The Aledo Public Library: the feasibility study, the advisory board, the old building and the county agreement

Council adopts the 2026 certified tax roll, proposes a $0.352415 rate, and tables the Friends of the Library agreement

A memorandum of understanding between the Friends of the Aledo Public Library and the library, presented by Community Services Director Erika Cooper-Bateman with Cathy Mason of the Friends answering questions, drew extensive discussion of the relationship between the two organizations. Edmondson suggested staff return with a revised version linking initiatives to the library's strategic plan, referencing existing library policies and clarifying material versus monetary donations, and the council tabled the MOU on a unanimous vote.

Sources: City of Aledo: approved minutes, Aug. 6, 2026 (CivicClerk); City of Aledo: agenda, Aug. 6, 2026 (CivicClerk); City of Aledo meetings portal

Council seeks $2 million for Lasater Addition water mains, rezones the Aledo mobile home park under the new MH district, and orders a water and wastewater master plan update

The council approved a professional services agreement with Freese and Nichols for an updated water and wastewater master plan, with a scope covering updated population and land use projections, hydraulic model updates, system capacity evaluation and an updated capital improvement plan, drawing on the comprehensive plan update and known development activity. It also adopted Resolution No. 2026-R-14, a public art program policy meant as a framework for larger installations and partnerships while the EDC's community enhancement program funds smaller projects. On the consent agenda it approved an amendment to the dispatch services agreement with Parker County, ratified the Library Board's vice chair selection, and approved the June 18 and June 25 minutes.

Sources: City of Aledo: approved minutes, July 16, 2026 (CivicClerk); City of Aledo: agenda, July 16, 2026 (CivicClerk); City of Aledo meetings portal

Council elects Summer Jones mayor pro tem, buys an $82,461 jetter, approves the Your Personal Chef rebate, and adds Parker County to the Willow Park lawsuit

After an executive session from 7:36 to 8:56 p.m. on the Dean Ranch development, Aledo and Fort Worth v. Willow Park and downtown development, the council voted to add Parker County as a defendant in the City of Aledo and City of Fort Worth v. City of Willow Park lawsuit. The vote was unanimous with Covington recusing himself. Staff updated the council on weather preparation for Summer Blast and the library's summer reading program, and the meeting adjourned at 9:07 p.m.

Sources: City of Aledo: approved minutes, June 4, 2026 (CivicClerk); City of Aledo: agenda, June 4, 2026 (CivicClerk); City of Aledo meetings portal

Allen and Poston are sworn in, the Shaw Ranch preliminary plat clears with 103 lots, and a manufactured-home zoning district is created for Senate Bill 785

The council approved the first reading of an economic development incentive agreement with Your Personal Chef, which applied to the city's Infrastructure Rebate Program for a rebate equal to 50% of new sales tax generated over five years as it expands its building footprint to expand daily food offerings. No one spoke at the hearing. On the consent agenda the council approved an interlocal agreement with Parker County for library services, the city's membership in the Texas Municipal League, and the April 2 minutes.

Appointments: Rebecca Griffith (Place 1), Ryan Henning (Place 4), Derek Sellers (Place 5) and Jeff Streetman (Alternate 2) to the Planning and Zoning Commission, and Pam Christiansen, Rhonda Cooper, Rachel Malone, Amanda Streetman and Melissa Handley, with alternates Kit Marshall and James Hollis, to the Library Advisory Board, with Handley as chair. The appointment of a municipal judge was tabled. In staff presentations, Laura Weber said this year's Summer Blast spotlight sponsors are HEB, KB Home, Magnaflow Environmental, Steele and Freeman and UTA West, with Myser Orthodontics sponsoring the Kid Zone, and that Freese and Nichols will gather comprehensive-plan input at the event. Library Director Beck Gorman said checkouts are up 50% to 78% a month over last year and new card registrations up 68% to 203% a month, and that the library hosted 46 programs with approximately 1,500 attendees last summer.

Sources: City of Aledo: approved minutes, May 7, 2026 (CivicClerk); City of Aledo: agenda, May 7, 2026 (CivicClerk); City of Aledo meetings portal

Council awards a $714,971 FM 1187 landscaping contract, rezones 2 Dean Drive to regional commercial, and adopts the design standards manual

The Aledo City Council met April 2, 2026, at 200 Old Annetta Road with Mayor Shane Davis, Mayor Pro Tem Shawna Ford and Councilmembers Ben Clark, Todd Covington and Summer Jones present. No one came forward during citizen appearances. The mayor proclaimed April 2026 Sexual Assault Awareness Month in recognition of Freedom House of Parker County, and Ford read a proclamation for National Library Week, April 19-25.

The council met in executive session from 7:22 to 8:32 p.m. on the posted topics of the Dean Ranch development conversation, Grand Prairie v. State, Aledo and Fort Worth v. Willow Park, a library agreement with Parker County, downtown development, and a Your Personal Chef rebate infrastructure agreement, and adjourned at 8:32 p.m.

Sources: City of Aledo: approved minutes, April 2, 2026 (CivicClerk); City of Aledo: agenda, April 2, 2026 (CivicClerk); City of Aledo meetings portal

Council creates a Library Advisory Board, cancels the May election after candidates go unopposed, and previews new engineering design standards

Erika Cooper-Bateman presented Ordinance No. 2026-O-14 creating a Library Board to advise the council on library planning, programming, policies and long-term needs, working alongside the library director, with the council keeping all final decision-making authority. Ford recommended that members be library patrons for at least a year; Covington raised concerns about the board's duties and composition. The council unanimously approved the ordinance creating a Library Advisory Board with four amendments: members must be current library card holders; at least four regular members must be City of Aledo residents; one regular member and one alternate may be non-residents if they currently have a child enrolled in and attending Aledo ISD.

Sources: City of Aledo: approved minutes, March 5, 2026 (CivicClerk); City of Aledo: agenda, March 5, 2026 (CivicClerk); City of Aledo meetings portal

Council adopts five development-code amendments, calls a special election for Place 4, and votes 3-2 to appraise the old library

Susan LaFollett of Vail & Park presented the city's Fiscal Year 2024-2025 audit, which the council accepted unanimously. The council then voted 3-2 to authorize the city manager to hire a real estate broker and obtain an independent appraisal for the former Aledo Public Library property at 201 FM 1187, after discussion of the building's potential future use and its value. Ford, Jones and Davis voted yes; Clark and Covington voted no. The library study that was tabled in December came back with corrections and was accepted on a unanimous vote with Covington abstaining.

Sources: City of Aledo: approved minutes, Jan. 15, 2026 (CivicClerk); City of Aledo: agenda, Jan. 15, 2026 (CivicClerk); City of Aledo meetings portal

Council approves the Parkside plat on FM 5, sends the library study back for corrections, and starts the comprehensive plan

The library feasibility study did not get accepted. On Sept. 18, 2025, the council had approved a proposal for ZakTax to model the total cost of ownership of a public library inside Aledo City Hall, including a pro forma financial model and revenue potential. Robert Hanna of ZakTax presented the study. Covington raised concerns about the data, calculations and grammar in the report and asked that it go back for corrections; Ford and Jones said the minor corrections did not change its overall significance. The council voted unanimously on Covington's motion to table the report until corrections are made, with the corrections defined as grammar and calculations, revenue information, the non-resident visitor number, and confirming the council had the correct version.

Sources: City of Aledo: approved minutes, Dec. 18, 2025 (CivicClerk); City of Aledo: agenda, Dec. 18, 2025 (CivicClerk); City of Aledo meetings portal