Athens City Council
Regular MeetingAthens, TX · March 17, 2025
Minutes
SPECIAL SESSION
MONDAY, MARCH 17, 2025
The City Council of the City of Athens, Texas, met in a Regular Session on Monday, March 17,
2025, at 1:00 p.m., at the Athens Partnership Center, Derek D. Daniels Conference Room located
at 201 W. Corsicana Street Athens, Texas with the following members to wit:
Aaron Smith, Mayor
SyTanna Freeman, Mayor Pro Tem
Cody Craig
Bryan Barker
Elizabeth Borstad, City Manager
Staff Present: Mandie Quigg, Assistant City Manager; Alan Anderson, Director of Development;
Randy Williams, Utilities Director; Shannon Easley, Public Works Director; Bonnie Hambrick,
City Secretary; Donna Meredith, Community Development Manager; Michael Hannigan, Social
Media Manager.
Others present: Rev. Bill Burton, Stacie Stewart, J. Terrance, Steven Bennett, Jesse Thompson,
Edgar Bobadilla, Herman Hill, Alvar Centers, Dr. Ralph Adams. Mary Adams, Rose Greer, Ron Hobbs, and
Wadona Stich.
With the following member absent: Mark Carroll.
Constituting a quorum at which time the following proceedings were enacted, to – wit:
1) CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Smith called the meeting to order at 1:01 p.m.
2) INVOCATION
The Invocation was given by Rev. Bill Burton
3) PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
4) DECLARATION OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST
No Conflict of Interest was declared.
5) PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS
There were none.
6) EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT
CODE, SECTION 551.087 (DELIBERATION REGARDING ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS; CLOSED MEETING).
a) FISHER PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT
The City Council convened in Executive Session at 1:15 p.m.
The City Council recessed at 2:50 p.m.
The City Council returned to Special Session at 2:56 p.m.
City Council Special Session
March 17, 2025
Page 2
7) CONSIDER, AND TAKE ACTION, AS NECESSARY, RESULTING FROM
DELIBERATIONS IN EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO THE TEXAS
GOVERNMENT CODE, SECTION 551.087 (DELIBERATION REGARDING
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS, CLOSED MEETING
a) FISHER PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT
No action was taken.
8) DISCUSS, CONSIDER, AND TAKE ACTION, AS NECESSARY,
CONCERNING CITY HALL OPTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT.
Elizabeth Borstad, City Manager, explained that she and Mr. Hobbs have looked at several
different options regarding the current city hall, a potential purchase of a structure on Hwy 31,
remodeling City Hall, and looked at potential new locations for City Hall.
Ron Hobbs, with Ron Hobbs Architecture & Interior Design, LLP review different options
explaining the following needs and concerns:
Additional square footage
Safety
Security
How you deal with the public
Conduct all business in one location
Mr. Hobbs presented three (3) scenarios:
Remodel existing City Hall, constructing a portion of city hall by adding on to the
backside
Build a new City Hall adjacent to the Police Department on the south side
Purchase the building on Hwy 31 and remodel it into City Hall and Public Works
Throughout the presentation, there was discussion regarding the following:
City Hall’s current floor plan
Cost comparison
Research the potential for selling existing city properties
9) MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL’S REQUEST FOR FUTURE AGENDA
ITEMS.
There were no requests for future agenda items.
10) ADJOURN.
The meeting adjourned at 3:32 p.m.
PASSED AND APPROVED THIS THE 24th DAY OF MARCH 2025.
___________________________
Aaron Smith, Mayor
ATTEST:
______________________________
Bonnie Hambrick, City Secretary
Agenda
NOTICE TO PUBLIC
Notice is hereby given that the City Council of the City of Athens, Texas, will meet in a Special
Session on Monday, March 17, 2025, at 1:00 p.m., at the Athens Partnership Center, Derek D.
Daniels Conference Room located at 201 W. Corsicana Street Athens, Texas to consider the
following:
1) Call to Order
2) Invocation
3) Pledge of Allegiance
4) Declaration of Conflict of Interest
5) Public Communications
“Pursuant to Texas Government Code section 551.007, members of the public may
speak on an agenda item during the public communication section of the meeting, or
at the time the agenda item is called for discussion by the Mayor. Speakers shall be
given three (3) minutes to speak. A speaker needing a translator and/or interpreter
may be given six (6) minutes to speak. Members of the public wishing to address the
Council on non-agenda items may do so pursuant to the same time constraints as
agenda items. The Council will not comment on items not on the agenda; however,
the Council may refer the item to City Staff for research, resolution or referral of the
matter to the Council as a future agenda item.”
6) Executive Session Pursuant to the Texas Government Code, Section 551.087
(Deliberation regarding Economic Development Negotiations; Closed Meeting).
a) Fisher Property Development
7) Consider, and take action, as necessary, resulting from deliberations in Executive
Session Pursuant to the Texas Government Code, Section 551.087 (Deliberation
Regarding Economic Development Negotiations, Closed Meeting
a) Fisher Property Development
8) Discuss, consider, and take action, as necessary, concerning city hall options for
improvement. – [E. Borstad, City Manager, and R. Hobbs, Ron Hobbs Architecture
& Interior Design, LLP]
9) Mayor and City Council’s request for future agenda items.
10) Adjourn.
Executive Session (Closed Meeting): Pursuant to the Open Meetings Act, Chapter 551, Texas
Government Code, Sections 551.071, 551.072, 551.073, 551.074, 551.076, 551.087, 418.183(f),
and 418.106(d) & (e). Refer to posted list attached hereto and incorporated herein.
If, during the course of the meeting covered by this notice, the City Council should determine that
a closed or executive meeting or session of the City Council or a consultation with the attorney for
the City should be held or is required, then such closed or executive meeting or session or
consultation with attorney as authorized by the Texas Open Meetings Act, Texas Government
Code § 551.001 et. seq., will be held by the City Council at the date, hour and place given in this
notice as the City Council may conveniently meet in such closed or executive meeting or session
or consult with the attorney for the City concerning any and all subjects and for any and all
purposes permitted by the Act, including, but not limited to, the following sanctions and purposes:
Texas Government Code Section:
§ 551.071 - Private consultation with the attorney for the City.
§ 551.072 - Discussing purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property.
§ 551.074 - Discussing personnel or to hear complaints or charges against personnel or
officials.
“PURSUANT TO SECTION 30.06, PENAL CODE (TRESPASS BY LICENSE HOLDER
WITH A CONCEALED HANDGUN), A PERSON LICENSED UNDER SUBCHAPTER H,
CHAPTER 411, GOVERNMENT CODE (HANDGUN LICENSING LAW), MAY NOT
ENTER THIS PROPERTY WITH A CONCEALED HANDGUN.”
“DE CONFORMIDAD CON LA SECCIÓN 30.06, CÓDIGO PENAL (ESTAR EN ESTA
PROPIEDAD POR TITULAR DE LA LICENCIA CON UNA PISTOLA OCULTA), UNA
PERSONA CON LICENCIA BAJO EL SUBCAPÍTULO H, CAPÍTULO 411, CÓDIGO DE
GOBIERNO (LEY DE LICENCIAS ARMA DE FUEGO), NO PUEDE ENTRAR EN ESTA
PROPIEDAD CON UNA PISTOLA OCULTA.”
"PURSUANT TO SECTION 30.07, PENAL CODE (TRESPASS BY LICENSE HOLDER
WITH AN OPENLY CARRIED HANDGUN), A PERSON LICENSED UNDER
SUBCHAPTER H, CHAPTER 411, GOVERNMENT CODE (HANDGUN LICENSING
LAW), MAY NOT ENTER THIS PROPERTY WITH A HANDGUN THAT IS CARRIED
OPENLY"
“DE CONFORMIDAD CON LA SECCIÓN 30.07, CÓDIGO PENAL (ESTAR EN ESTA
PROPIEDAD POR TITULAR DE LA LICENCIA CON UNA PISTOLA EN PLENO VISTA),
UNA PERSONA CON LICENCIA BAJO EL SUBCAPÍTULO H, CAPÍTULO 411, CÓDIGO
DE GOBIERNO (LEY DE LICENCIAS ARMA DE FUEGO), NO PUEDE ENTRAR EN
ESTA PROPIEDAD CON UNA PISTOLA EN PLENO VISTA”
This facility is wheelchair accessible and accessible parking spaces are available. Requests for
additional accommodations or interpretive services must be made 48 hours prior to any meeting.
Please contact the City Secretary’s Office at (903) 675-5131 or by FAX (903) 675-7562 for
further information.
_________________________________
Bonnie Hambrick
________
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