City Council Recap | April 15, 2026
- City of Runaway Bay
- Apr 18
- 6 min read
The Runaway Bay City Council met in regular session on April 15 at the Norma Coble Civic Center. Here’s a breakdown of what was discussed:
Public Forum
Janice Shipman: Expressed her gratitude to the City and spoke about negativity online. She shared when she moved to Runaway Bay four years ago, Mayor Herman White personally welcomed her and encouraged her to reach out if she ever needed anything. She later contacted him regarding a sinkhole concern, and he connected her with Police Chief Steve Reynolds. Staff responded to assess the issue, and the sinkhole was repaired. She also noted attending Boards meeting, describing them as productive but low in attendance. She thanked the Mayor and City Council for their continued efforts in moving Runaway Bay forward.
Gaby: Spoke about a recent senior event and the recent Meals on Wheels Gala, which raised approximately $140,000. She thanked Martha Holmes and Linda White for their involvement and support.
Grant Gardner: Announced a May 30 “Hometown Heroes” event honoring local first responders. He shared that organizers are currently seeking donations and giveaway items. The event flyer is below for more details. He also requested that the cost of water taps, similar to those in Bridgeport, be considered for a future agenda and shared online.
Pansy Green: Thanked the City Council and referenced the recent EDC meeting, noting that the City is not responsible for the current situation involving the golf course and did not cause its closure.
Ken Kilpatrick: Shared that he is running for school board and spoke about how excellent Bridgeport ISD was and would like to see it return to its previous standards. He noted that the district is currently facing challenges and raised concerns about students and teachers leaving the district.
Consent Items
A. March 17, 2026 Minutes – APPROVED
Consideration and Action Items
A. March 31, 2026 Accounts Payable Report – ACCEPTED
B. March 2026 Financial Report – ACCEPTED
C. Liberto Ballfield Drainage – APPROVED - Council approved a proposal from the Parks Board to move forward with drainage improvements at the Michael Liberto Ballfield. The project will address ongoing flooding issues, particularly in the right field area extending toward first base, the dugout, and bleachers.
A survey confirmed that elevation is a contributing factor, and an engineered plan will be developed to correct it. Importantly, no City funds will be used for this phase, with funding coming from existing donation funds and the Parks Board budget. As part of this phase, the existing park sign - along with the two crepe myrtles - will be relocated closer to the park entrance. Its current position behind home plate places it within an active play area near the bleachers, making it less than ideal for both safety and visibility. While the brick structure will require significant effort to move, the relocation will improve both function and field layout.
Future considerations include a sprinkler system, potential additional field space, and other park enhancements.
D. Runaway Bay Lease Amendment and Extension Agreement (Bay Community Church) - APPROVED - Council approved an amendment and extension to the existing lease agreement between the City of Runaway Bay and Bay Community Church. The agreement, which was previously discussed, includes a long-term lease extension and outlines continued coordination between the City and the Church. The lease term extends through April 15, 2125, with a nominal lease amount of $1 per year.
E. Public Works Quarterly Report – Roddy Boston & Ryan Halligan
Public Works Update – Regulatory Coordination
During the update, Mr. Boston shared that he recently met with an investigator from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) regarding ongoing reporting activity.
The investigator noted that the agency has received a high volume of reports related to incidents that had already been formally reported by the City, including the Jim Walters lift station overflow that occurred approximately six weeks ago. Due to the volume of duplicate reports, TCEQ is currently working through a backlog of cases across the area.
Mr. Boston also emphasized his commitment to regulatory compliance, noting that all required incidents are reported in accordance with state guidelines. He stated that he takes his responsibilities seriously and would not risk his professional standing, certifications, or legal obligations by failing to properly report an incident.
Residents are always encouraged to report concerns they observe. However, for the most up-to-date and accurate information, residents may also contact City Hall directly to confirm whether an issue has already been reported or is actively being addressed. This helps ensure clear communication between the City and regulatory agencies to respond as efficiently as possible.
The Mayor also noted that four years ago, the City had 38 infractions with TCEQ, representing an estimated $80,000 to $90,000 in potential fines.
He shared that under Mr. Boston, the City has resolved the vast majority of those infractions. The remaining items - approximately five - require larger infrastructure improvements, which are already being addressed through secured grant funding and ongoing engineering efforts.
During discussion, Council Member Christopher Petty raised questions about the weight of manhole lids and rings, inquiring whether stormwater alone would be capable of displacing them. Mr. Boston stated they typically weigh approximately 100 pounds.
Based on observations by Public Works staff, there have been instances where conditions around certain manholes did not appear consistent with natural causes. In some cases, lids or rings were found displaced from their proper position and located nearby, along with debris such as logs and wood materials inside the structures.
It was also noted that at the Jim Walters lift station, a wrench was discovered lodged inside a pump valued at approximately $60,000.
While no conclusions were formally stated, these findings have raised concerns about potential tampering with City infrastructure.
Residents are reminded that entering or interfering with manholes, lift stations, or other utility infrastructure is strictly prohibited. Such actions may be considered criminal mischief and tampering with public infrastructure, and can create serious safety risks for both the public and City personnel.
Updates from Mayor and Council Members
Richard Griffin (EDC): Shared that the EDC is recommending funding for pothole repairs, with an estimated cost of $6,900. The plan would involve hiring a contractor to professionally repair major potholes while allowing city crews to observe and learn the process for future maintenance.
Carolyn Moody (Cemetery): Provided an update from the Cemetery Board and noted a partnership with the Bridgeport Garden Club.
Christopher Petty (Fire Department): Reported 23 medical calls and 1 fire response.
Steve Reynolds (Police Department): Officer Rob Powell presented the department’s monthly activity report. Officers logged approximately 3,800 miles and responded to around 300 calls for assist. This included 75 citations, 90 warnings, 30 assists, approximately 1,200 security checks, 1 felony arrest, and 1 crash.
Steve Holt (GRBA) : Shared that a recent community trash pickup resulted in 34 bags of trash collected, with Rob and Cindy Fuller contributing 20 bags the day before the pickup. Mr. Holt expressed his gratitude to the Fullers for their all their hard work.
He also highlighted several upcoming community events:
May 1: Yard of the Month Awards
May 5 (11:30 AM – 4:30 PM): Carter BloodCare Blood Drive at the Norma Coble Civic Center
May 30 (4:00 PM – 7:00 PM): Hometown Heroes Celebration at Cricket Ridge Park
June 20: Next community trash pickup event
Mayor Herman White: Spoke about the importance of the Police Department and the role they play in protecting the community. He also highlighted the recent North Central Texas Sheriff’s Coalition meeting, which included the Governor, state representatives, and sheriffs from 24 counties. He noted that the coalition provides smaller rural communities a stronger, more unified voice when communicating with state leadership in Austin. Mayor White described the opportunity as humbling and recognized regional leaders in attendance, including Shelley Luther, Andy Hopper, David Spiller and Andrew Lloyd. He also mentioned the recent Wise County Sheriff’s awards banquet held last Friday.
Additionally, he shared that the City is actively working on securing additional grant funding, with several million dollars in opportunities currently in process. He also referenced ongoing long-term planning efforts, including a 5-, 10-, and 15-year master plan for the City.
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