City Council

March 9, 2026 On this the 9th day of March 2026 at 6:30 pm the City Council of the City of Friona, Texas, convened in regular session at the regular meeting place thereof, in the Friona City Council Chambers, 619 Main Street, the meeting being open to the public and notice of said meeting having been given as prescribed by Chapter 551 of the Government Code, with the members being present and in attendance, to wit: Greg Lewellen, Mayor Alan Monroe, Mayor Pro-Tem Andy Alexander, Council Member David Gonzales, Council Member Brent Loflin, Council Member Esmeralda Mills, Council Member Leander Davila, City Manager/City Secretary Others present included: Clint Mears, Friona Star Jose Samarron, Friona Public Works Department Wendy Carthel, Friona Economic Development Corporation Judge Marie Samarron, Friona Municipal Court Mia Reyna, Water Utility Clerk Maria Garcia, Citizen Antonio Monreal, Citizen Martin Lopez, Citizen Charlsi Allen, Citizen Justin Jeter, Citizen Patricia Yanez, Citizen Julie Salsman, Citizen Jonathan Salsman, Citizen Pov Chea, Citizen Mayor Lewellen called the meeting to order at 6:31 p.m. ITEM 1 ROLL CALL Mayor Lewellen called roll and announced that a quorum was present. ITEM 2 INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. Council Member Gonzales gave the Invocation and Council Member Loflin led the Pledge of Allegiance. ITEM 3 HEAR PUBLIC COMMENTS There were no public comments ITEM 4 BUSINESS OF THE MONTH PROCLAMATIONS Mayor Lewellen presented proclamations to the following businesses in recognition of March 2026 being designated as Friona Business Month: Friona Donuts, Gato’s Express, Interbank, J&J Cozy Eats, Mr. Service (not present), State Farm Insurance, and Unbridled Style. Clint Mears with the Friona Star took a picture of the business of the month recipients. REGULAR HEARING: The regular hearing was opened at 6:38 p.m. ITEM 5 CONSIDER AND TAKE ACTION ON APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE FEBRUARY 9, 2026, REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MOTION Council Member Loflin made the motion to approve the minutes of the February 9, 2026 Regular City Council Meeting. The second to the motion was made by Mayor Pro-Tem Monroe and the motion passed with a 5/0 vote. ITEM 6 CONSIDER AND TAKE ACTION ON RESOLUTION NO. 2026.03.09 DECLARING THAT EACH CANDIDATE WHOSE NAME IS TO APPEAR ON THE BALLOT IS UNOPPOSED: THAT NO PROPOSITION APPEARS ON THE BALLOT; DECLARING THAT EACH UNOPPOSED CANDIDATE IS ELECTED TO THAT OFFICE; AND RESCINDING THE RESOLUTION CALLING FOR THE MAY 2, 2026 ELECTION MOTION Mayor Pro-Tem Monroe made the motion to approve Resolution No. 2026.03.09 declaring that each candidate whose name is to appear on the ballot is unopposed: that no proposition appears on the ballot; declaring that each unopposed candidate is elected to that office; and rescinding the resolution calling for the May 2, 2026 General Election. The second to the motion was made by Council Member Alexander and the motion passed with a vote of 5/0. ITEM 7 CONSIDER AND TAKE ACTION ON RESOLUTION NO. 2026.03.09A APPOINTING THE ELECTION OFFICIALS FOR THE MAY 2, 2026, FRIONA SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION, SETTING THE RATE OF PAY FOR THE ELECTION OFFICIALS, THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF ELECTION CLERKS FOR THE POLLING PLACE AND DESIGNATION OF THE EARLY VOTING BALLOT BOARD MOTION Council Member Alexander made the motion to approve Ordinance No. 2026.03.09A appointing the election officials for the May 2, 2026, Friona School Board Election, setting the rate of pay for the election officials, the maximum number of election clerks for the polling place and designation of the early voting ballot board. The second to the motion was made by Council Member Loflin and the motion passed with a 5/0 vote. ITEM 8 HEAR DEPARTMENTAL REPORT FROM THE FRIONA PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT REGARDING BUDGET, EXPENSES, PERSONNEL, AND UPCOMING EVENTS Public Works Director Samarron gave a departmental report from the Public Works Department regarding budget, expenses, personnel, and upcoming events. ITEM 9 DISCUSSION AND BRIEFING ON A DRAFT GOLF CART/UTV ORDINANCE Judge Samarron discussed and briefed the City Council on a draft golf cart/UTV ordinance and accepted changes and suggestions from the group. It was discussed that a final draft of the ordinance would be presented to the City Council at their next meeting on April 13, 2026. ITEM 10 CONSIDER AND TAKE ACTION ON AN ELECTRIC LINE EASEMENT REQUEST FROM DEAF SMITH ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC., AUTHORIZING THE REBUILD AND EXTENSION OF A THREE-PHASE ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTION LINE ALONG CITY-OWNED PROPERTY TO PROVIDE ELECTRIC SERVICE TO ADJACENT PROPERTY This item was tabled and possibly postponed to April 13, 2026. ITEM 11 CONSIDER AND TAKE ACTION ON AN INTERLOCAL COOPERATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN PARMER COUNTY, TEXAS AND THE CITY OF FRIONA, TEXAS FOR LIMITED-SERVICE DEPUTY VEHICLE REGISTRATION SERVICES MOTION Council Member Alexander made the motion to approve an interlocal cooperation agreement between Parmer County, Texas and the City of Friona, Texas for Limited-Service Deputy Vehicle Registration Services. The second to the motion was made by Council Member Mills and the motion was passed with a 5/0 vote. ITEM 12 CONSIDER AND TAKE ACTION ON SELECTING CANDIDATES FOR POSITIONS 1 AND 2 FOR THE 2026 DEAF SMITH ELECTRIC COOP DIRECTOR ELECTION MOTION Council Member Loflin made the motion to approve selecting candidates for Position 1 and Position 2 for the 2026 Deaf Smith Electric Coop Director Election. The Candidate for Position 1 was Melvin Betzen and the candidate for Position 2 was Norman Gerber. The second to the motion was made by Mayor Pro-Tem Monroe and the motion was passed with a 5/0 vote. ITEM 13 CONSIDER AND TAKE ACTION ON APPROVAL OF ORDINANCE NO. 2026.03.09B APPROVING A TARIFF AUTHORIZING AN ANNUAL RATE  REVIEW MECHANISM (“RRM”) AS A SUBSTITUTION FOR THE ANNUAL INTERIM RATE ADJUSTMENT PROCESS DEFINED BY SECTION 104.301 OF THE TEXAS UTILITIES CODE, AND AS NEGOTIATED BETWEEN ATMOS ENERGY CORP., WEST TEXAS DIVISION (“ATMOS WEST TEXAS” OR “COMPANY”) AND THE STEERING COMMITTEE OF CITIES SERVED BY ATMOS WEST TEXAS; REQUIRING THE COMPANY TO REIMBURSE CITIES’ REASONABLE RATEMAKING EXPENSES; ADOPTING A SAVINGS CLAUSE; DETERMINING THAT THIS ORDINANCE WAS PASSED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT; DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE; AND REQUIRING DELIVERY OF THIS ORDINANCE TO THE COMPANY AND LEGAL COUNSEL FOR THE STEERING COMMITTEE MOTION Council Member Alexander made the motion to approve Ordinance No. 2026.03.09B. approving a tariff authorizing an annual Rate Review Mechanism (“RRM”) as a substitution for the annual interim rate adjustment process defined by Section 104.301 of the Texas Utilities Code, and as negotiated between Atmos Energy Corp., West Texas Division (“Atmos West Texas” or “Company”) and the steering committee of cities served by Atmos West Texas; requiring the Company to reimburse cities’ reasonable ratemaking expenses; adopting a savings clause; determining that this ordinance was passed in accordance with the requirements of the Open Meetings Act; declaring an effective date; and requiring delivery of this ordinance to the Company and legal counsel for the steering committee. The second to the motion was made by Council Member Gonzales and the motion was passed with a 5/0 vote. ITEM 14 CONSIDER AND TAKE ACTION ON APPROVAL OF ACCOUNTS PAYABLE FOR FEBRUARY 2026 City Manager/City Secretary Davila reviewed Accounts Payable. MOTION Mayor Pro-Tem Monroe made the motion to approve Accounts Payable for February 2026. The second to the motion was made by Council Member Loflin and the motion passed with a 5/0 vote ITEM 15 CONSIDER AND TAKE ACTION ON APPROVAL OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR FEBRUARY 2026 City Manager/City Secretary Davila reviewed the Financial Statement. MOTION Council Member Loflin made the motion to approve the Financial Statement for February 2026. The second to the motion was made by Council Member Alexander and the motion passed with a 5/0 vote. EXECUTIVE SESSION: The City Council went into closed session at 8:02 p.m. ITEM 16 CITY COUNCIL WILL CONVENE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO SECTION 551.074, TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE (PERSONNEL MATTERS), TO DELIBERATE THE DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND CONTINUED ELIGIBILITY OF AN ELECTED OFFICIAL RELATED TO THE MAYOR’S OFFICE ITEM 17 CITY COUNCIL WILL CONVENE INTO CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION IN ACCORDANCE WITH TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, SUBCHAPTER D, SECTION 551.073 (REGARDING PERSONNEL MATTERS – CITY MANAGER) REGULAR HEARINGS: The city council came out of closed session at 9:33 p.m. ITEM 18 RECONVENE INTO REGULAR SESSION AND CONSIDER ACTION, IF ANY, ON ITEM 16 DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION No action was taken. ITEM 19 RECONVENE INTO REGULAR SESSION AND CONSIDER ACTION, IF ANY, ON ITEM 17 DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION No action was taken. ITEM 20 ADJOURNMENT With no further business at hand the meeting was adjourned at 9:34 p.m. APPROVED: Greg Lewellen, Mayor ATTEST: Leander Davila, City Secretary