Mertzon City Council January 5 2026
- Jan 7
- 4 min read
Agenda Analysis | Meeting Review | Meeting Documents | Commentary | Last Meeting
A. Agenda Analysis
Executive session, item 5: This is the third meeting for this particular executive session. It might be a "placeholder", as was the case during the last meeting.
Memorandum of Understanding with the Texas Division of Emergency Management, item 6: As covered before, an "MOU" is typically an unenforceable agreement between two governmental entities. Here is the link for the Texas Division of Emergency Management.
Professional arborist hire and input, item 7: This is either about acorns or low limbs, or both. I know from attending IC ISD board meetings that the acorns from the overhanging Oaks are threatening to damage the new track around the field. The Board recently approved some blower equipment to blow the acorns away. There would have to be huge cuts made to the trees to completely eliminate the problem. (But, I assume that, without citizen involvement, trees will be removed. That said, both Supt. Moore and Mayor Stewart have a history of tree friendly approaches, so excessive pruning or tree removal is not likely being considered here.) I also recollect that some of the limbs are getting too low over the track, so this may also be a pruning to raise the canopy. Coincidentally, the District hired Hellas Construction for $1.03 million for the new field and track. You can do a search for "Hellas" in the search bar for more; I have taken issue with some of their work. Recent discussions at Board meetings suggest that, while Hellas was great to work with with the field construction, the track construction has been a problem.
The rest, items 8-10: These are standards for all Council meetings.
B. Meeting Review
Here are the meeting docs for this meeting.
MOU with TDEM, item 6: The Council approved the MOU, provided here at page 3 of the meeting docs, without much discussion. The same evening of the meeting, within just a few hours of the meeting in fact, national press announced more critical layoffs at FEMA. See my commentary below.
Professional arborist, item 7: Supt. Moore was present and advised the Council that if it would approve, IC ISD would hire a professional arborist to make formal recommendations about the oaks inside the District's leased boundaries. The Council approved. No particular company was mentioned, but in time the chosen arborist will make formal recommendations that IC ISD will present to the Council.
Administrative reports, other announcements, item 8b: One of the large Tankersley water wells (60 gallons per minute) is blowing air. Pay attention to municipal water supplies, folks. If you lose water, you lose sewer. The City doesn’t provide any other utilities, so that pretty much relegates it to being a provider of streets if there isn’t water around.
Other announcements, items from the Council, item 10b: Mayor Pro-Tem Jayton Lindley announced that this would be his last meeting on the Council. He is running for a school board seat and has to resign to run. See my Commentary below.
C. Commentary
How to Tell What is Real Online by Neil deGrasse Tyson is worthwhile watching on YouTube.
Emergency management: Within hours of the Council approving the MOU with TDEM, national press released news about more cuts at FEMA. I've addressed this before: Washington is trying to download responsibility of emergency management - without any transfer of funds - to the states. Don't fool yourself that this MOU is evidence of government becoming more efficient and responsive in an emergency. Buried on page 7 of this document at VII A 2 is the following: All financial commitments made herein are subject to the availability of funds from the State of Texas. The City should be mindful that these types of MOU's will be used as "gotcha" documents to deflect blame of state officials in an emergency onto city officials.
Lindley resignation: Council Member Lindley's resignation leaves open two seats at the Council. Achieving a quorum to conduct business will become more difficult, though not impossible. Apparently, the slot opening at the school board is the result of terms expiring for its board this Spring. According to Supt. Moore at this meeting, the expiring seats of board members Martinez, Douglas and Hill. Supt. Moore was discreet on which one/ones were not re-upping. If memory serves, Mr. Lindley's grandfather, Jay Lindley, served on the IC ISD board at the same time with my father back in the 70's. (Another example of the past is never past, but is the present.) I regret seeing Council Member Lindley leave the city council, but welcome his presence at the school board if he wins. He voted "for" the closure of 4th Street that allowed for the new gym, but later also voted "for" the closure of W. Fleming Ave. because of its flooding. (I continue to view the votes to keep W. Fleming closed as votes that finally came to grips with the legal reality of localized flooding. The City faces its own liabilities for knowingly allowing streets to be unsafe.)
Arborist: The decision to hire a professional was a good one. I’ve had to do it on occasion and they make a difference.
Copyright 2025 G. Noelke
