This article incorrectly stated that tavern owner Randy Plyler “was given a 90-day notice to terminate the lease.”
According to the City of Weatherford, “The lease already included a mutual 90-day ‘termination for convenience’ clause and allows either party to terminate the agreement with 90 days’ notice. If the Utility Board had moved forward with plans involving a larger remodel of the marina facilities, that clause could have been used. However, a notice of termination was not issued.
“That distinction is important because the current wording suggests the City took action to end the lease, when that did not happen.”
A week filled with social media posts that included a petition and some controversy led to a packed house and the City of Weatherford unveiling and approving plans to make improvements to Lake Weatherford at the May 28 Municipal Utility Board meeting.
Randy Plyler, owner of Tavern on the Lake at Weatherford Lake Marina, has had a lease with the city to operate the restaurant, as well as the beach, boat slips, and Crappie House. But when he was approached with planned improvements, it showed that he would lose a substantial part of his business and he was given a 90-day notice to terminate the lease.
Following plans established in both Weatherford’s general plan and the Park & Recreation master plan, $1.8 million in improvements to restore beach sand, add volleyball courts, a bathroom building and parking, among other items, were up for approval by the Board.
After Jaycob Kirkpatrick, Director of Park, Recreations and Special Events, presented the rendering and proposed improvements at the meeting, Mayor Paul Paschall read a statement to the large crowd.
“There’s been tons of misinformation distributed publicly…the marina lease agreement [on the agenda] has nothing to do with residential lease lots,” he stated, adding that all speakers would be heard but asked to be respectful in their comments.
Plyler was the first to speak on his own behalf, telling the board that entrepreneurship has been a lifelong dream of his and that the original planned improvements leaving him with just the restaurant would remove 52 percent of his revenue.
“We are not opposed to working with the city, and asking questions should not be mistaken as being unwilling to cooperate,” he said.
After he finished, a parade of supporters took to the podium to offer their feelings about what Plyler’s restaurant and influence has meant to the area. Most agreed that improvements were needed but that it shouldn’t come at a cost to those who have invested in making it better.
The board then went into executive session for nearly 2.5 hours before coming out and voting to approve a modified plan that allows Plyler to continue to earn revenue from all the facilities on the marina, aside from the beach. Plyler, who met with the board in the session, agreed.
In a Facebook post, Plyler and his wife, Sheila, thanked everyone for their support.
“Every message, comment, phone call and person who attended meetings reminded us how fortunate to be part of this community,” the post read.
Additionally, the City is also moving forward with the Lake Trail Project, which will connect lake neighborhoods, the marina area, beach and parking areas and will be completed in two phases.
Phase 1 is expected to be completed in spring 2027 and includes a 10-foot-wide hike and bike trail. Phase 2 is planned for completion in summer 2029 and will extend the trail across the dam to East Lake Drive.
Beach construction is planned to begin after the summer, with completion targeted for Spring Break 2027.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here