09-14-2026 MinutesMINUTES OF THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS
September 14, 2026
The City Council of the City of Paris met for a regular session at 5:30 p.m. on Monday,
September 14, 2026, at the City Council Chamber, 107 E. Kaufman, Paris, Texas.
Present: Mayor: Mihir Pankaj (via TEAMS)
Mayor Pro -Tem: Gary Savage
Council Members: Tim DeWitt, Alix Putnam, & Tracy Attebury
City Staff: Rose Beverly, City Manager; Stephanie Harris,
City Attorney; Janice Ellis, City Clerk; Steve
Marriott, Finance Director; M.A. Smith, Chief
Operating Officer; Rich Salter, Police Chief; Bob
Rast, Interim Fire Chief; Osei Amo-Mensah, City
Planner; and Steve Hodges, Engineering Manager
Absent: Council Member: Stacy Ladell
Opening Agenda
1. Call meeting to order.
Mayor Pro -Tem Savage called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
2. Invocation.
Mayor Pro -Tem Savage gave the invocation.
3. United States Pledge of Allegiance & Texas Pledge of Allegiance.
City Council led the United States Pledge of Allegiance and the Texas Pledge of
Allegiance.
4. Citizens' forum.
Marcy Constantino — she said Rose Beverly did not meet the qualifications to be the City
Manager, proposed a to change the current structure of the City to a form of a mayor form of
government, and said homeowners were now being asked to pay more and were not considered
in the strategic plan.
Ryhanna Gordon, 719 Ash Street — asked Council for an update on the project that started
about a year ago on 7th and Garrett, where the goats were brought in to clean up the property.
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September 14, 2026
Page 2
Consent Agenda
Mayor Pro -Tem Savage inquired of Council Members if they wished to pull any items
from the consent agenda for discussion. There being none, a Motion to approve the consent
agenda was made by Council Member Savage and seconded by Council Member DeWitt.
Motion carried, 5 ayes — 0 nays.
5. Approve minutes from the meetings of August 11, 2026 & August 24, 2026.
6. Receive reports and/or minutes from the following boards and commissions:
a. Paris Visitors & Convention Council (6-15-2026)
b. Paris -Lamar County Board of Health (5-18-2026)
7. Receive August ditch maintenance report.
Receive the Lamar County Appraisal District Reappraisal Plan.
9. Approve RESOLUTION NO. 2026-035: A Resolution by the City Council of the City
of Paris, Texas, Designating Authorized Signatories for Contractual Documents and
Documents for Requesting Funds Pertaining to the Texas General Land Community
Development Block Grant — Mitigation (CDBG-MIT) Contract Number 23-160-222-
F820.
10. Approve RESOLUTION NO. 2026-036: A Resolution Regarding Civil Rights Policies
for the City of Paris, as relate to the Texas General Land Office Community Development
Block Grant — Mitigation (CDBG-MIT) Resilient Community Program Under Contract
Number 23-160-222-F820.
11. Approve an assignment of a ground lease from LT Wings, LLC to M & C Cunningham
Properties, LLC for Hangar No. 7 at Cox Field Airport.
12. Approve an assignment of a ground lease from LT Wings, LLC to G & N Industrial
Properties, LLC for Hangar No. 1 at Cox Field Airport.
13. Approve an assignment of a ground lease from LT Wings, LLC to CenterPoint Capital,
LLC for Hangar No. 8 at Cox Field Airport.
Regular Agenda
14. Discuss and act on an amendment to the ground lease agreement between the City and
LT Wings, LLC, and an assignment of a ground lease at Cox Field Airport Hangar No.
3 from LT Wings, LLC to HT Aero, LLC.
A Motion to remove this item from the table was made by Council Member Attebury and
seconded by Council Member DeWitt. Motion carried, 5 ayes — 0 nays.
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September 14, 2026
Page 3
City Attorney Stephanie Harris explained that on October 18, 2024, the City Council
approved a ground lease with LT Wings with a term of 40 years. She said this item had been on
the agenda several times, the purchase involved a lender and there had been issues with the
paperwork between the seller and the lender, and the seller/lender and the City. She also said
those issued had been resolved and recommended approval of this item.
Mayor Pankaj joined the meeting through TEAMS.
15. Discuss and act on RESOLUTION NO. 2026-037: A Resolution approving a residential
tax abatement and economic development agreement with Zachary Bergenoltz and
Stephen Bergenholtz as a part of the 5 in 5 Housing Infill Redevelopment Program for
property described as JC Miles Subdivision, (LCAD #129238-129242) Block A, Lots 5,
6, 7R, 8R, 9R, 600 Block of Sycamore Street.
Planning Director Osei Amo-Mensah said the applicant has applied for an economic
development and residential tax abatement to construct five duplexes. He also said the
Bergenholtz entities already had two separate 5 in 5 agreements and one was city trustee
properties, and the other one involved privately owned properties.
Mayor Pro -Tem Savage inquired about their current agreements, one of which was a
trustee property. City Attorney Stephanie Harris addressed the policy. She said they had not
started on the trustee property. Council Member DeWitt inquired about the time period, and Ms.
Harris said there was not any limitation for pulling the first permit. Mayor Pro -Tem Savage said
he had a problem with them holding five lots and not starting on any of them. Project Manager
Andrew Mack explained their projects. Mayor Pro -Tem Savage asked if there were plans to do
anything soon with the one trustee property. Mr. Mack answered in the affirmative and said they
would begin with duplexes on Sycamore. Mayor Pankaj said he wanted to see development
started on these lots. Council Member Norment questioned why they needed to take action on
this when nothing had been done on the other lots.
Following additional discussed, a Motion to approve this item was made by Council
Member Attebury and seconded by Council Member Putnam. Motion carried, 5 ayes — 0 nays.
A Motion to approve this item was made by Mayor Pankaj and seconded by Council
Member Attebury. Motion carried, 6 ayes — 0 nays.
16. Discuss and make an appointment to the Paris Economic Development Corporation to
fill the vacant position of Marshall Dougherty.
Mayor Pro -Tem Savage said Council Member DeWitt placed the item on the agenda so
he would turn this over to Council Member DeWitt. Council Member De -Witt said he would
like to take this opportunity to make an appointment of the next person on the list to fill the
vacant seat on PEDC. Mayor Pro -Tem Savage said Council might want to do something. Mayor,
Pankaj said he had no issue with Council Member De-Witt's nominating the next person on the
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September 14, 2026
Page 4
list. Council Member Norment said they had already voted and the next person on the list should
be appointed to fill the vacant position. Council Member Putnam said it was unfair to open this
back up because they had already voted. Council. Member Attebury agreed they should go with
the next person on the list.
A Motion to appoint Gene Anderson to fill the vacation position was made by Council
Member DeWitt and seconded by Council Member Norment. Motion carried, 6 ayes — 0 nays.
17. Receive presentation from Main Street Coordinator Cheri Bedford about Main Street
Projects and Events.
Main Street Coordinator Cheri Bedford gave a presentation about the completed projects
and ongoing projects downtown. Ms. Bedford also referenced the many events sponsored by
Main Street, along with her assistant Hayley Reynolds, and board member Mary Hart.
18. Discuss and act on ORDINANCE NO. 2026-037: An Ordinance approving a negotiated
settlement between Atmos Cities.
Finance Director Steve Marriott said that Atmos made a rate filing requesting
$291,100,000 in additional revenues from its customers, and the ACSC Rate Review
MECHANISM Tariff reduced the original request to $273,600,000. He also said that the
adjusted rate increase request was reviewed by consultants for the Atmos Cities Steering
Committee, of which Paris was a member. Mr. Marriott explained the negotiations resulted then
resulted in an additional $13,100,000 reduction in requested revenues, and Staff was
recommending approval of these rates.
A Motion to approve this item was made by Council Member Putnam and seconded by
Council Member Attebury. Motion carried, 6 ayes — 0 nays.
19. Convene into executive session pursuant to Section 551.087 of the Texas Government
Code, (1) to discuss or deliberate regarding commercial or financial information the
governmental body has received from business prospect the governmental body seeks to
have locate, stay, or expand in or near the territory of the governmental body and with
which the governmental body is conducting economic development negotiations; or (2)
to deliberate the offer of a financial or other incentive to a business prospect prescribed
by Subdivision (1), as follows:
1. Blue Fire
2. Black Hawk
3. Catalyst
4. Hornet
5. Red Maple 2
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September 14, 2026
Page 5
Mayor Pro -Tem Savage convened City Council into executive session at 6:25 p.m.
Council Member Putnam recused herself from executive session at 6:50 p.m. and left the room.
At 7:09 p.m. Council Member Putnam left the meeting.
20. Reconvene into open session and possibly act on those matters discussed in executive
session.
Mayor Pro -Tem Savage reconvened City Council into open session at 7:51 p.m. A
Motion to make the expenditure on Project Catalyst as discussed in executive session was made
by Council Member Norment and seconded by Council Member Attebury. Motion carried, 5
ayes — 0 nays.
21. Consider and approve future events for City Council and/or City Staff pursuant to
Resolution No. 2024-081.
Mayor Pankaj reminded everyone of the Salsa on the Square this upcoming Saturday.
22. Adjournment.
There being no further business, a Motion to adjourn was made by Council Member
DeWitt and seconded by Council Member Atterbury. Motion carried, 6 ayes - 0 nays. Mayor
Pankaj adjourned the meeti%,4t6t6grp�.,m.
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NICE ELLIS, CITY C *,-
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MI IR ANKAJ, MAYOR