This comes on the heels of several of her supporters berating council members over the past few months. For example, at the Nov. 17 meeting, the last meeting before this one, former Tarrant County Justice of the Peace Roy Kurban addressed the council that same night with personal attacks in defense of Palmer, calling the council “knuckleheads” and even addressing one in particular as “big boy.”
Tuesday, Palmer said she would have no more of it and told speakers to address the council as a whole and not to verbally attack any individual.
She had to reiterate herself immediately, however. The first public speaker, Bill Green, when he came to the podium spoke directly with a complaint to Councilman Eric Contreras, prompting Palmer to remind Green, “Say council as a whole so we don’t name names.”
Palmer said there will be a standard of conduct in meetings going forward and that speeches and exchanges will be done in a manner that is responsible and constructive.
“Personal attacks, name calling, accusations have no place in local government,” she said. “From this point forward we will have decorum in every meeting. This is the standard we have set tonight and the standard we will uphold.”
While there were debates later in the meeting, Palmer’s message did seem to take hold and civility was maintained.
Home Rule Committee Chairman Gene Martin gave another update to the council. After missing a meeting in November, the most recent home rule meeting wasn’t until Dec 3, after which updates were posted online the next day for the public and the final draft was given to legal counsel to look over.
That did not allow enough time to get it to the council for their Dec. 9 meeting.
However, based on response from council and some in the audience, not everyone is happy with what they are seeing from the committee as they build a charter to bring before the council.
Among what seems to be the most controversial topics is the small amount of signatures on a petition the committee is recommending for citizens to recall an elected official. Councilman Buddy Wright noted whereas other cities, including nearby Aledo, are using a percentage of registered voters (in Aledo it’s 25%), the committee is recommending using 30% of only those who voted in the most recent election.
In Willow Park that would be only 226 residents having the power to implement a recall election based on the May election of this year in which only 751 of the town’s almost 4,500 registered voters turned out (only around 17%). In Aledo, it would take more than 1,100 signatures to implement a recall.
“It would take fewer votes to recall her (Palmer) than voted for her opponent,” Wright said. “I am concerned that is a very low bar.”
Wright added that he is concerned such a low threshold would result in constant recalls.
Willow Park resident Carol Wagner had addressed this dilemma earlier in the public comments. She said it weakens the council and does not count for or offer a safeguard for voters.
“Preserving, not weakening, city council is important,” Wagner said. “We depend on our elected city council leaders to represent us.”
Wright also expressed concern over an ethics board being directly written into the charter and being given subpoena power.
“Look up Lincoln Hill,” Martin told him, to which Wright responded, “How’s that working for them?”
Smith said he is bothered because it seems the committee is simply looking at other ethics boards without doing thorough research.
“I want more clarity than they have it, so we’re doing it,” he said.
Contreras then added, “Why would we have something that would create political witch hunts all the time?”
Wright asked Martin who defines morals in the charter.
“I’d love to know who gets to make that call? I don’t know that there’s anybody qualified to make that call,” he said.
Martin responded that his job as committee chairman is to establish how the city works, not the details.
City Attorney Andy Messer also expressed concern about putting an ethics board directly into the charter. He suggested making it a separate ordinance.
“It takes on a life of its own. You’ve got to be careful,” he said.
Smith told Martin that he and the committee have “done a fantastic job of putting the charter together.” However, he said another challenge has arisen concerning folks who offer input that differs with some of the thinking of committee members.
“I’m either met with resistance or no response,” he said. “We’re requesting participation, but we’re not harvesting civil discord. We’re not looking at the city as a whole.”
Wagner addressed Martin also, saying, “I feel like my input has been dismissed. I’m giving input and I feel like I’m not being heard.”
Messer suggested that the committee have one or two meetings with council to discuss their different thoughts about the charter before it’s officially brought before council. Martin said they are all welcome to attend the next meeting on Dec. 17, but did not agree to any separate meetings between the committee and council.
“I spent a weekend going through the charter. I will be at the Dec. 17 meeting,” Wright said.
Martin told the council and the audience that he still encourages their input.
Martin and Messer also cleared something up. It was previously believed that when the proposed charter is brought before the council, no later than February, the council could make changes before approval.
However, Messer confirmed that council cannot make any changes to it and must call for an election in May to put it on the ballot for the citizens to decide. The only time council can be involved in changes is with amendments once the charter is approved by voters.
The deadline for the council to approve putting it on the May 2026 ballot is in February.
“Every calendar should have a notice on it that dates are closer than they appear,” Martin said with a chuckle.
Palmer has been pushing for the city to change from general rule to home rule since she campaigned for mayor, making it a top agenda item.
Some basic differences between general law and home rule are:
General law - Has no charter and may only exercise those powers that are specifically granted by state law.
Home rule - May do anything authorized by its charter (which is voted on by the citizens) that is not specifically prohibited or pre-empted by the state constitution or state/federal law. A charter is essentially the constitution of the city.
In a home rule city the mayor can have more power than in general law, depending on the type of charter drawn up. The mayors of many home rule cities also vote at council meetings, along with having veto power and the ability to force reconsideration.
Under the current system in Willow Park, the mayor can only vote to break a tie - which isn’t often, given the council has five members.
Other things a switch to a home rule city could bring include the ability of citizens to remove officials through recall elections; allowing for the removal of council members for such things as absences and intentional violations of the charter; and term limits.
General law cities have no right of recall. To remove officials they must file a petition in the district court and have a trial.
“I want people to be thinking what’s the long term effect of this charter,” Martin said.
Restrooms are coming to King’s Gate Park! Real ones!
After working with Aledo ISD Architecture II students to come up with a plan for a bathroom/pavilion for Kings Gate Park, the project must now go out for a bid to be completed. But first, the building concept must be professionally approved by an engineering/architectural firm.
Council approved the engineering firm of Jacob & Martin to do so. The funds to pay the fee of $45,000 for the services is available in the park improvement allocation from the last certificate of occupancy for the city’s road project.
“The benefit is these plans are ours, so if we have another place where we have to build a bathroom, we have the designs,” Co-Interim City Manager Toni Fisher said.
King’s Gate Park currently has porta potties in place.
“It’ll be nice and look great when we get this project finished,” Fisher said. “As soon as we get construction plans, we’ll send it out for bid.”
Fisher said she anticipates the new restrooms and pavilion to be completed by the end of the summer.
Council approved moving forward with its intention to issue certificates of obligation not to exceed $10,110,000 for repairs on the Squaw Creek Road Project. At the Nov. 17 meeting, council was presented with several options for obtaining funding for the repairs.
These funds will cover:
Constructing, acquiring, purchasing, renovating, enlarging, equipping, and improving waterworks and sewer system properties or facilities, including the acquisition of land and rights-of-way.
Constructing, acquiring, maintaining, improving and equipping streets, including drainage, landscaping, curbs, gutters, sidewalks, entryways, pedestrian pathways, signage and traffic signalization, the relocation of utilities in connection and the acquisition of land and rights-of-way.
Designing, constructing, acquiring, improving, enlarging, and equipping the city’s municipal drainage utility system and the acquisition of land and rights-of-way.
Professional services rendered.
Palmer made a final plea to council to put the matter before the public on the ballot next May, saying she feels the city has issued too much debt, but to no avail. Repairing the roads in the Squaw Creek area was a major part of her campaign.
Council held a public hearing before approving a zoning change request for 140 acres at The Reserves at Trinity Phase 2, modifying the minimum square footage requirement in the subdivision from 2,200 to 1,800 square feet.
Fisher said the amendment aligns the development standards with other competing subdivisions in the area, and allows the builder to offer the comparable products and pricing.
“That’s keeping it really competitive with what’s going on around it,” she said.
She noted Country Hollow, which is already being built, has a minimum square requirement of 1,700.
Council approved a zoning change from single family district to light industrial district for just less than five acres of land at 7399 E. Bankhead Hwy. The applicant, Rider Scott, is proposing to install three modern office buildings within a cohesive layout.
Officials noted the concept emphasizes functionality, architectural quality, and compatibility with surrounding uses while supporting local economic growth. They added the concept supports the city’s vision for commercial growth, balanced development by creating employment opportunities and attracting diverse businesses within an attractive, low-impact setting.
“This allows for a little more flexibility,” Fisher said.
Council approved a Chapter 380 tax abatement agreement with the recently opened Cork & Pig Tavern. The sales tax abatement is for food items only, and does not include alcohol, Fisher said.
The agreement is good for up to five years or not to exceed $150,000.
In January 2024, managing partners for Cork & Pig Tavern Management, LLC and their commercial broker met with city staff regarding an interest in a new restaurant expansion in the city. The restauranteurs wanted to pursue their new venture at a space within The District at Willow Park. However, due to the shell space, its tenant remodel was going to be extremely extensive (a cost of $3 Million, per its permit).
They requested economic incentives from the City of Willow Park to assist with the offset of this expense.
The last week in October, Cork & Pig Tavern opened its doors.
Council members approved casting of the city’s 22 ballots for Joe Wilkinson to be named to the Parker County Appraisal District Board of Directors. Following the vote in an open meeting, the results must be returned to Chief Appraiser, Troy Hanson no later than Dec. 15.
Public Works Director Chase McBride presented council and those in attendance with an update on the progress of the wastewater treatment plant. The project, which began in late October of 2023, has a targeted completion date of May of 2026.
Council voted to cancel the Dec. 23 meeting in lieu of it being so close to Christmas. The next scheduled meeting will be Jan. 13.
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