City Council Meeting Recap | August 19, 2026

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qfFPiX8Fms&feature=youtu.be

Public Forum: No residents signed up to speak during Public Forum

Consent Items

A. Minutes from July 21, 2026, Regular Session – APPROVED

Consideration & Action Items

A. June 2026 financial report – ACCEPTED

B. July 31, 2026, accounts payable report – ACCEPTED

C. July 2026 financial report – ACCEPTED

D. Carolyn Dent’s application to serve on Cemetery Board – APPROVED

• Barry Schimpf and Carolyn Moody spoke in support of the appointment, noting her decades of service to Runaway Bay.

E. Task Authorization #1 with Freese and Nichols (FNI) for the Water and Wastewater Master Plan, CIP, and Rate Study, using USACE funding – APPROVED

• Not to exceed $418,000 (using USACE funding) and is expected to take approximately 14 months.

• The study will take a comprehensive look at the City’s water and wastewater systems to identify problems, prioritize improvements and create a roadmap for future infrastructure needs.

This includes:

• Testing water pressure and fire hydrant flow identifying areas of improvement

• Evaluating water lines, pumps and overall system capacity

• Identifying wastewater system problem areas and needed improvements

• Planning for future water and wastewater needs as the City grows

• Creating a Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) that prioritizes projects and estimated costs

• Completing a rate study to evaluate current rates, future expenses and long-term infrastructure needs

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F. Freese and Nichols Update

• A significant part of the discussion focused on why progress can take time. FNI acknowledged that navigating EPA funding and procurement requirements has been a learning curve and has taken longer than anticipated. Required federal environmental review and NEPA documentation are required before certain projects can move forward. FNI is working with USACE to obtain clarifications on those requirements with the goal of making the documentation process more efficient and keeping projects moving forward.

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Updates from Mayor and Council

• Phil Reicheneker | Parks and Recreation

  • Discussed the possibility of forming a Runaway Bay Youth Sports Association

  • Improvements continue at Liberto Ballfield

  • Runaway Bay Bombers 14U softball team has begun using the fields

  • New signage is being planned for City Park and Ballfield

• Richard Griffin | EDC

  • Correspondence sent to Dollar General encouraging consideration of Runaway Bay for future retail space

  • Consider Civic Center improvements: retaining wall repairs, concrete work, and handrails

• Carolyn Moody | Cemetery

  • First memorial bricks are planned for installation by October 10

  • A thank-you picnic is being planned in appreciation for the Garden Club

  • Highway signage for Eternal Oak Cemetery has been purchased for Hwy. 380, along with a City sign for the roundabout

  • Monarch Butterfly Waystation approved

  • Adding the Cemetery to the City’s official website

  • Welcomed Carolyn Dent to the board, and thanked Rod Holmes for his service

• Christopher Petty | Fire Department

  • 33 calls

    • 5 fire

    • 28 medical

  • Fish Fry & Gun Raffle | September 26 | 5-8 | Runaway Bay Event Center

    
    

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• Chief Steve Reynolds | Police Department

  • 29 citations

  • 63 warnings

  • 24 code violations

  • 30 officer assists

  • 1 felony arrest

Addressed Flock cameras and the changes to the company’s policies. Video footage is now retained for 7 days instead of 30, and searches require an open case. Despite past instances of misuse, Flock cameras remain a valuable law enforcement tool and deterrent to criminal activity. Provided a recent example of the arrest of a murder suspect in Decatur using Flock technology.

• Steve Holt | Greater Runaway Bay Alliance

  • Trash Clean-Up | September 12 | 9AM | Civic Center

  • Approved to disperse bluebonnet seeds

    

•  Mayor Herman White

 Discussed the monthly financial reports and challenges with reconciling financial information as state reporting requirements have increased over the years. Runaway Bay is not alone in experiencing these issues, with other cities facing similar challenges. The City’s new FundView software is expected to provide more current budget information in a more timely manner.

Shared takeaways from the recent Wise County Mayors Dinner and emphasized how fortunate Runaway Bay has been in securing significant federal funding for infrastructure. Recognized Freese and Nichols and specifically thanked Travis Kelly for his work on behalf of the City, including traveling to Washington, D.C. and meeting with Congressman Ronny Jackson’s office and federal agencies. Also thanked Travis Kelly, Jeff Hammond and the FNI team for the considerable work that has gone into securing funding and their continued efforts to pursue additional opportunities for Runaway Bay.