Conroe - Montgomery Edition | May 2025

Government

BY NICHAELA SHAHEEN & JESSICA SHORTEN

Conroe to require in-person attendance for executive sessions During its April 24 meeting, Conroe City Council voted 3-2 to approve requiring in-person attendance for the executive session portion of meetings. Council members Harry Hardman and Howard Wood voted against. In a nutshell Before City Council’s decision, council mem- bers were allowed to video call into executive session. However, City Attorney Mike Garner said there are concerns about security and the need to protect the integrity of the closed-door executive session meetings. The city charter does allow City Council to compel attendance—or legally require someone to be present—of its members, Garner said. “As this council knows, we have several legal matters that are coming forward that are very important to the city and to the citizens of the city,” Garner said in the April 23 workshop meeting. “It’s my belief, in consulting with other city adminis- trators, that it’s very important to have council members present in the executive session.” Animal cruelty cases projected to rise David Eason, Montgomery County Pre- cinct 2 constable, told Montgomery County commissioners on April 29 the number of animal cruelty cases reported in the county is projected to increase from 162 in 2024 to 320 in 2025. What you need to know Eason said only two detectives man the county’s animal cruelty division, which is responsible for cases countywide. Next steps County Judge Mark Keough said the county was looking at potential options to recover expenses, including charging additional fees for out-of-county animal dropos and higher nes for those charged with animal abuse.

Conroe Fire Station No. 8 moves forward During its April 24 meeting, Conroe City Council approved the request for quali- cations for design and build services for Conroe Fire Station No. 8, allowing contract negotiations with SLI Group LLC to begin. The details Fire Chief Paul Sims said $4.2 million is slated for the design and the construction of the project, which does not include any furniture or xtures needed. The total cost should be around $5 million and the new re station will be located along FM 3083, per city ocials. Sims said the department will begin negotiations with SLI Group LLC, and will establish timelines before coming back for a nal approval.

"Citizen participation was severely restricted and now council members who cannot always attend in-person in executive session are restricted from

discussion on extremely important city issues, yet still responsible to vote."

HOWARD WOOD, COUNCIL MEMBER

“I am supportive of limiting executive sessions to in-person attendees. Since the start of my term,

I have been concerned with security controls and I feel this is a positive

step forward.” SHANA ARTHUR, COUNCIL MEMBER

INDUSTRIAL PARK RD.

City Administrator Gary Scott said the change is to be able to ensure that attorney-client privilege is maintained. Scott said the change was discussed between the city’s legal team and city administra- tors before being brought to City Council.

3083

PRESSWOOD DR.

Council approves memorandum for development

At its April 22 meeting, Montgomery City Council approved a memorandum of understand- ing with developer Parkside Capital for a proposed residential and commercial project known as Villages of Montgomery. Diving in deeper City engineers completed a feasibility study on the development last July for the 51-acre sin- gle-family and commercial development, located o Hwy. 105 near Caroline and Shepperd streets, according to the agenda. The MOU outlines the developer’s intent to seek zoning variances to accommodate reduced lot sizes, according to the agenda. Per the agenda, other variance requests include: • Requesting 5-foot side lot setbacks from the 10-foot minimum requirement • Requesting a minimum lot width of 45 feet from the 75-foot requirement

Villages of Montgomery

CAROLINE ST.

105

SHEPPERD ST.

OLD PLANTERSVILLE RD.

SOURCE: CITY OF MONTGOMERYCOMMUNITY IMPACT

• Requesting 10-foot front setbacks from the 25-foot requirement The development will have a park; green space and detention ponds; and homes will be alley- loaded with garages, according to the agenda. Stay tuned At a future meeting, the city will consider formal annexation, utility agreements and zoning variance approvals before construction begins, according to the agenda.

CONROE MONTGOMERY EDITION