Jun 05, 2026 Special City Council

OUTSIDE.

[CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:04]

I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER OF THE WILLER CITY COUNCIL AT 6 32.

ON BEHALF OF THE CITY COUNCIL, I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND A WARM WELCOME AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING.

YOUR PRESENCE REFLECTS A STRONG COMMITMENT AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, AND WE TRULY VALUE YOUR INTEREST IN THE WORK AND PROGRESS OF OUR CITY.

ARE THERE ANY

[CITIZENS' COMMENTS]

WE DO HAVE ONE COMMENT FROM DR.

EMMANUEL WEALTHY.

MS. WEALTHY, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, YOUR ADDRESS, AND YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES.

GOOD EVENING, MARY MAYOR, WEALTHY MAY ADDRESS IS 12 HIGH DRIVE HUTS, TEXAS ITEM TO BE HERE TONIGHT.

UH, ONE OF THE WONDERFUL THINGS ABOUT YOUR AGENDA TONIGHT IS ABOUT YOU DISCUSSING AND CONSIDERING CERTAIN THINGS THAT ARE ON THE END.

I WANTED TO SAY WAS SOMETIMES YOU CAN'T DISCUSS A MATTER IF YOU DON'T HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION ON THE MATTER.

AND IT IS MY HOPE THAT TONIGHT I WANTED TO BRING THIS UP LAST NIGHT AND I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS GONNA COME BACK, BUT IT IS MY HOPE THAT IN YOU DISCUSSING YOU GET THE INFORMATION, UH, YOU HAVE, UH, ON ONE, ONE OF YOUR ITEMS THAT CONSIDER THE CONTRACT AGREEMENT WITH THE CARL SHERMAN FOUNDATION.

I THINK WHEN YOU HAVE NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE ON, THEY DON'T KNOW ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE BEEN ON PREVIOUSLY, AND IT'S A, IT'S A DIFFICULT CHALLENGE TO BE ABLE TO MAKE A DECISION WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION.

AND SO I WANTED TO URGE THIS COUNCIL TO ALLOW THE NEW COUNCIL THE OPPORTUNITY TO WIN, TO GET ALL OF THE INFORMATION.

SO IT'S MY HOPE THAT AS YOU DISCUSS IT, THAT YOU WILL ALLOW, UH, THE PEOPLE TO PRESENT FROM THEIR ORGANIZATION BECAUSE A LOT HAS HAPPENED IN OUR CITY OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, WEEKS, DAYS.

MAYBE A LOT WILL HAPPEN EVEN TONIGHT, BUT IT'S MY HOPE THAT YOU WON'T TRY TO DISCUSS A MATTER THAT YOU DON'T ALWAYS HAVE THE INFORMATION ON.

YOU CAN MAKE THE BEST DECISION WHEN IT'S AN INFORMED DECISION, AND MANY PEOPLE MIGHT SAY THINGS IN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT WHAT THEY HEAR, WHAT THEY, BUT ALL THE COUNCIL HAS NOT HAVE GOTTEN THE NEW COUNCIL, HAVE NOT GOTTEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR WHAT'S GOING ON, WHAT'S IN THE WORKS, AND WITH THE DECISION TO RELEASE SOME PEOPLE OR EVERYBODY AT THE SAME TIME.

AND YOU'RE STILL LEARNING THE GAME AS WELL.

SET YOURSELF JUST TO A LITTLE BIT OF THE DISADVANTAGE AND WITH OUR TWO NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS BEFORE THEY GET TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION.

I JUST WOULD LIKE, IF YOU GET TO HEAR EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON WITH THE CONTRACT, WHAT'S GOING ON WITH CO, WHAT'S GOING ON, WHAT WE STAND TO LOSE IF WE MAKE A DECISION.

AND WHEN YOU JUST MAKE A DECISION BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU CAME TO THE TABLE WITH WITHOUT HEARING THE, WITH THE INFORMATION OF FRESH AND THE NEW, YOUR DECISION'S GONNA BE A LITTLE SLANTED.

AND AS MUCH AS WE DON'T WANNA MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE THAT WE MADE WITH PREVIOUS COUNSEL OR MADE WITH PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION, WE WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE THOSE SAME MISTAKES IF WE DON'T HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION.

SO I URGE YOU TONIGHT BEFORE YOU MAKE A FINAL DECISION ON WHAT YOU WANT TO DO HERE, HERE FROM THE PEOPLE THAT REPRESENT THE CONTRACT HERE, WHAT WILL BE AT STAKE HERE? BECAUSE WE WANT AT ALL COSTS, WILER IS MAKING MORE MONEY, BUT WE DON'T WANNA LOSE MORE MONEY.

BUT IF YOU DON'T HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION, WE WILL MAKE THE SAME MISTAKES.

I WANT OUR NEW COUNCIL WIN AND THEY WON'T WIN.

THEY DON'T HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION.

SO I URGE YOU BEFORE YOU DECIDE, HEAR THE PRESENTATION, HEAR A PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MA'AM.

UH, MY PAPER DOES NOT SHOW IT, BUT AT THIS TIME, WE NEED TO DO INVOCATION.

YES.

AND, UH, ON THE, ON THE WEBSITE CHIEF, WOULD YOU PLEASE DO OUR INDICATION FOR US? ABSOLUTELY.

WOULD EVERYONE STAND? THAT CAN STAND AFTERWARDS.

WE WILL BE DOING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

WOULD YOU PRAY WITH ME? DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER, WE JUST ALWAYS, FIRST AND FOREMOST GIVE YOU

[00:05:01]

FATHER, THEY'RE HERE TONIGHT DOING THE BUSINESS OF THE CITY, LORD, AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, YOU TAUGHT YOUR DISCIPLES TO PRAY.

KINGDOM COME.

YOUR WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.

YOU TOLD US AND ENCOURAGED US.

THE KINGDOM IS ABOUT PEACE AND JOY.

THE RIGHTEOUSNESS, NO MATTER WHAT A THING LOOKS LIKE TO US, IN A NATURAL FATHER, WE BELIEVE TROLL.

AND YOU HAVE OUR DESTINIES IN YOUR HANDS, IN YOUR BEST INTEREST.

AND THIS IS THE LAST TIME I PRAYED A CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGAIN.

I PRAYED BLESSINGS ON THEM.

EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THESE COUNCIL MEMBERS, FATHER THAT IS WIER, CONTINUES TO FORGE FORWARD.

THEY HAVE, HAVE WISDOM BEYOND THEMSELVES THAT YOU JUST FILL 'EM WITH GRACE AND KNOWLEDGE THAT EACH AND EVERY DECISION THEY MAKE EACH DAY GOING FORWARD WILL ALWAYS BE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITIZENS OF THIS COMMUNITY.

BECAUSE THIS COMMUNITY IS A BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY.

IT'S FULL OF AMAZING, WONDERFUL PEOPLE.

AND I PRAY YOUR DIVINE PROTECTION, PROSPERITY, GRACE, LOVE, AND MERCY, CAST OUT ALL FEAR UPON EACH AND EVERY FIRST RESPONDERS AND EVERY EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY.

GOD, JUST BE REAL SPECIAL TODAY, TOMORROW, AND EACH DAY, THEIR LIVES AND THEIR JOURNEY, AND THEIR CAREER WITH THE CITY OF WONDER.

AND I PRAY THIS IN A PRECIOUS NAME OF AMEN.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

OKAY, WE'RE MOVING ON TO PUBLIC

[1. Discuss and consider appointing a qualified individual to fill the vacancy of Linda Diane Nelon. ]

UH, NUMBER ONE, DISCUSS AND CONSIDER APPOINTING A QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL TO FILL THE VACANCY OF LINDA DIANE NELAND.

AND THIS IS A NO ACTION SINCE IT WAS DONE YESTERDAY.

IT'S A NO ACTION BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY BEEN DONE.

YES.

OKAY.

ITEM NUMBER TWO, SWEARING IN AN

[2. Swearing in and oath of new Councilmember.]

YES.

YES.

YOU SO SWEAR THAT THE PEOPLE FAITHFULLY EXECUTE, DISCUSS DUTIES AND COUNSEL.

IT'S NOT, UM, SPEED.

ALRIGHT, I, JOE KEN ALEXANDER.

DO SOLEMN SWEAR, SIR, THAT CAN NOT BE DONE THAT WAY.

IT HAS TO BE DONE BY A CITY OF THAT'S ALREADY A ESTABLISHED, HE'S ALREADY GOT IN, BUT YEAH.

I'LL, SO I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING TODAY.

IT CAN'T BE DONE.

ALRIGHT.

I, I JOKING ALEXANDER, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM THAT I WILL, THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY, FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES, EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF A COUNCIL MEMBER OF OF CITY, OF WILMER.

OF THE CITY OF WILMER.

STATE OF TEXAS.

STATE OF TEXAS.

AND WILL DO THE BEST.

AND WE'LL DO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY.

OF MY ABILITY TO PRESERVE.

TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT AND PROTECT AND DEFEND.

AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION.

THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS, LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES,

[00:10:02]

SO HELP ME, GOD, ANSWER ITEM NUMBER THREE, DISCUSS THE CONSIDER

[3. Discuss and consider possible termination of the consulting agreement between the City of Wilmer and Carl Sherman.]

MR. SHERMAN, PLEASE GIVE YOUR NAME, YOUR ADDRESS, AND I'M GIVING YOU 10 MINUTES.

CARL SHERMAN, TWO 17 EAST BELTLINE ROAD, SOTA, TEXAS.

MADAM MAYOR, COUNSEL AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS ARE THE JEWEL OF THIS COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY.

WE ARE UNITED BY A GOAL THAT IS BIGGER THAN ANY ONE ORGANIZATION, BIGGER THAN ANY ONE CONTRACT, BIGGER THAN ANY ONE INDIVIDUAL, BRINGING A QUALITY FULL SERVICE GROCERY STORE TO THIS COMMUNITY.

ONE THAT PROVIDES ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD.

IT CREATES JOBS, STRENGTHENS ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, AND GIVES BACK TO THE PEOPLE IT SERVES.

FOR ME, THIS IS PERSONAL.

THIS COMMUNITY HAS BEEN WITHOUT A FULL SERVICE GROCERY STORE FOR OVER 30 YEARS.

LET THAT SINK IN FOR OVER 30 YEARS.

IT'S BEEN 30 YEARS SINCE WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER AND WORKED AT MAX GROCERY STORE, BAGGING GROCERIES, STOCKING SHELVES, TAKING GROCERIES TO THE CARDS OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE, INCLUDING MY OWN MOM.

AND I KNEW THE NAMES OF THE FAMILIES IN WHICH I TOOK THE GROCERIES TO THEIR CARS.

TO ME, IT WAS A SENSE OF PRIDE TO HAVE A FULL SERVICE GROCERY STORE THAT PROVIDED HEALTHY FOOD OPTIONS FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

WE MOVED HERE.

I WAS FIVE YEARS OLD AND I REMEMBER MY NEIGHBORS, I REMEMBER A MAN THAT MY FRIEND MICHAEL GONZALEZ AND I, HE CALLED HIM GRANDPA.

WELL I CALL HIM GRANDPA.

IT WAS HIS REAL GRANDPA.

AND HE TAUGHT ME HOW TO RIDE A HORSE AT THEIR RANCH OUT HERE.

THAT'S WHY THIS WORK MATTERS.

AT THE CARL SHERMAN GROUP, WE HAVE FOCUSED ON TURNING THIS VISION INTO REALITY.

WE COMMISSIONED AND DELIVERED A COMPREHENSIVE GROCERY MARKET STUDY, AN IMPORTANT DISTINCTION FROM THE TRADITIONAL RETAIL STUDY.

THIS STUDY PROVIDES THE SPECIFIC MARKET INTELLIGENCE FROM A, OUR FOUR GROCERY STORES, DEVELOPERS AND LENDERS AND INVESTORS NEEDED TO EVALUATE DEMAND, FEASIBILITY, AND LONG-TERM SUCCESS.

IT CREATES A ROADMAP FOR ATTRACTING THE RIGHT GROCERY PARTNER.

WE HAVE ALSO WORKED CLOSELY WITH A DEVELOPER TO ADVANCE THE PROJECT AND LEVERAGE PUBLIC RELATIONSHIPS AND PARTNERSHIPS.

THE PUBLIC SECTOR IS SO IMPORTANT TO THIS.

AND AS I STAND HERE AS A FORMER LAWMAKER, I'LL TELL YOU THAT WE DON'T GET ANYTHING DONE UNLESS WE WORK IN COLLABORATION WITH THE COUNTY, WITH COG, WITH THE STATE OF TEXAS AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AS WELL.

AND SO THIS WORK MATTERS.

IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER TO STRENGTHEN THE CAPITAL STACK AND GARNER THE SUPPORT FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR ALSO, WHO SHARE THE VISION OF BRINGING A COMMUNITY CENTERED GROCERY STORE TO THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.

THESE ARE NOT SIMPLY ACTIVITIES.

THEY ARE TANGIBLE STEPS THAT BUILD MOMENTUM, REDUCE RISK, AND INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF SUCCESS AS STAKEHOLDERS.

YOUR INTEREST IS NOT JUST MERELY IN STARTING A PROJECT.

IT IS IN COMPLETING A PROJECT, A PROJECT

[00:15:01]

WE REMAIN FULLY COMMITTED TO THE GOAL BECAUSE THIS EFFORT IS ABOUT MORE THAN ATTRACTING A GROCERY STORE.

IT IS ABOUT RESTORING ACCESS, CREATING OPPORTUNITY, AND DELIVERING SOMETHING THAT MANY RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR DECADES TO SEE TOGETHER.

WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY, AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING TRULY MEANINGFUL.

AND I HOPE WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER.

LAST SPRING, WHEN YOU RETAINED OUR COMPANY, JUST LAST SPRING, YOU RETAINED OUR COMPANY.

WE HIT THE GROUND RUNNING BECAUSE AGAIN, THIS IS WHERE I GREW UP.

MR. MAX WAS NOT JUST MY BOSS, HE WAS A FRIEND.

HE WAS A FRIEND WHO EXTENDED CREDIT TO MY MOTHER, WHO RAISED HER FIVE CHILDREN HERE ON HER OWN.

AND SO, FOR THE NEXT FEW MINUTES, I WANNA SHOW YOU SOME OF THE MARKET STUDY THAT HAS BEEN DONE.

AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN RETAIL STUDIES, WHICH IS TRADITIONALLY WHAT COMMUNITIES DO.

AND GROCERY STUDIES, YOU KNOW, WHEN A GROCERY STORE IS SERIOUS ABOUT COMING TO YOUR COMMUNITY WHEN THEY DO A GROCERY STICK.

SO I'VE ASKED MY ASSISTANT TO SET UP THINGS HERE.

HOPEFULLY YOU CAN SEE, UH, WE HAVE, WE STARTED OFF WITH THREE, THREE DIFFERENT SITE LOCATIONS.

UH, THIS CERTAINLY IS A CITY OF WILMER.

LET'S GO AHEAD AND GO TO THE NEXT SCREEN.

AND WE HAVE A QR CODE IN THE BACK FOR THOSE THAT MAY WANT TO USE THEIR PHONES TO FOLLOW US ON THIS PRESENTATION.

THERE WERE THREE DIFFERENT SITE LOCATIONS THAT WERE CHOSEN.

UH, AND THE CITY'S INPUT WAS ALSO PROVIDED TO US AS TO SITE LOCATIONS THAT THEY WOULD WANT TO SEE A GROCERY STORE.

IF YOU'LL GO BACK TO THAT SCREEN WITH THE SITE LOCATIONS, WIFI IS A LITTLE SLOW.

OKAY? AND THIS IS A 71 PAGE REPORT, UH, THAT YOU'LL FIND HERE.

NOW, SITE SITE 100 IS THE SITE LOCATION WHERE THE SUN RIDGE DEVELOPMENT IS.

GET BACK THERE JUST A SECOND.

OKAY.

THIS IS AT PLEASANT RUN AND I 45 SITE 200 IS WHERE BELT LINE AND I 45 R.

THAT USED TO BE WHEN I WAS A KID GROWING UP A TRUCK STOP THERE.

IN FACT, UH, MICHAEL GONZALEZ AND I, MOSES, YOU KNOW, WE HAD A RESTAURANT.

WE GOT OUR FIRST CUSTOMERS FROM THE TRUCKERS THERE.

AND THEN SITE 300 HERE IS ACROSS FROM THE LIBRARY OR IN THIS VICINITY, UH, WHERE CITY HALL IS.

AND WHEN THEY DID THE STUDIES, UH, THEY DID IT.

YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND GO TO THE NEXT PAGE WITH THE MINE, KNOWING THAT WITHIN THE TRADING PAGE, I MEAN TRADING ZONE, THAT AREA WHERE TRADE IS CONDUCTED, WHICH GOES ABOUT 4.1 MILES, UH, WEST AND 4.1 MILES NORTH, I BELIEVE THAT'S RIGHT.

NO, 4.1 MILES NORTH.

YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

4.1 MILES WEST AND FIVE MILES SOUTH TOWARD FERRIS.

AND, UH, THEN THE NORTH IS TOWARD DALLAS.

THAT'S ABOUT 19,000 PEOPLE THAT RESIDE IN THAT AREA.

GO AHEAD AND GO TO THE NEXT SCREEN.

'CAUSE I, I, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.

LET ME THIS FLOAT WHERE IT SAYS FLOAT DOLLARS.

GO RIGHT BACK.

I'M SORRY.

'CAUSE I CAN SEE, UH, SOMEONE IS LOOKING AT THEIR WATCH.

SO I WANNA MAKE SURE I'M VERY COGNIZANT OF YOUR TIME.

UH, THE FLOAT DOLLARS, YOU SEE THE FLOAT DOLLARS ARE $250,182.

THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT.

THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT NUMBER FOR YOU TO KNOW BECAUSE 25.4%

[00:20:01]

THERE'S A POTENTIAL OF OVER 900,000, BUT ONLY 700,000 IS ACTUALLY SPENT HERE IN THAT TRADE AREA.

BUT IT GOES TO KROGER, IT GOES TO WALMART SUPER CENTER, IT GOES TO WALMART NEIGHBORHOOD, BOTH IN LANCASTER AND THE FIESTA, UH, MEAT MARKET THERE.

UH, AND FIESTA MART IN LANCASTER, THAT'S WHERE YOUR DOLLARS GOING.

THE SECOND MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THIS STATE IS THAT THERE ARE SECTORS WHERE YOUR CUSTOMERS, BASED ON THIS STUDY THAT WAS DONE BY A, WE COMMISSIONED, IT'S OUR STUDY THAT WE COMMISSIONED SO THAT YOU WOULD NOT BE VULNERABLE TO OTHER CITIES STEALING YOUR DATA AND TAKING IT AND USING IT FOR THEMSELVES.

WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT? BECAUSE SECTION FOUR IN HUTCHINS IS WHERE MOST OF YOUR CUSTOMERS WOULD COME FROM.

THAT'S 10 MINUTES.

SORRY.

I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY, UH, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU TONIGHT.

I HOPE AND PRAY, UH, THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK TOGETHER WITH YOU.

UH, AND THAT'S IN YOUR POWER.

UH, WE CERTAINLY HAVE ONE GROCERY STORE AT THIS POINT THAT IS COMMITTED TO BEING A PART OF THE FINALIST GROCERY STORES TO COME TO THE CITY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ANY QUESTION? THANK YOU, SIR.

FOR ME, COUNSEL, DO Y'ALL HAVE ANY I HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

ANY.

OKAY.

THANK YOU, SIR.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

SINCE THERE'S NO DISCUSSION, MAY I, MADAM MAYOR, SORRY.

GENERALLY IN THE PUBLIC HEARINGS YOU WOULD ALSO ASK IF THE CITIZENS HAD ANY BY LAW.

THANK, THANK YOU, SIR.

YOU ARE RIGHT.

AT THIS TIME, ARE THERE ANY CITIZENS THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT? PLEASE STAND, SIR.

PLEASE GIVE YOUR NAME.

.

YOU WILL ALL I KNOW WHY IT'S TAKEN A YEAR FOR US TO GET A GROCERY STORE OUT HERE AND WHAT CHAIN COMING.

I DON'T THINK HE'S ALLOWED TO SAY THE CHAIN.

IF, IF HE'S ASKING ME THE QUESTION, I CANNOT ANSWER THE CHAIN.

MM-HMM .

WITH THE STORES, YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE THE STORE TO TELL ME.

OKAY.

THAT WE COULD ANSWER THAT.

AS FAR AS TAKING A YEAR, UH, THAT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION.

IT TAKES A WHILE TO DO THE DATA STORE, UH, DATA STUDY ON THIS.

AND SO YOU DON'T, YOU ARE NOT GONNA GET A GROCERY STORE OVERNIGHT WITHOUT HAVING DATA AND YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET LENDERS TO INVEST BECAUSE THIS STORE WILL TAKE $10 MILLION JUST FOR THE BUILDING STRUCTURE.

AND, AND THAT'S NOT INCLUDING .

UH, SO YOU ARE LOOKING AT $10 MILLION CAPITAL JUST FOR THE BEGINNING.

AND ONE YEAR THERE IS NO GROCERY STORE, INCLUDING AGENCIES THAT WILL MOVE TO A COMMUNITY MM-HMM .

IN ONE YEAR.

THEY'RE GONNA DO THEIR OWN STEADY AS WELL.

OKAY.

SO YOU'RE SAYING IT'S 10 MILLION GO TO THE GROCERY STORE? YES, SIR.

THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO PAY FOR.

NO, I DIDN'T SAY THE HEARING.

I'M JUST ASKING THE QUESTION.

OKAY.

BUT SIMPSON'S GONNA HAVE TO PAY FOR, I DIDN'T SAY THAT.

THIS, THIS IS, THIS IS NOT REALLY A PUBLIC HEARING.

IT'S RIGHT.

QUESTION AND ANSWER IS NOT REALLY FOR A PUBLIC HEARING.

PUBLIC HEARING IS FOR WHOEVER IN THE PUBLIC WANTS TO COME UP AND SPEAK AND TALK TO THE COUNCIL.

RIGHT NOW IT'S NO, NO, BUT YOU CAN ASK THE PPLICANT AS WELL.

THAT'S NOT A PUBLIC HEARING.

YOU TALK ABOUT THE LAW.

A PUBLIC HEARING IS A CITIZEN'S GETTING UP OR WHOEVER WANTS TO AND SAYING WHAT THEY WANT TO THE COUNCIL.

THERE'S NOT A DISCUSSION.

CAN Y'ALL PLEASE ANSWER MY, WHO'S GONNA PAY FOR THE STORE WITH US? OH, THE CITY OF WILER.

WHO IT WILL BE THE COMPANY THAT COMES IN.

YES, SIR.

OKAY.

THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING.

YES, SIR.

I, I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR YEARS, HEARING FOR, I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON TRYING TO GET A GROCERY STORE IN OUR CITY.

YES MA'AM.

WHILE I WAS EVEN ON COUNCIL.

SO IT'S NOT ANYTHING THAT YOU JUST GO OUT AND TALK AND THEY COME, THERE'S A LOT MORE TO, THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING A QUESTION BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOR YEARS ABOUT GROCERY STORES.

RIGHT? RIGHT.

15 YEARS AGO.

AND I WAS JUST CURIOUS WHAT TAKES SO LONG TO GET THE STORE BROUGHT HERE TO US AND IF WE GET ONE MM-HMM .

WE MAY HAVE ANOTHER ONE FOLLOWED.

OKAY.

AND THAT'S, THAT'S THE QUESTION THAT, THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN TRYING TO SAY.

UH, WE HAVE TO BE VERY PATIENT.

[00:25:01]

YES, SIR.

OKAY.

YES, SIR.

OKAY.

ALRIGHT.

THAT'S, I APPRECIATE YOU.

GOOD QUESTION.

THANK YOU, SIR.

I APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS? SO THAT MEANS ALL THE MONEY THAT WE PUT IN FOR THE DATA, INFORMATION AND RESEARCH TO FIND THIS OUT BECAUSE NOBODY BILLS IN THE CITY WITHOUT THIS INFORMATION, WE LOSE, LOSE THAT MONEY.

AND WE ALSO, THE CONTACTS VULNERABLE TO SOME OTHER CITY GETTING THE INFORMATION THAT WE ALREADY PAID FOR.

IS THAT CORRECT? MM-HMM .

YES, MA'AM.

OKAY.

OKAY.

AND THEN WE'LL, OKAY.

THAT, THAT'S, THOSE ARE MY QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU.

ANYONE ELSE PLEASE COME UP.

STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS.

THREE MINUTES.

THANK YOU.

GEORGE LEVER AT 24 MEADOW LANE.

THE INFORMATION THAT MR. SHERMAN HAS FOR WHAT IT IS BEING USED RIGHT NOW FOR THESE COMPANIES TO DETERMINE IF THEY WANT TO LOCATE A BUSINESS HERE IN, UH, WHETHER IT'S HEB, WALMART, IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE.

THE INFORMATION THAT THEY'RE USING IS PARTIALLY THE INFORMATION THAT MR. SHERMAN HAS PROVIDED TO THE CITY AS WELL AS TO THE DIFFERENT COMPANY.

MAKE A DETERMINATION WHETHER LOCATE, LOCATE AS STORE HERE IN WILMAR, UH, MONEY THAT'S BEEN INVESTED IN MY PERSONAL OPINION, IS VERY WELL SPENT BECAUSE THE DATA THAT HE'S COLLECTED, THE DATA THAT HE HAS CORRELATED, THE DATA THAT HE HAS PROVIDED WITH ALL OF THE INDEPENDENT STUDIES IS BEING USED RIGHT NOW BY THE CITY TO PROVIDE TO THESE DIFFERENT, UH, COMPANIES TO MAKE A DETERMINATION TO WHETHER OR NOT TO LOCATE AND INVEST HERE IN WILMER.

I BELIEVE IT'S MONEY THAT THE CITY IS WELL SPENT DATA THAT'S BEING USED, THAT HE HAS COLLECTED, CORRELATED, AND PROVIDED SO THAT THESE ORGANIZATIONS CAN MAKE A BETTER YES SIR.

WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK? IF NOT, I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND, I MOTION MAKING A MOTION ON, UH, TO TERMINATE HIS CONTRACT.

DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE LOSING A LOT OF MONEY.

THE CITY IS GOING TO BE LOSING A LOT OF MONEY.

YOU'VE ALREADY LOST A LOT OF MONEY.

I'M NOT HERE FOR A DEBATE.

YOU ASKED ME.

DO I UNDERSTAND? I UNDERSTAND.

I'M JUST ASKING YOU A QUESTION, SIR.

YOU ASKED FOR A MOTION.

I GAVE IT TO YOU, MA'AM.

A MOTION TO TERMIN THIS CONTRACT.

THE DECISION YOU RESPECT.

I RESPECT YOU.

OKAY.

I UNDERSTAND IT NOW.

MAY I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.

MAY I HAVE A VOTE? YES.

YES, YES, YES.

NO, FOUR FOR ONE AGAINST IT FAILED.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.

THANK YOU, SIR.

HAVE A HAVE A GOOD DAY.

THE MOTION PASSED.

THE MOTION PASSED.

DO WHAT? THE MOTION PASSED.

YOU SAID IT FAILED.

IT FAILED.

NO, IT, THE MOTION PASSED.

IT WAS FOUR TO ONE TO PASS THE NO, IT PA IT FAILED.

THE MOTION WAS, I MEAN, IT PASSES.

MR. SHERMAN IS NO LONGER WITH US.

YES.

COUNSEL.

[EXECUTIVE SESSION]

[00:30:01]

DEPUTY CITY SECRETARY.

I'M SORRY, BUT I'M READING IN THAT YOU FINISH.

YES.

UM, EXECUTIVE SESSION IN ACCORDANCE WITH TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE CHAPTER 5 51, SUB CHAPTER D, THE CITY, THE CITY COUNCIL WILL NOW RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, CLOSED MEETING TO DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING.

NUMBER ONE, PURSUANT TO SECTION FIVE 5.074 A, ONE OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE TO DELIBERATE THE APPOINTMENT, EMPLOYMENT EVALUATION, REASSIGNMENT DUTIES, DISCIPLINE OR DISMISSAL OF A PUBLIC OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE TO WIT CITY ADMINISTRATOR.

NUMBER TWO, PURSUANT TO SECTION FIVE 5.074 A, ONE OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE TO DELIBERATE THE APPOINTMENT, EMPLOYMENT EVALUATION, REASSIGNMENT DUTIES, DISCIPLINE OR DISMISSAL OF A PUBLIC OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE TO WIT, CHIEF OF POLICE.

AND NUMBER THREE, DISCUSS AND CONSIDER THE APPOINTMENT OF A CITY ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE CITY OF WILMER, TEXAS.

IT IS NOW 7 0 3.

WE ARE GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

[RECONVENE INTO REGULAR SESSION]

OKAY.

CHIEF, WOULD YOU LIKE TO STEP UP AND SAY SOMETHING? MAYOR PETA.

MAYOR , COUNCIL MEMBER T OF WILMER, MORE THAN 24 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO WILER DEPARTMENT, INCLUDING THE LAST SEVEN YEARS, 17 YEARS OF SERVING AS A POLICE CHIEF.

TONIGHT I, MY RESIGNATION FROM THE POSITION OF POLICE CHIEF EFFECTIVE TODAY, JUNE 5TH, 2026.

SERVING THE CITIZENS WOMEN HAS BEEN THE GREATEST HONOR AND PRIVILEGE OF MY PROFESSIONAL CAREER.

THROUGHOUT MY TENURE, I'VE BEEN BLESSED TO WORK ALONGSIDE OUTSTANDING LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONALS WHO HAVE DEMONSTRATED UNWAVERING DEDICATION, COURAGE, AND COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

TOGETHER WE HAVE FACED CHALLENGES, CELEBRATED SUCCESSES, AND WORKED TIRELESSLY TO BUILD A SAFER AND STRONGER COMMUNITY.

I AM DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR THE TRUST AND SUPPORT PROVIDED BY MAYOR PETA, PREVIOUS MAYOR'S COUNCIL AND COUNCIL'S PAST CITY ADMINISTRATOR STEVE NORWOOD.

IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME TRADES, I'VE SEEN A LOT OF THEM GANG KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING THROUGH ALL OF THEM.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, MOST TREASURED ARE THE RESIDENTS AND THE CITIZENS OF THIS COMMUNITY.

THE PEOPLE OF LUMBER.

THE RELATIONSHIPS AND EXPERIENCE GAINED DURING MY YEARS OF SERVICE WILL REMAIN AMONG THE MOST VALUED.

I TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN OUR DEPARTMENT'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

I'M CONFIDENT THAT THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE LUMBER POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY WITH HONOR, PROFESSIONALISM, INTEGRITY, AND EXCELLENCE, AND COMMITTED TO ENSURING A SMOOTH TRANSITION.

AND I'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT WHEREVER A BUCK CAN.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY IN THIS DEPARTMENT FOR OVER TWO DECADES, IT'S BEEN A PRIVILEGE TO UPDATE THE MAJORITY OF MY CAREER TO THE CITIZENS CITY OF WILBURN.

I'VE STOOD AT THIS PODIUM MANY, MANY TIMES, A LOT OF YEARS IN MY LAST OFFICIAL WORDS.

I WANNA SAY TO YOU AS A POLICE CHIEF, IS, MAY THE LORD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU.

MAY THE LORD MAKE HIS FACE SHINE UP ON YOU AND BE GRACIOUS TO YOU.

MAY THE LORD TURN HIS FACE TOWARDS YOU, GIVE YOU PEACE.

GOD BLESS EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.

10 42 GUYS,

[00:35:10]

UH, RIGHT NOW I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE CHIEF'S, UH, UH, POLICE REGISTRA, UH, RESIGNATION AND, UH, APPROVE THE SEPARATION AGREEMENT.

SECOND? YEAH, I'LL SECOND IT.

MAY I GET A VOTE? YES.

YES.

IT, IT IS UNANIMOUS, UH, TO ZERO.

THANK YOU, SIR, FOR ALL YOUR HONOR AND EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE FOR THIS CITY IN MY HONOR, PRIVILEGE.

OKAY.

LET'S MOVE FORWARD.

HMM.

OKAY.

UH, COUNSEL, UH, BEFORE I ASK ANYTHING, MR. NORWOOD, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY? I'LL MAKE THAT COMMENT WHEN Y'ALL MAKE YOUR ACTION.

OKAY.

AS I'M ASKING, WHO'S GONNA MAKE THE NOMINATION AND WHY? I MAKE A MOTION TO, UH, UH, RELIEVE, UH, THE CITY, UH, ADMINISTRATOR FROM HIS, UH, CURRENT POSITION.

I'LL SECOND IT SUPPOSED TO.

COULD Y'ALL.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO, BUT IF THEY WANT TO, THEY CAN JUST SAY, UH, NO CONFIDENCE.

NO CONFIDENCE.

OKAY.

ALRIGHT.

MAY I HAVE A VOTE? YES.

YES.

FIVE, FIVE TO ZERO IT PASSES.

NOW, MR. NORWOOD, THANK YOU, MAYOR COUNCIL, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE, THAT'S THE BUSINESS THAT WE'RE IN AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME THINGS YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND WHEN YOU'VE BEEN HERE LESS THAN FOUR MONTHS AS A CITY EMPLOYEE.

AND THIS KIND OF ACTION IS TAKEN.

AND NEVER ONCE WAS I EVER TOLD WHAT I WAS DOING WRONG.

I WAS NEVER BROUGHT IN.

I WAS, IT IS NEVER DISCUSSED.

BUT THAT'S OKAY.

THAT'S, THAT'S YOUR PREROGATIVE AS ELECTED OFFICIALS.

UM, I WANT TO COMMEND OUR CHIEF OF POLICE FOR THE WAY YOU'VE HANDLED THIS.

THIS IS NOT HOW YOU SCRIPTED THIS TO GO OUT.

UH, YOU AND I WERE WORKING ON A SUCCESSION PLAN, AND I TELL YOU, I'VE BEEN IN A LOT OF CITIES FROM 3000 POPULATION AS CITY MANAGER UP TO 120,000.

AND THAT CHIEF OF POLICE IS IN THE TOP TWO.

AND I'VE WORKED WITH A LOT OF CHIEFS.

UH, HE BRINGS SO MUCH CONFIDENCE AND CREDIBILITY TO THE ORGANIZATION.

AND I JUST THINK YOU'RE SUCH A CLASS ACT THROUGH AND THROUGH.

AND THE CITIZENS OF WILMER ARE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE SOMEBODY OF HIS CALIBER.

UM, YOU KNOW, BUT MY, THE REAL HURT GOES OUT TO ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES.

A LOT OF THINGS HAVE BEEN SAID AND DONE FROM, I'M NOT GONNA GET YOU START USING TERMINOLOGY, BUT VERY DISPARAGING COMMENTS TO OUR EMPLOYEES THREATENING, UH, AND THIS COUNCIL, THIS IS NOT NEW FOR WILMER.

THIS RECYCLING AND REVOLVING DOOR HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR DECADES.

AND AT SOME POINT, THIS COUNCIL OR FUTURE COUNCILS, YOU SET THE TONE, YOU SET THE CULTURE OF THIS COMMUNITY BY YOUR ACTIONS AND BY WHAT YOU DO AND HOW YOU DO IT.

AND IT PAINS ME

[00:40:01]

AND THEY'RE STRESSED, THEY'RE HURT, THEY FEEL THREATENED, THEY FEEL LIKE THEY'RE AT ODDS.

AND, UH, AND I TELL YOU THE, THE EMPLOYEES IN PUBLIC WORKS FANTASTIC.

ANGELICA HAS DONE A GREAT JOB.

I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYBODY WITH PASSION ON SPECIAL EVENTS LIKE SHE DOES.

SHE'S A GAMER.

AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HERE IS SECOND TO NONE.

AS I MADE A COMMENT THE OTHER DAY TO SOMEBODY TO BE A WILMER POLICE OFFICER OR A WILMER POLICE CHIEF, YOU KNOW, IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT GIG THAN BEING IN THOSE POSITIONS IN HIGHLAND PARK OR TROPHY CLUB OR ADDISON.

THERE'S SOME REAL POLICE WORK THAT GETS DONE HERE.

AND YOU LOOK AT THE STATS AND WE'VE ALL HEARD IT FROM CHIEF MANY TIMES.

EVERYTHING FROM RACIAL PROFILING TO OFFICER USE OF FORCE TO COMPLAINTS.

UH, IT'S SECOND TO NONE.

IT'S UNHEARD OF IN THIS DAY AND TIME.

AND SO I APPRECIATE THOSE MEN AND WOMEN IN THIS POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

UH, WE JUST HEARD THAT LAST NIGHT, THE SILVER MEDAL AWARD, THAT DOESN'T JUST HAPPEN.

AND IT SURE AS HECK DOESN'T HAPPEN, UH, IF YOU DON'T HAVE QUALITY FULL-TIME PERSONNEL TO CARRY OUT THESE KIND OF ACTIVITIES.

AND THEY DO IT WITH CARE AND COMPASSION FOR OUR CITIZENS.

AND I DO WISH THIS CITY WELL.

UH, I THINK IT'S, IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT IT, IT COMES TO THIS, BUT THAT'S THE GAME THAT'S BEING PLAYED.

AND THAT'S THE GAME I'VE PLAYED FOR 35 PLUS YEARS.

THAT'S THE GAME CHIEF OF POLICE KEMP HAS PLAYED FOR MANY YEARS.

SO WITH THAT, I, I ACCEPT IT.

AND, UM, AGAIN, I WISH YOU WELL AND, UH, AND GOOD LUCK TO YOU AND GOOD LUCK TO YOU CHIEF AND, UH, YOU'RE MY THOUGHTS.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, SIR.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THAT'S THE END, DIDN'T IT? OH, THAT'S DONE OVER.

IT'S ALL DONE.

THIRD THREE TO DISCUSS AND CONSIDER THE APPOINTMENT OF A CITY ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE CITY OF WILMER, TEXAS.

UM, WE'RE GONNA TABLE THAT.

THANK YOU, SIR.

ASK TO TABLE.

YOU HAVE TO DO IT TO SPECIFIC DATE.

SO I WOULD JUST TAKE, I WOULD SUGGEST TAKING NO ACTION.

OKAY.

NO ACTION.

WE'RE GONNA DO NO ACTION.

OKAY.

WE'RE GONNA DO THAT AND WE'RE GONNA TAKE IT OUT FOR OTHERS TO, THAT'S CORRECT.

APPLY.

THAT'S CORRECT.

OKAY.

SO LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

WE ARE ADJOURNED AT EIGHT O'CLOCK.