Mineral Wells Area News

Reporting By Gary Norman | Mineral Wells Area News

The Mineral Wells City Council approved a new process for addressing dangerous buildings, authorized staff to prepare multiple property tax scenarios for the Fiscal Year 2027 budget, and approved the purchase of a downtown building for future City offices during its July 7 meeting.

Public Safety Groups Raise Concerns About Pay and Benefits

During public comments, representatives from the Mineral Wells Fire Association and the Mineral Wells Police Officers Association urged City Council to consider increasing employee compensation and retirement benefits as part of the upcoming budget process.

Mineral Wells Fire Association representative Capt. Jared Self asked the City to increase its contribution to the Texas Municipal Retirement System from 5 percent to 7 percent, saying the change would improve recruitment and retention.

“While we recognize that an increase in the retirement contribution alone will not solve our recruitment or retention challenges, it is a significant piece of the overall solution,” Self said. “The majority of employees will leave our department and do so within the first five years of service.”

Mineral Wells Police Officers Association President Cpl. Thomas Lively echoed those concerns, noting that police salaries trail many surrounding agencies.

“Based on a comparison of sixteen competing local agencies, our entry-level police salary is roughly 18 percent below the average, and that gap is growing,” Lively said. “We’re closer to 21 percent now.”

New City Employees Introduced

City officials welcomed two new employees during the meeting.

Tony Stubblefield was introduced as the City’s new Building Official. Development Services Director Richard Glass noted Stubblefield previously served the City as a code enforcement officer, building inspector, and acting building official.

Police Chief Tim Denison also introduced Leah Reneau as the Police Department’s newest dispatcher, noting her desire to serve the community.

Consent Agenda

9-1-1 Addressing Agreement

Council approved continuation of the City’s partnership with Palo Pinto County for 9-1-1 addressing and emergency GIS mapping services.

Under the agreement, the City will continue assigning addresses and collecting field information while the County maintains the official emergency addressing database and mapping system.

Items Considered Individually

Dangerous Buildings Ordinance Updated

Council approved a significant revision to the City’s dangerous buildings ordinance designed to streamline how unsafe structures are evaluated and demolished.

Under the new process, a three-member review team consisting of the Building Official, Fire Chief, and Fire Marshal will evaluate dangerous structures. Final demolition decisions will be made by City Council rather than a volunteer board.

Development Services Director Richard Glass said the changes improve both accountability and consistency.

“First, every dangerous building will be reviewed by three professionals instead of one,” Glass said. “Second, the public hearing and final decision will now be made by the elected City Council. Third, we’ve updated and clarified the ordinance to make the process more consistent. And finally, the process is easier for property owners, council, and the public to understand.”

Investment Policy Updated

Council approved amendments to the City’s investment policy requiring three competitive bids when purchasing or selling individual investment securities and clarifying staff training requirements.

The revisions were recommended by the Government Treasurers Organization of Texas, which previously awarded Mineral Wells a Certificate of Distinction for its investment policy.

FY 2027 Tax Planning Begins

Council approved a financial planning strategy allowing staff flexibility to recommend the most appropriate property tax rate during development of the Fiscal Year 2027 budget.

The plan also shifts approximately $430,130 in annual debt payments from the General Fund to the Debt Service Fund, creating a clearer separation between operational expenses and debt obligations.

Assistant City Manager and Chief Financial Officer Aaron Bovos told council the action gives staff flexibility to evaluate all three tax rate options allowed under Texas law before making a recommendation.

“So the question before you this evening—or the request, I should say—is to prepare a Fiscal Year ’27 financial plan that allows us to bring forward a tax rate which best meets the strategies that we have adopted as an organization,” Bovos said.

He explained that if the proposed funding strategy had been used last year, it would have generated approximately $800,000 in additional General Fund revenue.

Using last year’s tax values, Bovos said the strategy would have increased property taxes on the average Mineral Wells home, valued at $178,838, by approximately $8.21 per month.

Budget Calendar Approved

Council approved the Fiscal Year 2027 budget and 2026 property tax calendar.

Key dates include:

• July 24: Proposed budget filed
• July 28: Budget workshop
• Aug. 4: Proposed property tax rate presentation
• Aug. 24: Final budget adoption

Downtown Building Purchased

As its final action of the meeting, Council approved the purchase of the property at 109 SW 1st Street, adjacent to City Hall.

The 2,890-square-foot building was purchased for $600,000 using Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone No. 2 funds.

City officials plan to use the building to house administrative staff. No timeline has been established for renovations or occupancy.

The meeting was adjourned following completion of the agenda.

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