Jason Hollyfield

The council received presentations recognizing members of the volunteer fire department, canvassed and approved election results, administered oaths of office to newly elected officials, and appointed a Mayor Pro-Tem. The City Administrator provided updates on infrastructure projects, including pipe bursting, streetlights, upcoming fire hydrant and drainage grants, and mobile home park standards. The council approved 2026 tax year exemptions for residences, senior citizens, and disabled individuals. Additionally, they entered into an interlocal agreement for disaster recovery and debris monitoring, ratified a grant resolution for the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority, and appointed an Associate Municipal Judge following a closed session.

The meeting included the official seating of the newly elected Mayor and the administration of the oath of office. The City Attorney provided a comprehensive presentation regarding the duties, responsibilities, and legal governance of City Council members, including guidance on the Open Meetings Act and operational protocols. A presentation was held regarding the calculation of property taxes. The Council also voted to rescind a previous resolution regarding the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority grant and approved a new resolution for the SB 224 Catalytic Converter Grant Program.

The council received presentations honoring volunteers of the animal shelter, a police officer for meritorious service, and a newly graduated state trooper. The City Attorney administered the Oath of Office to the Assistant Fire Chief. The City Administrator reported on recent cleanup efforts, upcoming shredding events, and a transition to a new bulk waste pickup arrangement. Appointments were made for the 2026 Police Negotiation committee. The council approved local funding for a sewer system improvements construction change order, amended the Personnel Policy to align travel mileage and per diem with updated IRS standards, and authorized an agreement with Peacemaker Technologies to implement electronic ticket writing capabilities for the police department.

Key discussions included citizen comments from representatives of Republic Services and Texas Stage Event Rentals. The Council unanimously approved an application to place a manufactured home on property located at 3518 Redbird Street. An Ordinance authorizing participation with other Entergy Service Area Cities (Coalition of Cities) and representation by the Lawton Law Firm P.C. concerning Entergy Texas, Inc. at the Public Utility Commission of Texas was also approved. Furthermore, the Council unanimously approved a resolution authorizing the submission of the rifle body armor grant program FY2027 to the Office of the Governor, and accepted budget amendments for FY 2025-2026 related to the reimbursement and city portion of Body Worn Cameras and changing city emails to a .GOV domain. The consideration for approving the Pinehurst Volunteer Fire Department By-Laws was tabled until the March Meeting.

The meeting included a presentation and discussion of the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Annual Audit Report, which indicated the city is in a good financial position with significant fund balances in the General Fund and positive net changes in proprietary funds, including Water and Sewer. Key actions included approving the Annual Audit, accepting city department reports, reading the Oath of Office for the new Chief of Police and Volunteer Fire Department members, and approving a replat for O'Reilly Auto Parts. The council adopted the City of Pinehurst Investment Policy, ordered a Municipal Election for May 2, 2026, and entered into a Joint Election Agreement with Orange County. Budget amendments for FY2025-2026 were approved to cover the purchase of a dump truck. A committee was formed to revise the Manufactured Home Ordinance, and a motion was passed to create the position of Human Resource/Special Projects. The council also conducted closed sessions for the performance evaluations of the City Attorney and City Secretary.