Source: YouTube auto-captions via youtube-transcript-api
Meeting: Crockett City Council, 2026-01-05
Title: Crockett City Council Meeting - 01/05/2026
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKULkyOLM10
Status: verbatim auto-captions. Names are often wrong. Not reviewed. Not for the public site.

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