[CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:08]
AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. WELCOME TO TODAY'S SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL. TODAY'S DATE IS TUESDAY, MAY 13TH, 2025. TODAY'S INVOCATION WILL BE GIVEN BY DOCTOR JOHN R ADOLF, PASTOR OF ANTIOCH MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH. IF EVERYONE WOULD PLEASE SILENCE YOUR CELL PHONES. AND IF YOU SO CHOOSE, PLEASE STAND AND REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. AS WE BOW OUR HEADS. I REALIZED IN A BEAUTIFUL TAPESTRY OF PEOPLE THAT MAKE UP A CITY LIKE BEAUMONT, THAT THERE ARE DIFFERENT FAITH EXPRESSIONS THAT WERE OUR FRIENDS WHO ARE CATHOLIC AND THOSE WHO ARE JEWS, HINDUS, MUSLIM AND THE LIKE. I'M A CHRISTIAN AND I DON'T WANT TO PRAY TO MY GOD WITHOUT GIVING YOU THE SAME OPPORTUNITY TO WHISPER PRAYERS TO YOURS. SO IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE, MA'AM AND SIR, TAKE THIS MOMENT OF JUST 30S OF SILENCE TO ASK GOD TO BLESS THIS MAGNIFICENT METROPOLIS WE CALL HOME. AND THEN I WILL WHISPER SACRED SUPPLICATIONS TO THE LORD THAT I LOVE AND LIVE FOR. HEADS ARE BOWED. HEARTS ARE HUMBLED. THIS MOMENT OF SILENCE, PLEASE.
BLESS THE LORD, O MY SOUL. AND ALL THAT IS WITHIN ME. BLESS HIS HOLY NAME. O GOD OUR FATHER, I BOW BEFORE YOU IN THIS MAGNIFICENT COMPANY TO SAY, FIRST AND FOREMOST, THANK YOU SO MUCH, LORD. FROM THE RISING OF TODAY'S SUN, WE ARE REMINDED OF YOUR SOVEREIGN RULE AND REIGN OVER THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE AND GOD. TODAY, WE WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE GIFT OF LIFE, LORD, FOR THE THINGS THAT MONEY CANNOT BUY, A CREDIT CARD WILL NEVER CHARGE, AND A CHECK WILL NEVER WRITE FOR ALLOWING US TO WALK AND TALK, SEE AND BE ABLE TO TOUCH. WE SAY THANK YOU FOR THE GIFT OF FAITH AND FRIENDS AND FAMILY. WE SAY THANK YOU AND GOD. I SAY THANK YOU FOR MY LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST, WHO WOULD DIE ON A CROSS TO SAVE A MAN LIKE ME. OH GOD, OH GOD, HOW EXCELLENT IS THY NAME IN ALL THE EARTH TODAY? OH LORD, I LIFT THIS MAGNIFICENT CITY OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS TO YOU. I LIFT THE LEADERS WHO ARE ASSEMBLED HERE, THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED, THOSE WHO REMAIN, AND THOSE WHO WILL BE NEW. I LIFT THEM ALL TO YOU AND GOD. TODAY. MY PETITION IS FOR A SENSE OF UNITY, HARMONY AND SYNERGY LIKE NONE OTHER. LORD. HAVE THEM HAVE THEIR STEPS ORDERED BY YOU. HAVE THEIR VOICES THOUGH DIFFERENT. PLAY PRETTY MUSIC ON ONE ACCORD.
BLESS TODAY'S MEETING. OH GOD. WHAT COMES FROM IT IS GLORIOUS FOR YOU AND GRACE EXPRESSED TO US IN THE NAME OF JESUS I PRAY AND I SAY THANK YOU. AMEN. TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. MAY I HAVE ROLL CALL, PLEASE? MAYOR WEST, PRESENT. MAYOR PRO TEM NEAL, COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER. GOETZ. ABSENT. COUNCIL MEMBER. TURNER. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER. SHAW. PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER. SAMUEL. HERE. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO OPEN WITH PUBLIC COMMENTS. AND NOW IS THE TIME FOR ANY CITIZEN WHO WISHES TO SPEAK. YOU MAY MAKE PUBLIC COMMENTS. YOU MAKE PUBLIC COMMENTS ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE OR ANY OTHER TOPIC THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS. THE CITY CLERK WILL CALL YOUR NAME WHEN IT'S YOUR TIME TO SPEAK. WHEN YOU APPROACH THE PODIUM, THE PLEASE STATE YOUR ADDRESS, YOUR CITY AND STATE. YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. THE GREEN LIGHT WILL COME ON WHEN YOU APPROACH THE PODIUM, AND THE RED LIGHT WILL COME ON WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP. PLEASE BE REMINDED THAT MYSELF AND COUNCIL CANNOT RESPOND TO YOU WHEN YOU'RE MAKING PUBLIC COMMENT. BUT WE WILL HAVE SOMEBODY FROM OUR CITY OFFICES REACHING OUT TO YOU AFTERWARDS. NO ONE HAS SIGNED UP, MAYOR. ALL RIGHT. IF THERE'S NO PUBLIC COMMENTS, WE'LL CONTINUE. MR. CITY MANAGER, MAY YOU PLEASE
[REGULAR AGENDA]
TAKE US INTO ITEM ONE TO CANVASS THE TOTALS OF THE MAY 3RD, 2025 ELECTION. YES. THANK YOU. MAYOR.COUNCIL TO CONSIDER APPROVAL OF AN ORDINANCE CANVASING THE RESULTS OF THE MAY 3RD, 2025
[00:05:01]
CITY GENERAL ELECTION. AND IT COMES WITH THE RECOMMENDATION OF APPROVAL OF THE ORDINANCE. AND CITY CLERK WILL READ THE ORDINANCE. I WILL CANVASS THE TOTALS OF THE MAY 3RD ELECTION.I'LL START WITH THE OFFICE OF MAYOR. ROBIN MOUTON'S HAD 5559 VOTES WITH 39.78 PERCENTAGE.
RANDY SHAW, 3865 VOTES, 27.65%. CHRIS JONES, 267 VOTES, 1.91%. ROY WEST HAD 4232 VOTES, 30.28% AND JUDE PAREDES 53 VOTES, 0.38%. COUNCIL MEMBER AT LARGE ALBERT AJ TURNER HAD 8735 VOTES, 40.41%, BRIAN NEPO HAD 1592 VOTES, 7.37% AUDWIN SAMUEL HAD 5403 VOTES, 25%. MIKE WILLIAMS 5885 VOTES, 27.23%. COUNCIL MEMBER FOR WARD ONE COREY CRENSHAW, 2403 VOTES, 61.58% AND MARK W STILES, 1499 VOTES, 38.42%. COUNCIL MEMBER FOR WARD TWO. JOY HILLIARD, 2456 VOTES, 51.23%. MIKE GETZ HAD 2338 VOTES, 48.77%. COUNCIL MEMBER FOR WARD THREE LADONNA SHERWOOD, 1696 VOTES, 77.41%. AND TERRY PRESTON ROY, 495 VOTES WITH 22.59%. COUNCIL MEMBER, WARD FOUR CHARLES CHRISTOPHER DARIO, 1987 VOTES, 100%. IS THERE A MOTION FOR ITEM NUMBER ONE? MOVE TO APPROVE. SECOND. THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER ONE. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING? I AM NUMBER ONE. PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION IS CARRIED. SO TODAY, AS MOST OF YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE SWEARING IN OF OUR NEWLY ELECTED OFFICIALS, CITY COUNCIL OFFICIALS. BUT BEFORE WE WELCOME
[COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS]
THE NEW ELECTED OFFICIALS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A MOMENT TO HONOR AND SAY THANK YOU TO THE OUTGOING COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THEIR YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO OUR CITY. AND AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO ASK COUNCILMAN PHIL SHAW TO GO FIRST. THANK YOU. MAYOR. FIRST OF ALL, LET ME SAY TO THE RETURNING COUNCILMAN, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR WIN AND THE NEWLY ELECTED COUNCILMAN AND COUNCILWOMAN, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR WIN. OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS, I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SITTING IN THIS CHAIR AND SERVING THE CITIZENS OF BEAUMONT. AND I DO APPRECIATE THEIR CONFIDENCE AND THEIR TRUST IN ME. I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE UNDER THREE DIFFERENT MAYORS MAYOR AMES, MAYOR MOUTON, AND MAYOR WEST, EIGHT DIFFERENT COUNCILMEN, THREE DIFFERENT CITY MANAGERS WITH KYLE, CHRIS AND MR. WILLIAMS. TOGETHER WE ACCOMPLISHED, I THINK, A LOT OF GREAT THINGS FOR THE CITIZENS OF BEAUMONT, AND YET THERE IS STILL SO MUCH WORK TO BE DONE. SO I VACATE THIS POSITION AND CHAIR TO MIKE WILLIAMS AND A NEW COUNCIL WITH THE CONFIDENCE THAT THEY WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE OUR CITY FORWARD. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT WITH GREAT HOPE AND ANTICIPATION. SO FOR MY LAST TIME, LET ME SAY THANK YOU, BEAUMONT. THE HONOR WAS ALL MINE. COUNCILMAN SAMUEL. THANK YOU. IT IS WITH A GREAT DEAL OF PLEASURE AND HONOR THAT I EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION TO THE CITY OF BEAUMONT, TO ALL OF THE CITIZENS OF BEAUMONT, FOR SERVING OVER THREE DECADES. A LOT I'VE SEEN, A LOT DONE. I'VE SEEN A LOT OF PROGRESS. I APPRECIATE ALL OF THOSE VOTERS THAT WENT TO THE POLLS TO VOTE, AND I APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT THAT I'VE BEEN GIVEN OVER THE YEARS. YOUR TRUST AND YOUR SUPPORT HAS MADE THIS JOURNEY OVERWHELMING. SO TOGETHER, WE'VE WORKED TO BRING GOOD TO BEAUMONT. I COMMEND THE NEW APPOINTED ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT'S COMING ON. I GIVE THEM THE CHALLENGE TO FOLLOW GOD'S WILL AND DO WHAT'S BEST FOR HIS PEOPLE. AND WITH THAT, I'LL JUST SAY IT'S BEEN A GREAT JOURNEY[00:10:06]
FOR ME, AND I WILL ALWAYS BE GRATEFUL TO THE CITIZENS OF BEAUMONT FOR THE TRUST THAT YOU'VE PLACED IN ME. I'LL CONTINUE TO SERVE YOU FROM WHEREVER I AM. SO THANK YOU AND MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS YOU AND BLESS OUR GREAT CITY OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS. THANK YOU.MAYOR. COUNCILMAN NEILL, MY DIRECT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE BEAUMONT CITY COUNCIL GOES BACK TO 2019. AT THE TIME, NONE OF MY FOUR CHILDREN WERE HIGH SCHOOL AGED. TODAY, MY OLDEST IS FINISHING HER FIRST YEAR IN COLLEGE. IT'S ACCURATE TO SAY MY FAMILY GREW UP WITH THE CITY COUNCIL, AND IT'S BECAUSE OF SUCH THAT I WILL FOREVER BE TIED TO THIS GREAT BOARD OF ELECTED LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES. WHEN I GOT STARTED IN 2019, WE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT COVID WAS. THINGS SURE CHANGED QUICK. I ALSO DON'T THINK ANY OF US KNEW THE TURNS IT WOULD TAKE TO ATTEMPT TO BUY, EVENTUALLY BUY, MARKET FOR DEVELOPMENT, AND ULTIMATELY DEMOLISH THE DOWNTOWN AT&T BUILDING. I DON'T RECOMMEND YOU DOING THAT, COREY. UNLESS YOU HAVE SERVED ON THE CITY COUNCIL, YOU DON'T TRULY UNDERSTAND ALL THAT GOES WITH THE LATE NIGHT PHONE CALLS AND EARLY MORNING TEXT MESSAGES, RANGING FROM SEWER ISSUES TO DRUG COUNSELING, OR MAYBE JUST SOMEBODY NEEDING SOMEONE TO TALK TO. THE PAST SIX YEARS HAVE INCLUDED NUMEROUS PARTNERSHIPS WITH CITY LEADERS AND OFFICIALS. IT WAS AN HONOR TO BE A PART OF SO MANY CITY COUNCILS, WHICH ACCEPTED THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT COMES WITH LEADERSHIP IN THE PUBLIC EYE. MY FAMILY IS THANKFUL FOR EACH PERSON WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THAT EFFORT, AND THERE ARE WAY TOO MANY PEOPLE TO NAME EACH ONE INDIVIDUALLY. HOWEVER, I MUST ACKNOWLEDGE WORKING SIDE BY SIDE WITH THREE MAYORS BECKY AMES, ROBIN MOUTON, AND ROY WEST. I ALSO WAS PART OF A BOARD WHICH OVERSAW THE WORK OF THREE CITY MANAGERS, RANGING FROM KYLE HAYES TO CHRIS BOONE TO KENNETH WILLIAMS. THIS COULD HAVE ONLY BEEN ACCOMPLISHED WITH THE ROCK SOLID SUPPORT TEAM. SO I OFFER MY HEARTFELT THANKS TO THE CONSTITUENTS OF WARD ONE. IT DOES NOT FEEL LIKE ALL THAT LONG AGO I WAS WALKING DOOR TO DOOR, INTRODUCING MYSELF TO PEOPLE FOR THE FIRST TIME. I WILL FOREVER BE GRATEFUL FOR THE BELIEF THEN AND THE CONTINUED SUPPORT SINCE THAT ALLOWED ME TO SERVE THE CITY THAT WE ALL LOVE. I MUST ALSO THANK MY WIFE ANDREA, MY KIDS, EMILY, LAUREN, TAYLOR, JUNIOR CARTER AND COLE WHO HAD NO IDEA WHAT THEY WERE SIGNING UP FOR WHEN I FIRST DECIDED TO SEEK PUBLIC OFFICE. THEY WERE OFTEN THRUST INTO THE SPOTLIGHT AGAINST THEIR WISHES. TODAY, THEIR SUPPORT HAS NEVER CHANGED AND I WILL NOT FORGET THAT. TODAY, I'M EXTREMELY PROUD OF THE MANY RELATIONSHIPS DEVELOPED WITH CITY STAFF. THESE MEN AND WOMEN WORK EVERY DAY ON THE FRONT LINES AND BEHIND THE SCENES TO MAKE THE CITY GO. THEY ARE OFTEN OVERLOOKED AND UNDERAPPRECIATED, BUT NONE OF THIS WOULD BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THEM. FOR ANY PROGRESS TO TAKE PLACE IN THIS CITY, I HAVE ALWAYS BELIEVED OUR INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT. THAT WAS TRUE IN 2019 AS IT IS TODAY, BUT THANKFULLY THERE IS TRACKABLE PROGRESS UNDERWAY. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD ALL BE PROUD OF. WHEN IT CAME TO CITY DECISIONS AND IMPORTANT VOTES, THOSE IN WARD ONE AND ACROSS BEAUMONT ALWAYS KNEW WHERE I STOOD ON ISSUES. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN. LIKE THEY SAY, I HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT, BUT I DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY. NOW, AS WE PROCEED THROUGH 2025 AND BEYOND, I'M EXTREMELY EXCITED TO WATCH CORY CRENSHAW HELP TAKE THIS BOARD TO THE NEXT LEVEL. HE HAS MY SUPPORT AND CONFIDENCE.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, AND WITH THE MOST EXCITEMENT, I'M HAPPY TO SAY WHEN THE NEXT MAJOR BEAUMONT ISSUE COMES UP, CALL CRENSHAW. COUNCILMAN, THANK ALL OF YOU. AND AT THIS TIME, WE WILL NOW
[SWEARING-IN CEREMONY]
HAVE THE ADMINISTRATION. ADMINISTRATION OF THE OATH. EACH PERSON WILL BE SWORN IN INDIVIDUALLY. AND PLEASE, AFTER YOU'RE SWORN IN. PLEASE COME UP AND TAKE YOUR SEAT. AND AT FIRST, ONE IS GOING TO BE WARD ONE COUNCILMAN COREY CRENSHAW. AND THE OATH WILL BE ADMINISTERED BY JUDGE CRAIG LIVELY.THAT'S RIGHT UP HERE ON GOOD. IT'S A GREAT HONOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WELCOME, SIR.
YES, SIR. ARE YOU READY? READY? ALL RIGHT. I COREY CRENSHAW, I, COREY CRENSHAW, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM. DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF WARD ONE. THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF WARD ONE
[00:15:05]
OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, OF THE STATE OF TEXAS. AND WILL THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, AND WITH THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, PRESERVE, PROTECT AND DEFEND, PRESERVE, PROTECT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND OF THIS STATE, THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND OF THIS STATE. SO HELP ME GOD. SO HELP ME GOD. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU.THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR, FOR THAT. GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU.
THANK YOU, JUDGE LIVELY. WARD TWO. COUNCILMAN JOEY HILLIARD. NOW, AND THE OATH WILL BE ADMINISTERED BY MR. JERRY NATHAN. HOUSTON. THANK YOU, MR. COOL.
THANK YOU. PLEASE REPEAT AFTER ME. IN THE NAME. AND BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, I, JOSEPH HILLIARD, IN THE NAME OF THE STATE OF THE. STUPID. IN THE NAME OF IN THE NAME, IN THE NAME, IN THE NAME. AND BY THE AUTHORITY. OKAY. REPEAT AFTER M. I, JOSEPH HILLIARD, I, JOSEPH HILLIARD, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM. DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF WAR TWO. I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF WARD TWO OF THIS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, PRESERVE, PRESERVE, PROTECT, PROTECT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION. DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION, CONSTITUTION, AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES, AND OF THIS STATE AND OF THIS STATE. SO HELP ME GOD. SO HELP ME GOD. AND FORGIVE ME FOR MESSING UP. FORGIVE ME FOR MESSING UP. CONGRATULATIONS.
PLEASE DO. SIGN. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK. YOU. DO THIS.
LIKE THIS COMES OFF. DID WE DO OKAY? THANK YOU. I'M SORRY I MESSED UP. THANK YOU, MR. NATHAN. NOW WE'RE GOING TO DO WARD THREE. COUNCIL MEMBER LADONNA SHERWOOD. THE OATH WILL BE ADMINISTERED BY JUDGE NAOMI SHOWERS DOYLE. QUARTERBACK. JUST THROW IT HERE. GOTCHA.
AND REPEAT AFTER ME. I, LADONNA SHERWOOD, I, LADONNA SHERWOOD, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM. DO
[00:20:04]
SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTY THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF. OF THE OFFICE OF WARD THREE. WARD THREE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, OF THE STATE OF TEXAS. AND WILL, TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, PRESERVE, PRESERVE, PROTECT, PROTECT AND DEFEND AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION, THE CONSTITUTION, AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES, AND OF THIS STATE AND OF THIS STATE. SO HELP ME GOD. SO HELP ME GOD.OKAY. SHE'S NOT GOING TO GET I'M NERVOUS. THANK YOU. HERE WE GO.
CONGRATULATIONS. I'M SO PROUD OF YOU. AND LET ME GET YOUR CHAIR. I APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU, JUDGE DOYLE. NEXT, WE. WE'RE GOING TO. COUNCILMAN DURIO HAS FAMILY TRAVELING IN, SO WE'RE GOING TO SKIP TO AT LARGE COUNCILMAN MIKE WILLIAMS. AND THE OATH WILL BE ADMINISTERED BY JUDGE CRAIG LIVELY. COME ON DOWN. TO. CONGRATULATIONS. ARE YOU READY? I'M READY. LET ME MAKE THIS COMPLICATED. YEAH I UNDERSTAND. OKAY. I'M MICHAEL WILLIAMS, I'M MICHAEL WILLIAMS. DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM. DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE. THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF COUNCIL MEMBER AT LARGE, OF COUNCIL MEMBER AT LARGE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND WILL, TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, PRESERVE, PROTECT AND DEFEND, PRESERVE, PROTECT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS, THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES, OF THE UNITED STATES, AND OF THIS STATE AND OF THIS STATE. SO HELP ME GOD. SO HELP ME GOD. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU.
MA'AM. THANK YOU, JUDGE LIVELY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU MA'AM. THANK YOU. WANT SOME WATER OVER THERE? OR SOMETHING? RIGHT BACK HERE. YOU NEED SOMETHING? YEAH.
OH. ALL RIGHT, NOW WE HAVE AT LARGE COUNCILMAN ALBERT AJ TURNER. AND THE OATH WILL BE ADMINISTERED BY JUDGE NAOMI DOYLE.
[00:25:26]
AMEN. AMEN. Y'ALL DON'T MIND.LADIES. THAT'S OKAY. THREE. AND REPEAT AFTER ME. I, ALBERT TURNER JR I ALBERT TURNER JR. AJ DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM. DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES. THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF. OF THE OFFICE OF COUNCIL MEMBER AT LARGE. COUNCIL MEMBER AT LARGE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND WILL DO TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, AND WILL DO TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY. PRESERVE, PRESERVE, PROTECT, PROTECT AND DEFEND AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION, THE CONSTITUTION, AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND OF THIS STATE AND OF THIS STATE. SO HELP ME GOD. SO HELP ME GOD. AMEN.
THANK YOU, JUDGE DOYLE. ALL RIGHT. AT THIS POINT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE WARD FOUR COUNCIL MEMBER CHRIS DARIO. AND THE OATH WILL BE ADMINISTERED BY JUDGE RANSOM DUCE JONES. THANK YOU.
LONG TIME NO SEE. I KNOW, RIGHT? I FEEL LIKE I JUST SEE. ALRIGHT. CONGRATULATIONS. YEAH. THAT'S GOOD. ALL RIGHT. YES, MA'AM. CAN YOU RAISE YOUR HAND? I CHRIS DARIO I CHRIS, DARIO, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM. DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE, THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE. WARD FOUR.
WARD FOUR OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, OF THE STATE OF TEXAS. AND WITH THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AND WITH THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, PRESERVE, PROTECT, PROTECT, PROTECT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES, OF THE UNITED STATES AND OF THIS STATE AND OF THIS STATE. SO HELP ME GOD. SO HELP ME GOD. THANK YOU.
SO. ALL RIGHT, THIS IS WHAT WE'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR AND Y'ALL BEEN WORKING FOR. AND AT
[COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS]
THIS POINT, WE'RE GOING TO OFFER PUBLIC COMMENTS TO OUR NEWLY ELECTED COUNCIL MEMBERS BEFORE WE END UP DISMISSING TO GO TO THE FIRST FLOOR RECEPTION ROOM FOR SOME CAKE AND CELEBRATION.[00:30:04]
SO I WILL START WITH COUNCILMAN CRENSHAW. AND THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, FRIENDS, FAMILY AND BECKY AMES IS HERE ONLY TO WHISPER IN MY EAR, MISS ME YET? I WANT TO THANK THE MANY PEOPLE WHO CAME TOGETHER TO MAKE MY LIFE IN THIS DAY POSSIBLE. FIRST MY DAD. MY GENEROUS AND INCREDIBLE. AND UNCLE WILL ENJOY CRENSHAW. A MENTOR AND A MAN THAT'S LIKE A FATHER TO ME. WAYNE, A RIO. TAYLOR NEILD AND HIS WIFE, ANDREA. AND THE ENTIRE NEILD FAMILY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT. EVERYTHING THAT YOUR FAMILY HAS DONE FOR BEAUMONT, GENERATION AFTER GENERATION. MY DEAR FRIEND, PASTOR JOHN ADOLF, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. THANK YOU FOR BEING PART OF MAKING MY CAMPAIGN IN THIS DAY A SUCCESS, AND COMING TOGETHER TO SHOW BEAUMONT THAT TOGETHER WE CAN DO GREAT THINGS. HE ALLOWED ME TO PUT FORTH THE CAMPAIGN OF UNITY AND LOVE AND RESPECT FOR THIS ENTIRE CITY. AND PASTOR ADOLF, FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. KRISTEN HAMPTON, WHO HAS SPENT THOUSANDS OF HOURS TEXTING AND DISCUSSING AND WORKING TO MAKE TODAY POSSIBLE. KRISTEN, THANK YOU FOR SACRIFICING YOUR TIME WITH YOUR REAL ESTATE CLIENTS TO MAKE ME A SUCCESS TODAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. TO THE BEAUMONT PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS UNION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR ME AND FOR ALL OF THE DIFFERENT CANDIDATES THAT WERE SUCCESSFUL AND HAD YOUR SUPPORT HERE TODAY.THE BEAUMONT POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION, THE SABINE AREA LABOR COUNCIL, AND THE JEFFERSON COUNTY DEPUTIES ASSOCIATION. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, THANK YOU, BEAUMONT. I NOW GET TO ADD THE TITLE OF COUNCILMAN TO MY LONG LIST OF PREVIOUS TITLES, INCLUDING JUDGE, DISTRICT ATTORNEY, LAWYER, FEDERAL PROSECUTOR, PROFESSOR, SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCER TEX JOY, AMBASSADOR, KING OF THE CRONUTS. AND NOW THE GREATEST HONOR I CAN HONESTLY SAY IN MY LIFE YOUR COUNCILMAN. I AM READY TO SERVE YOU. I AM READY FOR EMAILS ABOUT POTHOLES. I AM READY TO DO THE JOB THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR OUR ENTIRE CITY, AND I AM READY TO BE PART OF POSITIVE CHANGE IN THIS COMMUNITY AND LEAD US FORWARD WITH COUNCILMAN DARIO HILLIARD TURNER, COUNCILMAN WILLIAMS AND COUNCILWOMAN SHERWOOD AND WHOEVER THE VOTERS SELECT TO BE OUR MAYOR. THANK YOU ALL, BEAUMONT, AND THANK YOU FOR THIS AMAZING OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN CRENSHAW.
COUNCILMAN SHERWOOD. IT IS A GREAT DAY IN BEAUMONT. I AM HERE TODAY, BY GOD'S GRACE, I AM GRATEFUL FOR MY FAMILY, MY HUSBAND, MY KIDS, MY MOM, MY SISTER, MY COUSINS THAT ALWAYS SHOW UP AND SUPPORT ALL MY FAMILY, ALL MY FRIENDS, EVERYONE. TOO MANY TO NAME.
TODAY MARKS A CULMINATION OF OVER A DECADE OF ADVOCATING FOR MY COMMUNITY, WORKING ON OTHER PEOPLE'S CAMPAIGN, AND SHOWING UP TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE CITY THAT I LOVE. WHERE I WAS BORN AND RAISED TO THE WARD THREE RESIDENTS WHO PUT THEIR TRUST IN ME. THANK YOU. I TRULY
[00:35:04]
APPRECIATE THIS DAY AND THIS HONOR. YOUR CONFIDENCE IN MY ABILITY TO REPRESENT YOU MEANS EVERYTHING TO ME. TO THOSE OF YOU WHO VOTED DIFFERENTLY, I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT I WILL BE FOUND REPRESENTING ALL OF WARD THREE RESIDENTS WITH THE SAME COMMITMENT AND INTEGRITY. I HEARD YOUR CONCERNS DURING MY CAMPAIGN FOR BETTER STREETS AND BETTER DRAINAGE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVEMENT TOWARDS CRIME. I AM READY TO WORK ALONGSIDE CITY STAFF, MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS AND YOU, THE BEAUMONT RESIDENTS, TO TURN YOUR CONCERNS INTO PROGRESS.AUDWIN SAMUEL, I WANT TO THANK YOU PERSONALLY, I APPRECIATE YOU. YOU HAVE BEEN A PILLAR IN THIS COMMUNITY AND I HOPE TO DO YOU PROUD. THANK YOU ALL. I AM GRATEFUL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
LET'S GO TO WORK. BEAUMONT. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN SHERWOOD. COUNCILMAN WILLIAMS, I NEED YOU TO PICK. YES. THANK YOU. WOW. WHAT A HUMBLING EXPERIENCE. THE LAST YEAR OF MY LIFE HAS BEEN. I A YEAR AGO DECIDED TO INVOLVE MYSELF AND TAKE A LEADERSHIP STANCE IN THIS POSITION. AND PRIOR TO THAT, IT'S NOT ANYTHING I COULD HAVE SEEN MYSELF DOING. BUT HERE I AM. AND, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE MOST HUMBLING EXPERIENCES OF MY LIFE. SO THANKFUL TO ALL THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT I'VE BUILT, ALL THE PEOPLE I GOT TO KNOW ALONG THE WAY. AND YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GET 6000 VOTES, YOU DON'T KNOW ALL OF THEM. AND SO TO THE PEOPLE THAT LISTEN TO ME OR OR TOOK A LOOKED INTO ME OR TALKED TO PEOPLE ABOUT ME AND, AND GAVE ME THEIR SUPPORT, I AM SO APPRECIATIVE OF THEM. AND TO MY WIFE, CATHERINE. THANK YOU, I LOVE YOU. I COULDN'T BE HERE WITHOUT YOU AND ALL MY FAMILY, MY DAD, MY IN-LAWS, CHRISTINE AND JOHN GAVRILO'S, MIMI, DYLAN RICHARDSON. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HELP. AND YOU KNOW, WE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING SPECIAL. WE JUST WORKED HARD. WE LISTENED TO PEOPLE AND WE WENT, YOU KNOW, TOOK IT AND RAN. AND THAT'S WHAT I'LL DO OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS. I PROMISE EVERYBODY THAT I WILL WORK HARD. I THINK IT'S EXCITING TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, PRETTY LARGE TURNOVER UP HERE. AND I THINK WE'RE ALL EXCITED TO WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE BEAUMONT THE BEST PLACE IT CAN BE. AND SO, YOU KNOW, I READ A QUOTE LAST NIGHT FROM A BUSINESSMAN NAMED JACK MA AND IT SAID, TODAY IS HARD. TOMORROW IS EVEN HARDER.
BUT THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW IS BEAUTIFUL. AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK WITH OUR HARD WORK UP HERE THAT WE CAN GET TO THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN WILLIAMS, COUNCILMAN HILLIARD. WOW. I NEVER THOUGHT I'D HEAR THAT, BUT I AM, I AM, I'M JUST I'M HUMBLED AND HONORED TO BE SITTING UP HERE AND, YOU KNOW, THE ROAD I, I WAS ON I PEOPLE LOOKED AT ME LIKE I WAS CRAZY BECAUSE I WAS GOING UP AGAINST A JUGGERNAUT. AND SO WE DID IT A GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT. YOU KNOW, FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANT TO THANK MY WIFE, WHO, IF SHE WOULD HAVE KNOWN WHAT I WAS, WHAT THIS WAS GOING TO ENTAIL, SHE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE TOLD ME I WAS CRAZY. BUT SHE SUPPORTED AND LOVED ME THE WHOLE WAY, AND I, I COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT HER. AND I'M JUST SO BLESSED TO HAVE MET SO MANY AMAZING PEOPLE.
AND I THINK THAT THAT THAT'S PROBABLY THE MOST SPECIAL PART IS THAT JERRY, NATHAN AND IRIS, NATHAN AND I, Y'ALL HAVE JUST BEEN. I FEEL LIKE I'VE KNOWN YOU MY WHOLE LIFE. AND SO YOU'VE BEEN WONDERFUL AND ALL THE NEAT FRIENDSHIPS THAT WE'VE DEVELOPED. AND, YOU KNOW, I'M EXCITED ABOUT WHAT BEAUMONT IS GOING TO BECOME. AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE ALL WANT TO MAKE BEAUMONT BETTER. AND I'M EXCITED TO DO THAT. AND I'M HUMBLED AND EXCITED TO BE A PART OF THAT.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE WALKED SO MANY STREETS AND KNOCKED ON SO MANY DOORS. AND LARRY HINDIN BACK THERE IN THE BACK WAS JUST AMAZING. AND I THANK YOU FOR ALL THE SWEAT AND ALL THE HARD WORK THAT WE DID TO GET TO THIS POINT. AND THANK YOU TO THE FIREMEN AND TO THE BEAUMONT
[00:40:02]
POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE UNIONS FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND BELIEVING IN ME, EVEN WHEN A LOT OF PEOPLE DIDN'T. AND SO I'M JUST THANKFUL. I'M SO THANKFUL TO BE HERE. AND, YOU KNOW, I KNOW MY FATHER AND MY SON ARE LOOKING DOWN AND THEY'RE SMILING. AND SO IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING NOT ONLY WARD TWO, BUT THIS WHOLE VILLAGE WE CALL THE CITY. AND SO WE'RE GOING TO DO SOME GOOD THINGS. AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE FUTURE. AND I THINK THE CITY OF BEAUMONT IS EXCITED ABOUT THE FUTURE. SO THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART FOR EVERYTHING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN HILLIARD. NOW I'M GOING TO ALLOW COUNCILMAN TURNER. WE'RE STILL GOING TO ALLOW THE REST OF THE STAFF, AS WE ALWAYS DO WITH CLOSING COMMENTS. BUT I WANTED YOU ALL TO THE NEWLY ELECTED TO GO FIRST, COUNCILMAN TURNER, YOU ACT LIKE YOU DON'T KNOW MY NAME, MAN. I TRIED TO DECIDE WHICH WAY TO GO FIRST, AND I'M MESSING WITH YOU. I MISSED YOU FIRST. GIVING HONOR TO MY LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. BECAUSE WITHOUT GOD, I DON'T THINK ANY OF THIS WOULD BE POSSIBLE. AND I REALLY WANT TO THANK MY WIFE BECAUSE WHEN WE STARTED THIS JOURNEY ABOUT EIGHT YEARS AGO, SHE'S BEEN IN THE TRENCHES WITH ME. SHE SHARES ME WITH EVERYONE. SHE LETS ME TALK ON THE PHONE TO A CERTAIN TIME, MAKE SURE I SAY CERTAIN TIME, BABY, AND JUST MY KIDS. THE SACRIFICE THAT MY FAMILY MAKES FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO BE IN THIS POSITION. I'M JUST HUMBLY THANKFUL. NOW I'M ASKING YOU GUYS, DON'T TELL MY KIDS I GOT SWORN IN TODAY BECAUSE THEY AT SCHOOL, SO Y'ALL BETTER NOT TELL. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. BUT TO MY MOM AND DAD. THANK Y'ALL. ONE OF THE MOST THINGS AND MOST HONORABLE THINGS I COULD DO IS JUST MAKE Y'ALL PROUD. IT JUST MEANS THE WORLD TO ME THAT Y'ALL ARE ALWAYS THERE FOR ME. I ALWAYS HAVE BEEN. AND JUST TO BE ABLE TO MAKE Y'ALL PROUD, THAT MEANS EVERYTHING TO ME. MY MOTHER IN LAW, MY CAMPAIGN MANAGER, MY BIG SISTER, MY WHOLE FAMILY. BUT. IT'S KIND OF BITTERSWEET FOR ME TODAY BECAUSE WHEN YOU SERVE WITH PEOPLE AND YOU GENUINELY CARE AND YOUR HEART IS REALLY IN IT, IT KIND OF BECOMES FAMILY. AND ONE THING WE ALL GOT FAMILY MEMBERS. Y'ALL DON'T AGREE WITH ALL Y'ALL FAMILY MEMBERS, BUT YOU STILL LOVE EM. SO TO TAYLOR, NEIL AND NEIL FAMILY, I REMEMBER WHEN I ALMOST WASN'T GOING TO RUN AGAIN AFTER THE FIRST ELECTION, TAYLOR CALLED ME AND SAID, WE NEED SOME YOUNG BLOOD. WE NEED YOU TO DO IT. JUST WANT TO LET Y'ALL KNOW I APPRECIATE Y'ALL. ME AND ME AND TAYLOR DEBATE ALMOST ABOUT EVERYTHING, BUT WE STILL CAN SIT DOWN, SHAKE HANDS, AND OPERATE LIKE MEN AND MOVE FORWARD. TO RANDY SHAW. OUR RELATIONSHIP IS UNIQUE, I CALL IT. WE CAN ALWAYS HAVE TOUGH CONVERSATIONS. SOMETIMES MY WIFE WILL SAY, YOU STILL TALKING TO RANDY? AND THIS LATE AT NIGHT? BUT RANDY, WE CAN ALWAYS HAVE TOUGH CONVERSATIONS AND I APPRECIATE YOU FOR THAT BECAUSE WE'RE ABLE TO LOOK AT THINGS FROM VARIOUS PERSPECTIVES AND WE CAN MOVE FORWARD. AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SHARING THAT WITH YOU, MIKE. ALL RIGHT.ALDERMAN SAMUEL, I REMEMBER CALLING HIM COMPLAINING ABOUT THE FLU IN THE GYM. IT WAS ABOUT 10:00 AT NIGHT. I GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE AND I COULDN'T WE COULDN'T PLAY IN BASKETBALL. WE WERE SLIPPING. AND I SAID, WELL, THE COUNCIL NEED TO DO SOMETHING. AND THAT'S WHEN I UNDERSTOOD IT'S A BUDGET AND THE MONEY HAS TO BE IN THE BUDGET, AND YOU GOT TO HAVE THE VOTES TO PASS IT IN THE BUDGET. AND ALDERMAN TOLD ME, YOU'RE GOING TO COMPLAIN FROM THE SIDELINE.
ARE YOU GOING TO GET IN THE GAME? I DECIDED TO THROW MY NAME IN THE HAT BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN ACTIONS OVER WORDS. MY POLITICAL MENTORS, YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE. I DON'T HAVE TO CALL Y'ALL NAMES.
I APPRECIATE Y'ALL. Y'ALL HAVE INVESTED A LOT IN ME AND I'M THANKFUL. BUT 60 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IS NOW GONE. THINK ABOUT IT, GUYS. IT'S A BIG NUMBER. THE AVERAGE AGE ON COUNCIL LAST YEAR WAS 59. NOW WE HAVE A TOTAL OF TEN YEARS OF EXPERIENCE. THE AVERAGE AGE IS NOW 47. I WANT TO SAY TO OUR SEASONED CITIZENS, THANK Y'ALL FOR GIVING US YOUNG PROFESSIONALS THE OPPORTUNITY TO REPRESENT THE CITY OF BEAUMONT. Y'ALL DIDN'T HAVE TO DO THAT.
AND I WILL CONTINUE TO DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO WORK WITH ALL MY COUNCIL MEMBERS, BECAUSE THE CITY PICKED THE TEAM. NOW IT'S OUR JOB. COREY, MIKE, LADONNA. ROY, JOEY, CHRIS, WE GOT TO GO GET A CHAMPIONSHIP AND MAKE THIS TEAM THE BEST WE CAN MAKE IT. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. I'M GONNA CONTINUE TO WORK AS HARD AS I CAN TO DO THE BEST I CAN FOR THE CITY OF
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BEAUMONT, AND I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM. AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO. AND WE GOT TO PROVE TO THEM, AS YOUNG PROFESSIONALS CAN WORK TOGETHER, PROFESSIONAL AND THE RIGHT WAY, AND THEY CAN GIVE US MORE OPPORTUNITIES IN THE FUTURE. SO THANK YOU GUYS. WE APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN TURNER. COUNCILMAN DARIO, THANK YOU, MAYOR AJ. YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO POINT THAT OUT, BUT OUT OF THE COUNCILMAN. NOW I'M THE OLDEST. BUT IT SEEMED LIKE JUST LIKE LAST MONTH, YOU AND I WERE A JUNIOR COUNCILMAN. NO COUNSEL. FRESHMAN. WE'RE SENIORS NOW, SO I ENJOY WORKING WITH YOU. ALSO, A LITTLE BIT ABOUT TAYLOR NEAL. THE FIRST TIME I MET HIM, HE CAME TO MY VICTORY PARTY, AND HIM AND HIS BROTHERS WALKED IN WITH THEIR SUITS AND EVERYTHING. AND MY BROTHER SAID, WHO IS THAT, THE SECRET SERVICE OR SOMEBODY? BUT I ENJOY WORKING WITH TAYLOR AS WELL. AND EVERYONE ON COUNCIL. ARWIN HE KIND OF TOOK ME UNDER HIS WING AND STARTED TEACHING US ABOUT WHAT COUNCIL ACTUALLY DOES. LIKE AJ SAID ABOUT THE BUDGET, EVERYBODY WANTS EVERYTHING AND THEY WANT IT RIGHT NOW. BUT I TELL EVERYONE, WHEN I GOT ELECTED TO COUNCIL, I STILL HAVEN'T RECEIVED A CHECKBOOK OR A CREDIT CARD. SO WE HAVE TO WE HAVE TO APPROVE THOSE FUNDS AND EVEN COUNCILMAN GETS HE'S NOT HERE RIGHT NOW.YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T SPEAK TO HIM FOR ABOUT THE FIRST SIX MONTHS I WAS ON COUNCIL BECAUSE I WAS KIND OF SCARED OF HIM. BUT I DID LEARN ONE THING FROM MIKE. I LEARNED TO STEP UP FOR MY WARD WHEN THEY ALWAYS, ANYTIME FUNDING COME UP. I SAID I WANTED ALL IN WARD FOUR. WELL, YOU KNOW, IT DON'T WORK OUT LIKE THAT. BUT I SAID CLOSED MOUTH DON'T GET FED. SO I DO ASK FOR IT. SO ALSO I WANT TO THANK THE STAFF THAT WE WORK WITH FOR DOING A GOOD JOB, A GREAT JOB BECAUSE THEY CAN MAKE US LOOK GREAT OR THEY CAN MAKE US LOOK BAD. AND MOST OF THE TIME THEY MAKE US LOOK VERY GOOD AND I SURE APPRECIATE THAT. ALSO, I WANT TO THANK THE CITIZENS OF WARD FOUR. THEY VOTED FOR ME. I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL KNOW IT, BUT I GOT DID Y'ALL HEAR WHEN TINA SAID I HAD 100% OF THE VOTE? YOU KNOW? SO I WANT TO THANK MY FAMILY. MY WIFE CONTINUOUSLY REMINDS ME THAT THE MOST, MY MOST IMPORTANT CONSTITUENT LIVES AT THE SAME ADDRESS AS ME. AND SHE REMINDS ME OF THAT ALL THE TIME. AND I APPRECIATE IT. SHE SHE SHE BACK ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL. MY FIRST ELECTION MAN, I WAS THAT WELL Y'ALL KNOW NOW CAMPAIGN. IT'S HARD. IT'S 12, 14, 16 HOUR DAYS. BUT SOME DAYS SHE WILL LET ME SLEEP IN AND SHE WOULD GO OUT TO THE POLLS AND SET EVERYTHING UP. AND I APPRECIATED THAT EVER SINCE. AND SHE'S STILL BY MY SIDE. SHE LET ME DO ME. BUT I HAVE TO. WHEN IT'S WHEN IT'S TIME, WHEN MISS GUINEA NEEDS SOMETHING. SHE SAY, LOOK, I'M YOUR MOST IMPORTANT CONSTITUENT. I SAID, ALL RIGHT, I GOT YOU. AND ALSO MY, MY KIDS AND MY GRANDKIDS ALL DROVE IN FROM HOUSTON AND I APPRECIATE THEM BEING HERE. AND THEY SUPPORTED ME AS WELL. WHEN I FIRST TALKED ABOUT RUNNING, THEY SAID, YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN RUNNING, DADDY, BECAUSE YOU LIKE TO TALK TO PEOPLE. AND THEN MAYBE IF YOU'RE ON COUNCIL, THEY'LL START LISTENING. SO BUT ONCE AGAIN, I'M READY TO GO TO WORK. WELCOME TO THE BEAUMONT CITY COUNCIL. AND IT'S GOING TO BE FUN. IT'S GOING TO BE HARD WORK. TALKING ABOUT PHONE CALLS, POTHOLES. I GOT A CALL THIS MORNING ABOUT A BUILDING THAT'S UNDER CONSTRUCTION THAT PEOPLE ARE STILL IN WIRE OUT OF. I GOT A CALL THIS MORNING ABOUT DOGS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. I GOT A CALL THIS MORNING ABOUT FOXHOLE. THESE ARE ALL. AND I'M ASKING ANYBODY UP HERE. I'M NOT A MORNING PERSON AT ALL, BUT I RETURNED ALL THOSE CALLS BEFORE I CAME TO WORK TODAY BECAUSE I FEEL THAT'S PART OF THE JOB. THE ONLY PROBLEM, ONE OF THE MAIN PROMISES I MADE WHEN I GOT ELECTED WAS I'D BE ACCESSIBLE, AND I'VE KEPT THAT PROMISE. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THAT'S SOME ADVICE THAT I COULD GIVE TO YOU. ALWAYS BE ACCESSIBLE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN. OUR DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS. ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER. BOOM. YES. SO I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY FOR COUNCILMAN FIELKOW. COUNCILMAN NEAL, I THINK IT'S BEEN ABOUT SIX, SIX YEARS FOR COUNCILMAN GOETZ, WHO'S NOT HERE TODAY. 14 YEARS. AND COUNCILMAN SAMUEL, ALMOST 19 YEARS OF HIS MORE THAN 30 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO THIS CITY. AND SO I KNOW, I KNOW THAT IT'S A TOUGH JOB. YOU DEDICATE A LOT OF ENERGY AND TIME AND COMPASSION TO TRYING TO MAKING THIS CITY A BETTER PLACE FOR ALL OF US. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY, I SINCERELY APPRECIATE Y'ALL'S MANY YEARS OF SERVICE. AND WELCOME TO THE NEW MEMBERS. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEWLY ELECTED COUNCIL MEMBERS. I
[00:50:09]
LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, AS WELL AS THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WERE REELECTED. EVEN THE ONE THAT GOT 100% OF THE VOTE. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE OUTGOING COUNCIL MEMBERS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION AND SERVICE TO THIS CITY. I TRULY ENJOYED WORKING WITH YOU AND IF THERE'S ANYTHING I CAN DO AT ANY POINT IN TIME, YOU HAVE MY NUMBER.REACH OUT TO ME. THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE OUTGOING COUNCIL MEMBERS. I APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONCERN ABOUT MY AREA. ALWAYS REACHING OUT AND MAKING SURE THAT YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS AND THE CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEW COUNCILMAN. HOPE YOU'RE READY TO WORK. FOR ME.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS AND COUNCILWOMAN. AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO OUTGOING COUNCIL MEMBERS. YOU GUYS ARE CIVIL SERVICE IS NO EASY TASK. YOU GUYS KNOW THAT BEST. AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK AND ALL YOUR PATIENCE THROUGHOUT ALL THE SOMETIMES THE ISSUES OR THE GOOD THINGS THAT WE, WE WORK THROUGH.
SO THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE ALL OF THE NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS ON BEING REAL, I MEAN, BEING ELECTED AND TO THE INCUMBENT COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WERE REELECTED, INCLUDING YOU, COUNCILMEMBER DARIO, I KNOW THAT CAMPAIGN RUNNING A CAMPAIGN IS IT'S HARD. IT'S A LOT OF WORK, BUT I ENJOY WORKING WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE GOING OUT. I IT'S BEEN AN HONOR AND A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. I HAVE ENJOYED IT. I'VE BEEN DOING THIS SINCE 2002, AND COUNCIL MEMBER SAMUELS BEEN ON COUNCIL SINCE I GOT HERE. ENJOYED WORKING WITH COUNCIL MEMBER PHIL SHAW. I'M GOING TO MISS YOU COUNCIL MEMBER GETZ AS WELL. AND COUNCIL MEMBER NEAL, I'M GOING TO MISS ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU. MR. CITY MANAGER. THANK YOU. MAYOR, I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY IN WORKING IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOR 37 YEARS AND OVER 20 PLUS YEARS AS CITY MANAGER, I JUST WANT EVERYONE HERE TO KNOW TODAY THAT ALL GOVERNMENT IS LOCAL. WE DEAL WITH NATIONAL POLITICS, WE DEAL WITH STATE POLITICS. BUT WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD IS HERE IN TOWN AND THE PEOPLE YOU DEAL WITH HERE IN TOWN, THEY'RE THE ONES THAT YOU'RE GOING TO MEET IN YOUR GROCERY STORES. YOU'LL MEET AS YOU WALK DOWN THE STREET OR JOGGING OR WHATEVER, AND THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO IMPACT, AND THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE AND HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH.
CITY COUNCIL IS THE MOST DIFFICULT JOB IN A TOWN. I ONCE SAID THAT TO COUNCIL MEMBER PHIL SHAW, AND HE TOLD ME, NO, IT'S NOT. THE CITY MANAGER'S THE MOST DIFFICULT JOB IN TOWN, BUT IT'S VERY DIFFICULT. SO IT'S QUITE A SACRIFICE. YOU ARE MAKING QUITE THE SACRIFICE FOR YOURSELF AND FOR YOUR FAMILIES AND WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO. THE SACRIFICE HAS BEEN MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBERS PHIL SHAW AND SAMUEL AND NEIL. IT'S ONE OF THE GREATEST HIGH RISK, HIGH REWARD TYPE OF SITUATIONS YOU EVER BE IN. IT'S VERY PLEASING TO BE ABLE TO TELL SOMEBODY YES AND BE ABLE TO GET SOME THINGS DONE FOR THEM. IT'S NOT SO GREAT WHEN YOU HAVE TO SAY NO AT TIMES, AND OTHER TIMES YOU HAVE TO SAY NO BECAUSE THERE ARE LAWS AND THERE ARE RULES AND THINGS WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH. BUT IT'S VERY, VERY PLEASING. YOU KNOW, WE JUST WANT TO WISH YOU WELL. THE PASSING MEMBERS AND SAMUEL, I MET HIM PROBABLY ABOUT 30 YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS TAGGING ALONG WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS FROM LUFKIN, TEXAS, NAMED DON BART, AND HE CAN'T REMEMBER THAT. BUT THAT'S HOW LONG AGO I MET EDWARDS AND SAMUEL FOR THEIR PASTOR, PHIL SHAW. I MET HIM RECENTLY, HIM AND TAYLOR, BUT THEY ARE BOTH COMMITTED TO THIS CITY. EVERY DECISION THEY MADE WAS FOR THE CITY. THAT'S WHAT I'LL SAY ABOUT THIS COUNCIL 37 YEARS. EVERY COUNCIL HAS ITS OWN IDENTITY AND THIS COUNCIL WILL HAVE ITS OWN IDENTITY. YOU WILL BE DIFFERENT THAN THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL OR THE OTHER PREVIOUS COUNCILS. SO ACCEPT THAT IDENTITY, WELCOME IT AND EMBRACE IT AND BE ABLE TO PROBLEM SOLVE AND GO IN THERE. SO I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY, AND BEFORE I SAY THAT, I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE STAFF. WE HAVE AN EXCELLENT STAFF. I ASK YOU TO WORK WITH STAFF, GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVE THEMSELVES. THEY WORK HARD EVERY DAY, EVERY DAY AND ALL TYPE OF SACRIFICES.
SO JUST GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW YOU WHAT THEY CAN DO. SO AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THANK YOU TO THE OUTGOING COUNCIL MEMBERS. AND BEST WISHES TO ALL
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OF YOU. THANK YOU, MR. CITY MANAGER, AND THANK EVERYBODY FOR BEING HERE. AND NORMALLY IT'S NOT QUITE THIS WARM, BUT IT'S GOTTEN WARMER OUTSIDE AND WE PUT A LOT OF PEOPLE IN HERE. SO IT'S WARMED UP A LITTLE BIT. BUT I WANT TO BEGIN BY THANKING AND LET THE FOUR NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS KNOW. I'M SO EXCITED THAT YOU ALL ARE HERE. I'M SO EXCITED FOR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS COUNCIL, FOR THE FUTURE. THIS IS CERTAINLY NEW BEGINNINGS. IT'S A NEW CHAPTER. I DON'T KNOW THE LAST TIME, IF EVER, FOR COUNCIL PEOPLE WERE CAME ON TO COUNCIL AT ONE TIME AND IT'S A GREAT TIME OF OPPORTUNITY OF WHAT CAN BE DONE AND WORKING TOGETHER. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO BEING A PART OF THAT PROCESS WITH OUR OUTGOING COUNCIL MEMBERS. IT'S ONLY BEEN TWO YEARS THAT I'VE GOTTEN TO SERVE WITH YOU. SOME OF YOU I'VE KNOWN MUCH LONGER, BUT IT'S BEEN AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE TO GET ACQUAINTED WITH EACH OF YOU. I KNOW COUNCILMAN GAETZ ISN'T HERE, BUT COUNCILMAN PHIL SHAW, COUNCILMAN SAMUEL AND COUNCILMAN NEAL, I APPRECIATE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM. I'VE LEARNED FROM ALL OF THEM. IT'S BEEN AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY, AND I HAVE MUCH RESPECT FOR THEM. AND AS WE SIT HERE AND AS IT'S BEEN ALLUDED TO, WE MAY NOT ALWAYS AGREE, BUT WHEN YOU SIT UP HERE, YOU ALSO HAVE A REAL HEALTHY RESPECT FOR THOSE THAT DECIDE TO GET IN THE FRAY AND RUN FOR OFFICE, BUT CERTAINLY SERVE, BECAUSE OFTENTIMES YOU DON'T FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE GETTING INTO ON ANY GIVEN TOPIC. BUT YOU CONTINUE TO LEARN AND YOU HAVE EACH OTHER TO LEARN WITH. SO I KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO GET GREAT THINGS DONE.I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT. CERTAINLY THE CITY STAFF AND ALL THE WORK THEY DO EVERY DAY TO MOVE THE CITY FORWARD, AND I THINK WE HAVE BEEN MAKING GREAT PROGRESS, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUED PROGRESS. AND I'VE HEARD SOME STOMACH GROWL. SO I THINK PEOPLE WANT CAKE NOW. SO WE'RE GOING TO RIGHT AFTER I ADJOURN THE MEETING, ALL SEVEN OF US ARE GOING TO STAND UP HERE SO TRACY CAN GET A PICTURE. SO PLEASE DON'T RUSH OFF. AND THEN WE'RE. THE RECEPTION IS IN THE FIRST FLOOR CONFERENCE ROOM, WHICH IS DOWN THE HALL, AND I'M SURE PEOPLE WILL GATHER EVERYWHERE, BUT THERE'S CAKE DOWN THERE SO THAT YOU. YOU'RE AWARE OF THAT. AND WITH THAT, THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED. YEAH, YEAH. AND LET US LET US
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.