31:04>> I mean, can anybody remember that far
31:06back?
31:06>> Yeah, it's in the paper.
31:07>> Okay. So maybe
31:10>> and I'm just
31:11>> it was covered. I think that's what you
31:13>> Okay.
31:14>> So if it was in the paper more than
31:17likely then probably just the results of
31:19each uh
31:21>> um thing that the city that the council
31:24voted on. Okay. So then if it if it
31:27started during COVID
31:29um I understand that you know
31:35but also uh
31:37I understand also too that people may
31:41have a challenge of getting here but I
31:42but some of us on the council uh do too
31:48uh when we come when we come to the
31:50council meetings. Uh we're certainly not
31:53coming here for the money. uh we're
31:56coming here to serve uh our city. I and
31:59I understand I don't like the
32:01you know [clears throat] my my belief is
32:04we we can we don't have to be uh uh
32:10unified to be uniform. we can have
32:12disagreements on things
32:14>> uh as well as us as a council and and
32:20then the constituency of our city that
32:22we're striving uh to serve. I'm not one
32:26for division, but I am one for
32:29discussing everything and I try to make
32:33my decisions
32:35uh you know just from you know from
32:37common sense. I know that there's people
32:40um out there in the in the viewing land
32:43that that know more
32:46uh than I do. I I I learned that every
32:49time we have a council meeting. Uh
32:54so my idea is what I would like to do
32:57and hopefully they're watching uh
33:00tonight. some of those people maybe run
33:02for these positions and and offer their
33:06uh you know come come do what we do and
33:09offer uh you know their wisdom uh rather
33:14than and I and and in all honesty since
33:18I've been on the council I mean I I've
33:20actually enjoyed serving I I used to be
33:23on the Chamber of Commerce board for for
33:26years enjoyed that and when I moved to
33:29town.
33:31I got persuaded to be on counsel. Well,
33:34I've enjoyed this. I've enjoyed uh uh
33:37and I would like to I I would like to
33:40enjoy it again, but right now it seems
33:42as that every decision is made and I
33:45know we strive to to to do what's right,
33:49>> but every decision that's made
33:54someone want to say something.
33:56>> Oh, no. It's not.
33:58>> Okay. Well, uh, every decision that's
34:01made, uh, uh, there's always somebody
34:03out there that knows a better way
34:06>> and, um, and there may be on each, uh,
34:09on each decision that we make, but we're
34:12striving to do what's best for our city.
34:16>> Okay? And I think then if if uh uh this
34:21happens that it's no longer videoed, we
34:24go back to precoid, then maybe the
34:28newspaper
34:30could
34:33put it in the paper.
34:34>> Okay.
34:34>> I mean, if that happens, I don't know.
34:36>> Well, but I'm you know,
34:38>> well, where we are right,
34:39>> I just know that it hadn't been videoed.
34:41>> It wasn't prior to that. And it is, it
34:43was a new thing. Now, like you said, I
34:44understand what you everybody's saying.
34:45and the pros and the cons. But I think
34:48even as a council,
34:50the uh the count the elected council
34:55people have a responsibility not only to
34:58throw out stuff during the meeting, but
35:00it should be have had some dialogue, not
35:04only with to to check what you're saying
35:07that doesn't create chaos, not not
35:09chaos, but doesn't create confusion. So
35:13if you're in and it's coming off what's
35:15making it look like drama it look like
35:18real live TV. I don't know I don't watch
35:20that but in that sense but what it in
35:23order for it to look from a professional
35:25level it needs to be not accusation
35:28thrown out at anybody. If your facts are
35:31there just state your facts and and
35:34share that information instead of your
35:36personal
35:39>> emotion. I'm not saying you could be
35:42emotionally. I think what's what I mean
35:44it's just looking like a drama. When you
35:46watch it back on TV, it seemed like
35:47everybody said, "Let's look at the
35:48drama." And I think the point is still
35:51being missed about what the actual
35:53conversation should have been. And
35:55people not hearing the message. They're
35:57seeing the motions and and have a really
36:00hard time with that being projected. And
36:03so at the end of the day, I don't think
36:06the community is hearing the message of
36:09what the actual item was and what the
36:11real concerns were as much as they are
36:14seeing, oh, did she get mad? Did he get
36:16mad? Did he tell them off did that? And
36:18I'm thinking that the responsibility as
36:20a council and even as a community but
36:23since the council is elected to
36:26represent the people I think it should
36:28be just fact stated not if even if it's
36:32your interpretation of the facts I guess
36:35but it shouldn't be always
36:38an opportunity to uh lead to a argument
36:44argumentative and so people do have the
36:46right to do it And some people as as was
36:49said there are a lot of people now
36:51watching on TV that never really
36:54bothered with coming to the council
36:56because of the sensationalism of it.
36:59That's what it seems like. That's the
37:00response I'm getting a lot of time.
37:02>> Well, it's given us a bad name.
37:04>> And if anybody up here, if anybody up
37:07there likes what just happened a minute
37:09ago and you want it live streamed.
37:12>> Yeah. But you know what? I feel like
37:15it's 2026, man. It's that's the part
37:18that's part of what's going on, right?
37:19>> Everything that you
37:20>> can't hide. It's like we trying to hide
37:22something.
37:23>> No, it's not. We're not trying to
37:25>> We live I live in reality, man. You
37:27going to have ups and downs. You can't
37:29>> don't take it from the public just
37:30because you don't want them to know
37:32what's going on up here.
37:33>> Yeah.
37:33>> A lot of people It's good for a lot of
37:35people to see what's going on.
37:37>> Yeah.
37:37>> What's going on with the council, the
37:39arguments, we can fix that ourselves.
37:41That's That's what I cons my my concern.
37:43>> Don't take it from the public because
37:45they haven't did nothing. They can go
37:47back and rewind and see what's going on.
37:49>> Yeah.
37:49>> I think that's good. A lot of people out
37:51here could really see what's going on.
37:53>> Yeah.
37:54>> Don't hide it. That's like you're trying
37:55to hide something to me.
37:56>> Okay. We're not that long.
37:58>> Just at this point. And so I I want to
38:01say um I don't I don't know what I
38:04wanted to see from CC. I have no idea.
38:07But uh I I want to say this is I I I
38:11personally I I I I feel this is that
38:16you're right. If we did abide by laws
38:20didn't uh especially when we know right
38:23do right. If we know that this rule
38:27tells us what we should and what we
38:29should not do and somebody brings it to
38:31our attention don't cut them off. I
38:34mean, we we need to and that's what the
38:37people want to know. They want to know
38:38that we're doing them justice. They want
38:40to know that they chose us to represent
38:43our represent them and that that we
38:46deserve their their trust. We're earning
38:48their trust. And the only way we can
38:50earn their trust is that we have to do
38:52right by the constituents, the
38:54taxpayers, their money. Um, our money.
38:58We're concerned about how we're
39:00spending, how we're managing the the the
39:03city. So, I mean, so the thing of it is
39:06is is that we do have to dialogue. But
39:09when I got on council, it was really no
39:11dialogue. It was like everybody come in
39:13and city manager give them whatever. And
39:17once they get it, they look at it.
39:19Haven't looked at it all week and they
39:21get here and and vote. So, that's not
39:24what I that's not why I chose to run. I
39:27chose to run to serve my constituents to
39:30to show to to speak on their behalf.
39:33When they call me, I come. When they
39:35call me, I I dialogue with them because
39:38I want to know what what issues they
39:40have that I need to address. That's what
39:43I want to bring. And I don't appreciate
39:45a lot of times when we have when we're
39:47having dialogue or I'm trying to get a
39:49point over or things like that that I'm
39:52getting cut off. Mr. [name] has it real
39:54bad about that. Cut him off. I ain't
39:56going to call his name no more.
39:57>> Okay. But now that's what I'm saying. We
39:59got just stay true. Okay. I'm state my
40:01opinion that we have that we we I mean
40:03like just I mean just a few minutes ago.
40:05I mean give him time. We I learned to
40:08kind of hold my peace until he gets done
40:10with his speech. But then when I get
40:12ready to to talk then all of a sudden
40:14it's you got three minutes. Everybody
40:16else go over three minutes. I got three
40:17minutes. But other than that I just I I
40:21am serving my constituents. I feel like
40:24that the policies that we come up with,
40:27we should not dumb down the voices of
40:29our constituents. We speak on their
40:31behalf. We speak for them. They have
40:33issues. They are taxpayers and they're
40:35our boss and we have to do what our boss
40:38tell us to do. So, I mean, so that's
40:41that's my whole issue is that it's not a
40:44thing of being
40:46uh shameful or or being
40:48>> So, could I ask a question?
40:50>> Sure. Why don't we video executive
40:52sessions?
40:53>> It's against the law.
40:54>> That's against the law. [laughter]
40:55>> Against the law.
40:55>> That's a rule.
40:56>> All right. Let's go back. So, so what's
40:58been said here tonight is nobody trusted
41:01the city council before CO.
41:05That's kind of what I heard in the
41:07conversation.
41:08>> So, how did Crockett get along all of
41:10those years uh before CO? See, the way I
41:14see it is you vote you vote for somebody
41:16to to to be put in a position because
41:19you trust them.
41:21And if you got to be under somebody's
41:22eyeball uh for you to be trusted, you
41:26don't need to be in that position.
41:28>> So, where we are at this point,
41:30>> that's what that's where the checks and
41:32balances come in at because just like we
41:35were talking about the streets the other
41:36week ago, I mean, you know,
41:40>> I'm I mean, I'm just going I'm just
41:41going out just for a minute. Just like
41:43we were talking about the streets and
41:44and repair repairing the streets, my
41:46constituents come to me and say, "Hey,
41:49why only part of our street got done,
41:51but then such and such other sides of
41:53town there." So, we got to we got to
41:56make sure that we have checks and
41:57balances here. Because if you're getting
41:59something on your side of town and you
42:01speaking for your constituents, my
42:02constituents want that same treatment.
42:04>> I think we're digressing a little bit.
42:06What basically we're going, we want to
42:08kind of stay focused. Everybody's really
42:10had an opportunity to say why they think
42:12it should be and I think at this point I
42:15think
42:15>> yeah everybody has given their opinion
42:17on why for or against it should be so
42:21right now it was a um
42:22>> it was a post
42:24>> it was you televis
42:26>> yeah and that was to consider and
42:29approve whether to televise or live
42:32stream regular special session meetings
42:36of the city council
42:38consider and approve.
42:42>> We already
42:43>> then the motion was continue televised.
42:46>> Yes, please. Uh I move to that that the
42:49city of Crockett continue to televise
42:51>> and that that motion's already made.
42:53>> The motion is made
42:54>> and it's been seconded. So now it's a
42:56vote.
42:56>> So now we're ready for the vote.
42:59>> All in favor of
43:01>> continuing to televis. Continuing the
43:03fellow
43:05oppose.
43:08Motion carries.
43:11Okay. So that brings us to item number
43:13six. Discussion regarding potential
43:16neighborhood watch programs within the
43:18city of Crockett.
43:20>> Mayor and council. Um,
43:25Chief [name]'s got a report for you on
43:28the neighborhood watch and and a
43:31breakdown of how to get that process
43:33going. Mayor, council, as
43:36[clears throat] y'all know, at the last
43:37meeting, uh, it was brought up about,
43:40uh, a neighborhood watch program here in
43:42the city. I met with Councilman [name]
43:45about it. Uh, neighborhood watch is not
43:48really governed or um ran by the uh the
43:55city, the city council, the police
43:57department. Uh it's basically what it
43:59is. It's a group of neighbors that get
44:00together in their neighborhood. Um and
44:03they're an extra eye. Uh they're an
44:05organized group. Uh they have meetings.
44:08Um they communicate with law
44:10enforcement. Uh we provide training to
44:12them. Um so so they can be our eyes and
44:15ears out there uh when we're spread out
44:19throughout town with two officers out.
44:22Um it it's really a huge benefit. It's
44:25something that I think would be a a big
44:27benefit to us. Those
44:29>> Excuse me. Voice is a little loud in the
44:32background.
44:33>> Those neighbors that get together,
44:34there's there's a lot of things that
44:35they can
44:36>> uh hold up hold up chief. Uh excuse me
44:39ladies, audience, your voice is curing.
44:42So, it's reflecting we can't hear up
44:45here.
44:46>> For example, a lot of the the neighbors
44:47will get together u they'll provide
44:50[segment omitted]
44:52we have a burglary, we have a theft,
44:54something like that. Um and those
44:57neighbors communicate with one another
45:00uh within that neighborhood. Um it's not
45:03a requirement. If if there's a
45:05particular residence or neighbor that
45:07does not want to be involved in it, they
45:08don't have to be. Um there is a national
45:12program that once you uh get your
45:14neighborhood watch together um you get
45:17your group together that you can be
45:19recognized nationally as an official
45:21neighborhood watch. Uh you can post
45:24signs coming into that neighborhood that
45:26that say uh this is a neighborhood watch
45:28area which also helps deter crime. So
45:32just a few quick notes. Uh really the
45:35way you want to get it started is that
45:36group of neighbors um they're going to
45:39gauge neighborhood interest, find out
45:41who all is interested, if it's something
45:42that would be beneficial for their
45:44neighborhood. Uh they're going to meet
45:46with their local law enforcement uh to
45:48start communicating u get contact
45:50numbers and so we can start explaining
45:53to them and training them on what to do
45:55and what not to do because really and
45:57truly neighborhood watch they're just
45:58eyes and ears. Uh they're not going to
46:00go contact suspects. They're not going
46:02to go arrest suspects. They're not going
46:04to go chase people down the street with
46:06their with their guns. Um
46:09that's another topic it brings up. You
46:11want to you want to make sure that your
46:13neighborhood watch understands the legal
46:14boundaries so they don't get themselves
46:17um in a bind. Um so that's really the
46:20nuts and bolts of a neighborhood watch
46:22program. I think it's something that as
46:24a city uh we should be behind. Um I
46:27think it's a positive thing. Uh again,
46:30like I said, the the residents in that
46:32particular neighborhood that want to be
46:34involved, they can be. If they choose
46:35not to be, then that's okay, too. So, if
46:38there's any questions, I'll I'll answer
46:40any questions that I can.
46:41>> Well, I think that one of the thing is
46:44people know exactly even more closely
46:47what's happening in their neighborhood
46:49even more so than just the the
46:51visitation by the law enforcement
46:54through and also adds a layer of
46:56responsibility.
46:58for that you're aware and you get it
47:01reported a lot quicker. So I think it's
47:03for the city as a whole if it's a group
47:05in a neighborhood that's interested in
47:08monitoring that neighborhood because you
47:10know they used to refer to them as the
47:11nosy neighbor. They could tell you
47:13everything that was going and a lot of
47:14the stuff you needed to know what was
47:16going on. You didn't know that this
47:18person was in. So I think that that
47:21responsibility would it would lead
47:24itself to getting more accurate
47:26information.
47:27>> Correct. rather than people uh thinking
47:30what's going on and they can address it
47:33even more directly because who knows the
47:35neighborhood better than the people that
47:37live in them.
47:38>> That's true. A lot a lot of information
47:39we receive from citizens on cases we're
47:42working is very crucial. They may they
47:44may think that it's something minor uh
47:46but a lot of times it it can it can fit
47:49that crucial piece that we need to
47:52identify that suspect or make that
47:53arrest. So
47:56>> I think it's a real good. So um I know
48:00that this was a discussion. So you just
48:02the steps for the discussion is for them
48:05to
48:08we kind of had the discussion. Do they
48:10do it individually or we're just
48:12discussing as a whole? So they need to
48:14kind of contact you to get a feel for
48:16what we're where.
48:17>> So I think the next step and I know Mr.
48:19Sheileley is the one that brought it up
48:20at the last meeting and and Councilman
48:22[name]. I think their next step is to
48:24gauge uh the interest within their
48:26neighborhood. Uh once they determine if
48:29there is an interest in that uh then
48:31they come down and meet with us and we
48:32talk about legalities uh the dos and
48:35don'ts and what we can do to help them
48:36attend meetings uh talk about what to
48:39look for and help them get that process
48:41started.
48:41>> Okay. So as we leave the discussion
48:43stage, it's into the individual
48:45community to make the next move or what
48:48they would like to do.
48:49>> Correct.
48:50>> Okay.
48:50>> Thank you, Chief. Um I I just really
48:52wanted the the public to know that
48:55they're they're not, you know, in this,
48:58you know, by themselves that um the city
49:00is um or does provide, you know, some
49:04support for them and some information
49:06for them um you know, if you see it
49:09reported or if you just want to help out
49:11your neighborhood and whatnot, there are
49:12ways to go about that.
49:14>> That's true. And I again, I'll remind um
49:17our citizens, their information is
49:19crucial. Um there there's a lot of
49:22information that come forward that that
49:23really helps protect their neighborhoods
49:25or even their property. So it's
49:27important that they come forward with
49:28that.
49:31>> Okay. Thank you so much.
49:34>> Okay. So at this time it brings us to
49:37our next item in the executive session.
49:39Um
49:41uh item number seven, government code.
49:43It would help if I put on my glasses.
49:45Let's try that again.
49:47uh 5510
49:49uh71 consultation with the attorney
49:52regarding recapture of Lincoln lumber
49:55tax abatement
49:57and
49:57>> we're going to meet in here
49:59>> we'll meet in here and we're asked if
50:01you
50:07join the new
50:14beard