[ CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:10]
>> THE CHAIR: GOOD AFTERNOON, IT IS NOW 1:00 P.M. AND I CALLED A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE ABILENE CITY COUNCIL TO ORDER PICK ON GOING TO ASK COUNCILMAN ESPINOZA TO LEAD OUR INDICATIOD
PLEDGES THIS AFTERNOON. >> LORD, THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY, THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE BLESSED US WITH AND THANK YOU FOR THIS TIME WE GET TO SPEND TOGETHER AND ALSO TO HONOR THIS GREAT MOMENT OF COUNCILMAN YATES AND BENJAMIN BAILEY GETTING TO JOIN CITY COUNCIL. CONTINUED TO LOOK AFTER US, BLESS OUR CITY, WE LOVE YOU, IN YOUR NAME WE PRAY -- 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.
>> HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO TEXAS.
ONE STATE UNDER GOD. >> THE CHAIR: WILL NOW MOVE THE PUBLIC COMMENT. MAC, THERE'LL BE NO VOTES OR ANY FORMAL ACTIONS TAKEN ON SUCH CENTER DURING PUBLIC COMMENT.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT. MAC WILL ALLOW MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO PRESENT IDEAS AND INFORMATION TO CITY OFFICIALS AND STAFF. PLEASE COME FORWARD, STATE YOUR NAME IN THE CITY RESIDED IN AND THERE WILL BE A THREE MINUTE LIMIT. SEEING NO ONE I WILL CLOSE THE
[2. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Canvassing the Returns and Declaring the Results of the Runoff Election Held in the City of Abilene on June 13, 2026 for City Council Place 4 (Shawna Atkinson)]
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO ITEM 2 IWILL ASK SH SHAWNA ATKINSON. >> WE ARE HERE TO CERTIFY THE ELECTION, THE BALLOT -- THE OFFICIAL RESULTS CAME BACK CAME AT 75.2% FOR BENJAMIN BAILEY, DULY ELECTED TO CITY COUNCIL PLACE 4. IF YOU APPROVE THIS, IT WILL MAKE AN OFFICIAL. ANY QUESTIONS?
>> THE CHAIR: QUESTIONS OF IT SHAWNA? THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING PERIODS OR ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST OF THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. SEEING NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. I WOULD ASK FOR A MOTION AT A
SECOND FROM THE COUNCIL. >> SO MOVED.
>> THE CHAIR: SECOND BY COUNCILMAN BEARD.
>> I THINK YOU GOT THE SECOND. >> HOW ABOUT A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN ESPINOZA? IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION?
WE ARE READY TO VOTE. >> ALL YESES, MOTION CARRIES.
[3.
Issue the Following to Councilmember-Elect Benjamin Bailey - Place 4:
- Certificate of Election
- Oath of Office
>> THE CHAIR: I WILL ASK CITY SECRETARY SHAWNA ATKINSON TO PRESENT THE OATH OF OFFICE PLEASE.
>> I HAVE A CERTIFICATE OF ELECTION FOR YOU, THAT'S FOR YOU. THAN WE ARE GOING TO DO YOUR OATH OF OFFICE. IF YOU WILL RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND REPEAT AFTER ME. I BECOME A STATE YOUR NAME.
>> I BENJAMIN BAILEY. >> DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR PICKLE.
>> DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR. >> THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY
EXECUTE THE DUTIES. >> THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXIT
THE DUTIES. >> OF CITY COUNCIL PLACE FOR.
>> AT THE END TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND
DEFEND. >> PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFEND PICKLE'S PICK OF THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS.
>> OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE STATE.
>> SO HELP ME GOD. >> SO HELP ME GOD.
>> CONGRATULATIONS. [APPLAUSE]
>> THE CHAIR: IF YOU CAN JOIN US APPEAR.
UP HERE. AND NOW IF ANYONE HAS SOME SELECT -- EXCUSE ME, SOME FINAL WORDS OR NICE WORDS OR WORDS FOR FORMER COUNCILMAN YATES, NOW'S THE TIME.
>> I HAVE THOROUGHLY ENJOYED THE TIME WE SPENT TOGETHER ON THE COUNCIL. I'VE LEARNED FROM YOU, LEARNED A LOT AND I'VE ENJOYED THE CHALLENGES SOMETIMES YOU
[00:05:04]
PRESENTED IN HELPING ME TO SEE THINGS FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE, I APPRECIATE THAT. A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WE HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES WHERE WE SOMETIMES SERVE ON BOARDS AND YOU BEEN SERVING ON THE FIREFIGHTER FUND BOARD AND I APPRECIATE THE MANY HOURS YOU SPENT WORKING WITH THAT AS WELL.I APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO STEP INTO THE ROLE OF COUNCILMAN AND SERVE THE CITIZENS OF ABILENE.
>> I CAN'T SAY WHAT I REALLY THINK PUBLICLY, BRIAN.
FOR CONTEXT, BRIAN AND I HAVE KNOWN EACH OTHER A LONG TIME, WE WORKED TOGETHER AT ABILENE ARROW AND WE GET TO SERVE TOGETHER APPEAR. I WILL MISS OUR DISCUSSIONS AND TIMES. I KNOW THOSE THINGS AREN'T NECESSARILY OVER BUT BEING UP HERE WITH YOU, WATCHING YOU SERVE WITH INTEGRITY AND HONESTY HAS BEEN A JOY FOR ME.
I'M A BETTER COUNCILMAN BECAUSE OF HOW YOU THINK ABOUT THINGS AND APPROACH PROBLEM-SOLVING. IT'S NO SMALL FEAT TO RUN AN ELECTION, GET AN ELECTION AND SERVE UP HERE FOR THREE YEARS.
I APPRECIATE YOU BEING WILLING TO SERVE OUR TOWN.
YOU'VE SERVED OUR COUNTRY, KNOW YOU SERVE OUR CITY, I WILL MISS YOU BEING UP HERE BUT I KNOW THE NEXT SEASON HAS GOOD THINGS AND I KNOW STACY IS PROBABLY READY FOR THIS.
THANK YOU. >> I HAVE A GIFT FOR YOU.
JAY PATTERSON START BREAKING THIS MOLD BUT MINE HASN'T COME IN YET. IT'S A COIN, A CHALLENGE COIN OF BOTH BEING VETERANS. ONE SIDE HAS A SEAL OF ABILENE AND THE OTHER SIDE HAS AIR FORCE AND THE NAVY.
I'M HONORED TO TAKE THE SEAT FROM A FELLOW VETERAN, EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE AIR FORCE. I'VE KNOWN YOU FOR A LONG TIME.
THIS IS A TRULY HUMBLE EXPERIENCE FOR ME TO STAND HERE AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY AND TO THE
COMMUNITY AND THANKS, MAN. >> I THINK YOU SAID IT BEST -- IT'S THE MOMENT BEFORE THE COUNCIL MEETING WHERE WE ARE IN THE BACK AND CATCHING UP, TALKING ABOUT LIFE.
THOSE ARE SPECIAL MOMENTS. LEARNING ABOUT EACH OTHER AND TALKING, I LOVE YOUR LEADERSHIP THE WAY YOU ANALYZE THINGS, THE WAY YOU PHRASE THINGS I WILL EVER FORGET.
THE FIRST TIME IN A BUDGET MEETING I HEARD THE WORD "REFLAVOR -- THAT'S AN ACCOUNTING TERM COME I WISH IT WAS. THAT HIS BRILLIANCE.
I HAVE SO MANY FOND MEMORIES OF GIVING CONSENT HERE NEXT TO YOU WHEN I'M GOING TO MISS YOU BUT I'M EXCITED FOR YOUR NEXT CHAPTER AND I APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE AND ALL YOU'VE DONE FOR
ABILENE. >> THE CHAIR: I FORGOT TO RECOGNIZE WE HAVE STATE REPS... STAN LAMBERT AND FORMER MAYOR NORM ARCHIBALD, I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.
BRIAN, IT'S BEEN A FUN RIDE EVEN THOUGH I COULD NEVER GET YOU TO MOW MY GRASS. IT'S YOUR SINCERITY, WHAT YOU HAVE BROUGHT, YOUR KNOWLEDGE HAS BEEN SO HELPFUL TO THIS COMMUNITY, TO THIS COUNCIL. YOU HAVE ALWAYS HAD REALLY GOOD WORDS OF WISDOM, JUST EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE.
YOUR DEVOTION, YOU'VE WORKED ON PRETTY HARD COMMITTEES AND EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE, YOUR DEVOTION -- IT'S REALLY ACCEPTED AND RECEIVED. I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU THIS BACK TOO. BRIAN IS AN OLD SPICE KIND OF DUDE TO. I COULDN'T HELP BUT NOT PRESENT THIS TO YOU KNOWING WHAT THIS WOULD MEAN.
[APPLAUSE] IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY
ANYTHING AT THIS TIME? >> I WAS NOT GOING TO.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THANKS TO EACH OF YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS TO BEN. THIS IS A GREAT HONOR TO BE ABLE
[00:10:03]
TO SERVE THE CITY. THIS A LOT TO IT, A LOT MORE TO IT THAN MOST PEOPLE KNOW. IT IS HARD WORK AND IT WILL CHALLENGE YOU. I THINK WE'VE GOT THE RIGHT PERSON FOR THIS SEAT AND I'M OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE FUTURE WITH YOU THERE SERVING. CONGRATULATIONS.FOR ME, I THINK I'VE BENEFITED FAR MORE BY SERVING, BY LEARNING ABOUT THE CITY AND ALL THE DEPARTMENTS AND ALL THE HARDWORKING PEOPLE BECAUSE IT TAKES A WHOLE LOT TO RUN A CITY AND ITS COMPLICATED AND CHALLENGING AND THERE IS NEVER ENOUGH RESOURCES AND THERE'S TOO MANY PROBLEMS. THE STAFF MAKES IT HAPPEN, NOT JUST WELL BUT THEY MAKE IT LOOK EASY. SOLD FOR THE MOST PART THE CITIZENS DON'T EVEN HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION.
THEY DON'T NOTICE HOW MUCH HARD WORK IT TAKES TO RUN THE PARKS AND PICK UP THE GARBAGE AND THEY TURNED THE WATER ON AND THERE'S WATER. THEY APPRECIATE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO BEING THERE ON CALL EVEN IF YOU DON'T NEED THEM AT THAT MOMENT IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, IT'S EVERYTHING -- I DON'T MEAN TO LEAVE ANYTHING OUT BUT THERE'S SO MANY FUNCTIONS AND ACTIVITIES. FOR ME THE GREATEST JOY OF SERVING WAS LEARNING ABOUT ALL THE ASPECTS OF THE CITY.
EMILY, YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB I APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP.
ALL OF THE WONDERFUL THINGS THE CITY STAFF, THERE'S 1300 PEOPLE WORKING FOR THE CITIZENS EVERY DAY.
THE COUNCIL GETS ALL THE CREDIT BUT THEY DO ALL THE WORK.
I WANT TO THANK THE STAFF MOSTLY AND IT'S BEEN AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE TO SERVE ON THE COUNCIL, THANK YOU.
>> BEFORE YOU SIT DOWN I HAVE SOME THING ELSE FOR YOU.
>> SHAWNA HAS A PRESENTATION. >> I KNOW YOU HAD BEEN WORKING FOR FREE FOR THE LAST MONTH AND A HALF AND YOU SAID 12 SCENTS EARLIER TODAY, WE HAVE A CHECK FOR YOU FOR $0.08 FOR YOUR LAST MONTH AND A HALF.
>> THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I NEEDED. >> DOES NOT COME OFF OF BEN'S
REFLAVORING ON THAT ONE? >> THE CHAIR: IT GETS US PAST THE BELLYACHING. [LAUGHTER] BEN, WE ARE HAPPY TO HAVE YOU. IT IS NOW 1:12:00 P.M. -- EXCUSE ME, THANK YOU UNCORRECTED AND THIS MEETING OF THE
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.