[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6514046,"mediaKeyId","5065393-3fc21c54ae1cbd4a592589dfe2ad9ba7","parentId",5065393,"title","Decatur council appoints member to budget committee, approves homestead-exemption increase and Paloma Trails contracts","audioSeconds",26,"startMs",2365000,"endMs",2391000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5065393-3fc21c54ae1cbd4a592589dfe2ad9ba7&start=2365&end=2391","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5065393-3fc21c54ae1cbd4a592589dfe2ad9ba7/thumbnail_2365000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6514046/Decatur/Wise-County/Texas/Decatur-council-appoints-member-to-budget-committee-approves-homestead-exemption-increase-and-Paloma-Trails-contracts","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6514046-7a4a1da7a41667cafc299d8823d57425/orig.mp4?Expires=1770842416&Signature=DNw~J3oHM~yiobIYmniN6AXQRd-IOb~ogZimrhXJbTQwDfQ-EkhwdyPWsCS-F27S~T8l6Z1ynLphVqRIrG2TEL70uMA6KzmxXhmkg-G3W~RlzhZ1aoeZzrzS1DYAisWDt-PmYCHPpYe-L3Zgb3fx5K6d-3ErqIVDPvYG6D89ss08xQ0Bc5L4dal~NCjguZ7f~bilgRnl4pe94QmOY-vtLOpumnFZvvusxtYo3TfnlHMYz63QDGgwerqXWIJfCj3SPjLWDbHq9AqXY-ke~aCix5~voSHw4h5OOmXhGq7OIwlEJbDzTQQiUgQkU1fVKYlrZlN1xptgipLwIwNWY63MLQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Decatur","date","2025-06-23T00:00:00Z","article","The Decatur City Council approved several routine and policy items during its meeting, appointing Melinda Reeves to the city budget committee, adopting a second-reading ordinance raising the senior homestead tax exemption, and affirming ad valorem assessment and collection contracts for the Paloma Trails Public Improvement District.

The council voted by voice to approve the appointment of Melinda Reeves to serve on the budget committee. A motion to appoint Reeves was made and seconded and the council chair called the question; the council recorded the item as passed following the voice vote.

On its second reading the council approved ordinance 20250624 to raise the homestead exemption for residents 65 and older from $25,000 to $30,000. City staff reported an updated count of residents who qualified for and used the exemption: an earlier figure of 615 was updated to 622. Staff also provided an estimated incremental levy loss calculation for the change; the exact dollar impact was included in materials provided to council and updated that morning.

The council also approved two separate ad valorem tax assessment and collection contracts related to the Paloma Trails Public Improvement District—one for the development's major improvement area and a second for Improvement Area No. 1. City staff explained these contracts allow Wise County to assess and collect the district's tax on the city's behalf; each contract carries a one-year term and a stated annual fee of $1,500.

Finally, the council approved the consent agenda as presented. All votes described above were taken by voice; the chair called for those in favor to say “aye” and recorded the motions as passed.

Votes at a glance:
- Appointment: Melinda Reeves to the budget committee — approved (voice vote).
- Ordinance 20250624: raise homestead exemption from $25,000 to $30,000 (second reading) — approved (voice vote).
- Contract: Ad valorem tax assessment & collection — Wise County / Paloma Trails PID (Major Improvement Area) — approved (voice vote).
- Contract: Ad valorem tax assessment & collection — Wise County / Paloma Trails PID (Area 1) — approved (voice vote).
- Consent agenda — approved (voice vote).

The council did not record roll-call vote tallies for these items; minutes reflect voice approval on each motion.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Decatur - City Council - Jun 23, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Decatur City Council approved several routine and policy items during its meeting, appointing Melinda Reeves to the city budget committee, adopting a second-reading ordinance raising the senior homestead tax exemption, and affirming ad valorem assessment and collection contracts for the Paloma Trails Public Improvement District.","taxTitle","Decatur, Wise County, Texas","taxId",52370,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6514032,"City readies airport advisory board and drafts minimum standards and rules",147,2228000,2375000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5065393-3fc21c54ae1cbd4a592589dfe2ad9ba7&start=2228&end=2375","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5065393-3fc21c54ae1cbd4a592589dfe2ad9ba7/thumbnail_2228000.jpg","/articles/6514032/Decatur/Wise-County/Texas/City-readies-airport-advisory-board-and-drafts-minimum-standards-and-rules","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6514032-ab6008a3fd61b9080163e91da3ef89cb/orig.mp4?Expires=1770842416&Signature=lB~eTQwPAIv7-oV9xzkLdWAA6REx29b3V-lnxffWbMERE6LKN02~lQS2Nfy~FOppYeRp14EmMMF4TXHhlHRsMsUsfkDAqqy10kmJdIVE0jDc-u7xTvKwCkbg5AwAsE7TO7zl89AWP48gEo63KnkMuKNyw~5La~pE~n~7sV845xJsqrTVI5YAQ3mLi3qH913CFP3ld4P4ImRPualGZ4LvHJ0SzSTD2NVPYFFyvl~wY97WV04PhknpfNPtdzabJyZoMs-fFWm7IvEpkefcxdLKObQ34nMKS5cgqMuchc9UAsFq5N4lsM4h6IdyVIWoJjYSid5FlbqgwpqXGgSFp6w0DA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff presented draft airport minimum standards and rules and regulations to the Decatur City Council and reported that the newly selected airport advisory board is ready to begin formal review.

Staff said copies of the draft documents were placed on the dais for council review and that the airport advisory board—whose appointments were included on the consent agenda—will receive the drafts as homework before its first meeting. The rules and regulations document covers a broad span of operational topics; the minimum standards document will guide expectations for new construction or new commercial operators at the airport.

Staff stated the board will review the drafts, make recommendations, and return their suggestions to council. Council did not take action on the documents at the meeting; staff described the current phase as preparatory and noted that final council approval will follow the advisory board's recommendations.

Quote (staff): \"We're ready to move on the airport board activity, and we'll be asking them to confirm that we're headed in the right direction with these documents before we bring them back to you.\"","Council previewed draft airport rules, regulations and minimum standards and confirmed readiness to convene the newly constituted airport advisory board to review the drafts before formal council action",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6514037,"Council schedules water and wastewater facility tours as expansion work nears budgeting",33,2110000,2143000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5065393-3fc21c54ae1cbd4a592589dfe2ad9ba7&start=2110&end=2143","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5065393-3fc21c54ae1cbd4a592589dfe2ad9ba7/thumbnail_2110000.jpg","/articles/6514037/Decatur/Wise-County/Texas/Council-schedules-water-and-wastewater-facility-tours-as-expansion-work-nears-budgeting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6514037-6a3a0719a9786a42f78569059a9121e8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770842416&Signature=HLtwZA595UL52nCdE7Dy4HBkZSpU-Tl3GKQfY0lH50VlQXAk9U3YZ2f9XY1ZMnwA6Mo3dJawkEbV0fyv9h4R5MyvV0qCJKpULydEDngUl2zWdVZ8MwToYd70kj0A4vb2wk57yy90HrsDXzvH00ss7mABLYbCVyk5ZECdHCPo-33mPu3QQHZPGUq4wVpO-gjSRVWFXFZpPhqgyRf0E6SPK44TO0tkbaFk6fJR2uuIy0S5H1cSC5~L-F38YsTnswwYv85Ur~E1KGFpQILywBdnbw-vrkV5rnKnb~cMg0NK9IFk-eLspWrruQK1yqrYuI2WM4L56D1USQo8tg5J-SjGOQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff asked Decatur City Council members to participate in site tours of the city's water and wastewater facilities to inform upcoming expansion and maintenance work and upcoming budget decisions.

Staff said the tours would start at the pump house at the lake and proceed through the system to the wastewater treatment plant, with an early start (proposed 8 a.m.) and an expected completion by noon at the final facility in Decatur. Staff identified several weekday options and proposed Saturday alternatives to accommodate council schedules; several councilmembers indicated dates (including the 16th and the 30th) as possibilities. Staff noted that Wednesdays tend to have the most operators available for in-person discussion.

The tours are intended to let councilmembers meet operators, see current conditions and ask technical questions before staff asks the council to take steps toward issuing debt to finance the next phases of the water and wastewater projects. Staff also proposed coordinating a joint tour with the Wise County Water Supply District so both governing bodies could view infrastructure and discuss parallel projects.

Staff will circulate proposed dates by email and finalize logistics once councilmembers respond. The council did not take any formal action; staff will schedule tours based on responses and may run two separate tours to accommodate members' availability.

Quote (staff): \"We'd like to invite a couple of other folks to come along with us to do that. I want you to meet some of the operators, ask some of the questions ... seeing the plants in their current state and hearing from the experienced operators, would just help you have a better understanding of the direction that we're headed on.\"","City staff invited councilmembers to on-site tours of pump stations and treatment facilities to inform upcoming expansion, maintenance and debt-issuance steps; options include weekday mornings starting at 8 a.m., with the final stop in Decatur by noon, and a possible Saturday option or multiple tours",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6514042,"Council continues debate on front-yard fence rules, directs staff to draft zoning amendment",1257,747000,2004000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5065393-3fc21c54ae1cbd4a592589dfe2ad9ba7&start=747&end=2004","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5065393-3fc21c54ae1cbd4a592589dfe2ad9ba7/thumbnail_747000.jpg","/articles/6514042/Decatur/Wise-County/Texas/Council-continues-debate-on-front-yard-fence-rules-directs-staff-to-draft-zoning-amendment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6514042-62a3cdf6f0d15befe2fc9f4879b04d73/orig.mp4?Expires=1770842416&Signature=cVOeu9ljAzxQcoKPofKfiwGUg-ZJO-iNSr51QXU-ysRQ9GarUaAyXu7fYUmLprCV56gb9-cS-JZ8ZsfUhx2ApDIztAwU1vis1wBO76xkV64OkSugXYwRf3dXW6lMcopjGS5rD2JSWqZvBPTX2ycYGT6vvp38Dxpv1CNi1zczWwrphHpYEwQ3lwUenQJfvydYrgPey-c74JBuDX5GNdKd-Noevhc70hsp0BevkBEeMWlyXfUtLOh-YF57fc-~sHB0TdRFrQckfV~yfdYz96Lue181B5EIyPWg-iB8PQCiXvhleDtWIpRAz3j-VGgppDLio3Ktk9pc9PydCxoQue~rdw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Decatur City Council continued a discussion about proposed changes to the city’s fence ordinance, focusing on whether to allow front-yard fences, which materials should be prohibited, appropriate height and visibility standards, and how to treat historic-district properties.

City planner Wayne briefed the council on the existing ordinance language that currently allows six-foot front-yard fences under narrow circumstances (lots with multiple street frontages or unplatted side yards) with a 10-foot setback from the street or five-foot setback from the sidewalk. Wayne presented three broad options: prohibit front-yard fences; allow them in limited circumstances (including by variance to the board of adjustment); or adopt specific regulations by zoning or overlay district.

Councilmembers discussed resident requests for front-yard fences (staff noted roughly five calls in the previous two weeks plus earlier inquiries), and raised practical and aesthetic questions. Councilmembers expressed support for clear, objective standards to help staff administer the rule rather than ad hoc judgments. A number of councilmembers favored allowing limited front-yard fencing with standards such as a maximum height of 36 inches, a 50% visibility requirement between pickets or posts, and bans on chain-link, hog panels and certain wire fences—while preserving the ability to allow decorative historic wire fencing in the downtown overlay. Wayne said staff would draft language to allow historically appropriate decorative wire fences while retaining prohibitions on non-historic wire and chain-link in front yards.

Council agreed that fence maintenance standards (paint/stain/seal for wooden fences) and screening/buffering provisions should be included. The planner said the amendment will be processed as a zoning change: it must go to the Planning and Zoning Commission for recommendation (targeted for the Aug. 4 P&Z meeting) and then return to council for first reading on Aug. 14.

On next steps Wayne said staff would draft ordinance language reflecting council direction, including criteria for allowed materials, setbacks and the 36-inch front-yard height standard, and return with proposed text after research into historic-district precedent.

Quotes (selected):
\"Whenever you continually receive that input from citizens that they want this and the ordinance restricts it, it's time to explore your ordinances,\" Wayne, city planner, said.
\"I think 36 inches is a good place,\" one councilmember said during discussion of front-yard height standards.

The council did not take a final vote but gave staff direction to draft a zoning amendment with objective standards and to bring the draft to Planning and Zoning and then back to council.","Decatur council discussed options for front-yard fences including prohibitions, standards (materials, 50% visibility, 36-inch height), variances and historic-district exceptions; staff will draft ordinance language for Planning & Zoning and return for first reading on Aug. 14","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Decatur council appoints member to budget committee, approves homestead-exemption increase and Paloma Trails contracts

City readies airport advisory board and drafts minimum standards and rules

Council schedules water and wastewater facility tours as expansion work nears budgeting

Council continues debate on front-yard fence rules, directs staff to draft zoning amendment