Town Council Meeting Monday, January 12, 2026 06:00 PM 102 W. Bailey Street, Ponder, TX 76259

NOTICE

THE TOWN COUNCIL FOR THE TOWN OF PONDER, TEXAS, WILL CONVENE IN PRE-COUNCIL AT 6:00 P.M. AND REGULAR SESSION AT 6:30 P.M. IN PONDER TOWN HALL, AT 102 W. BAILEY STREET, PONDER.

CALL TO ORDER

ROLL CALL

INVOCATION, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND TEXAS PLEDGE

STAFF REPORTS

• 1.Bulk Trash Report - December 

• 2.Library Report

• 3.PD Report

• 4.Planning and Zoning Report

PRESENTATION

• 5.Presentation by CEO/Retired Chief Mike Wilson from Newinblue.

PRE-COUNCIL MEETING - 6:00PM  (Council members may have preliminary discussions about agenda items, allowing them to come to the regular meeting with a better understanding of the items.)

REGULAR SESSION AGENDA

REGULAR MEETING - 6:30PM

OPEN FORUM FOR CITIZEN INPUT (Please limit to 5 minutes per person and if you wish to speak on a particular agenda item, please list the agenda item next to your name.)

This is a time for the public to address the Town Council on any subject. However, the Texas Open Meetings Act prohibits the Town Council from discussing issues which the public has not been given seventy-two (72) hours’ notice. Issues raised may be referred to Town Staff for research and possible future action.

CONSENT AGENDA  (All matters listed as Consent Agenda are considered to be routine by the Town Council and will be enacted by one motion. There will not be a separate discussion of these items. If discussion is desired, that item may be removed from the consent agenda and considered separately.)

• 6.Consider approval of minutes from December 8, 2025 meeting. 

• 7.Discuss, consider, and act on an Ordinance Calling an Election for May 2, 2026, to include a General Election for Town Council Places 1, 3, and 5, a Special Election for Town Council Place 4, a Special Election to Reauthorize the One-Fourth of One Cent Street Maintenance Sales and Use Tax, and  a Special Election to Consider the Approval of a TAX INCREASE to increase the Town of Ponder Sales and Use Tax Rate by an Additional One-Fourth of One Cent. 

• 8.Discuss, consider and possible action regarding the award of a construction contract with Mario Sinacola for the Anderson Farms Parkway construction project, in an amount not to exceed $3,398,452.00.

• 9.Elect Chance Allen to the EDC Board and Cathy Green as an EDC advisory director. 

• 10.Discuss, consider and possible action regarding a RFQ for engineering services.  

ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION 

• 11.Discuss, consider and possible action regarding Replat of Lat 4, Hillside Estates No. 2 into Lots 4A and 4B, in Ponder’s ETJ.

• 12.Discuss, consider and possible action regarding replat of Rylee Addition plus additional unplatted property into “Minor Plat” Lots 1-R and 2-R Block A

• 13.Discuss, consider, and possibly take action on terminating town attorney services with Boyle & Lowry, L.L.P.

• 14.Discuss, consider, and possibly take action on engaging Taylor Olson Adkins Sralla & Elam, LLP as new town attorney.

• 15.Discuss, consider and possibly take action on employment agreement for Fred Tillman. 

Executive Session

The Town Council reserves the right to adjourn into executive session at any time during the course of  this meeting to discuss any of the matters listed below, as authorized by Texas Government Code

A. Consult with attorney on a matter in which the attorney's duty to the governmental body under the  Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct conflicts with this chapter and/or consult with  attorney about pending or contemplated litigation or contemplated settlement of the same. Section  551.071.

B. Consult with attorney on a matter in which the attorney's duty to the governmental body under the  Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct conflicts with this chapter and/or consult with  attorney about pending or contemplated litigation or contemplated settlement of the same. Section  551.071.

C. Discuss negotiated gifts or donations to the City (public discussion at this stage would have a  detrimental effect on the City's bargaining position). Section 551.073.

D. Discuss the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment of duties, discipline, or dismissal  of or to hear a complaint against a public officer or employee. Section 551.074.

a. Town Administrator

E. Discuss the commercial or financial information received from an existing business or business  prospect with which the City is negotiating for the location or retention of a facility, or for incentives  the City is willing to extend, or financial information submitted by the same. Section 551.087.

F. Discuss the deployment or specific occasions for implementation of security personnel or devices.  Section 551.076.

G. Deliberations regarding economic development negotiations pursuant to Section 551.087.

ITEMS FOR THE NEXT AGENDA

ADJOURN

The Town Council reserves the right to adjourn into executive session at any time during the course of this meeting to discuss any of the matters listed above, as authorized by Texas Government Code, Section 551.071 (Consultation with Attorney), 551.072 (Deliberations about Real Property), 551.073 (Deliberations about Gifts and Donations), 551.074 (Personnel Matters), 551.076 (Deliberations about Security Devices) and 551.087 (Economic Development)

CERTIFICATION

I hereby certify that the above notice was posted on the bulletin board at the Ponder Town Hall at 102 W. Bailey Street, Ponder, Texas on the 6th day of January 2026, at 5:00 p.m.

 _____________________________
Rebecca Zielinski, Planning and Zoning Coordinator

If you plan to attend this public meeting and you have a disability that requires special arrangements at the meeting, please contact our office at 940-479-2396. Reasonable accommodations will be made to assist your needs.