Bonham, Texas – The Bonham City Council held a regular meeting on November 10, 2025. Mayor H.L. Compton called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. All council members were present except John Burnett.
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Council approved the minutes from regular meeting on October 13, 2025 and the special meeting on October 27, 2025.
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Council accepted the financial report for the month ending October 31, 2025. Sarah Osburn pointed out that the city pays all their insurance in October, which gives the city a discount. She also noted that sales taxes are doing good for the start of the new fiscal year and they are meeting projections.
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Citizens’ Opportunity to Speak - No one wanted to speak.
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Council received a report from Charter Review Committee on proposed charter amendments.
Rick Osburn, member of the committee, addressed the council. He reported that the committee took this very seriously and had high praise for Heather and Courtney, the city staff, who were a great help through this process. Osburn reported that they came up with about two dozen proposed amendments and they prioritized them in case the council did not want to put all of them on the ballot next May.
Osburn said that many of them were designed to bring the city charter in compliance with state laws, others were updating provisions that were now obsolete or updated the wording. He said that others were designed to help the city get ready to deal with the coming growth and others would give the public more opportunity to participate and give input into city government. Allen Sanderson served on committee and noted that the original charter was approved in 1946 and that many of the proposed changes will help both the city and its citizens.
City Manager Sean Pate prised the work of the committee and appreciate that the amendments were prioritized. The city attorney advised that the top 5 were probably the most critical. Pate said that the top prioritized amendments would increase the council member term limits from two, 3 year terms to three, 3 year terms (up to 9 years) in an effort to improve consistency as growth comes to the city. Amendments would also give the council a way to appoint a member if there was a vacancy for less than one year until ballot could be held.
Another amendment would increase the amount paid for council members. Currently, the mayor is paid $20 per month and the council members $10 per month, and the proposed amendment would increase those amounts to $100 and $50 respectively.
Another amendment would give the council flexibility as to when council meets. They would still have to meet at least once a month, but it could be on a day other than the second Monday of the month. Pate noted they would still have to give proper notice of meetings as they currently do. The city attorney pointed out that two of the amendments would give more voice for citizens, as it would outline processes for referendums, recalls, and citizens proposing new ordinances. She did note that the processes would have to involve a group of citizens rather than just a single citizen. She also said that most cities have these types of processes.
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Council approved ten charter amendments to be presented to the public on the election ballot. These were referred to as the “top ten” that were prioritized by the charter committee. The ballot will be in May, along with the council elections. Pate noted that there is currently an effort underway by some citizens to get another issue on the May ballot to allow for the sales of liquor in the city.
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Council approved a resolution to cast votes for candidates to the 2026-2027 Board of Directors of the Fannin Central Appraisal District. The city has 375 votes, which could be all placed for one candidate or split among more than one. There are four candidates vying for three spots on the board. The candidates include Jerry Magness, AJ Self, Jason Walker and Kirk Fogelberg. The council approved 100 votes for Magness, 100 for Self and 175 for Walker.
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Council adopted a resolution reviewing and approving the City of Bonham Investment Policy. Sarah Osburn said that this is required to approve every year and there are no proposed changes to this policy that will apply for both the city and BEDCO.
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Council approved a resolution to approve a Site Plan, South Village of The Country Club Village, Lot 11. Property ID# 128430. Ross Altobelli said that the site plan is for a retail development on Russell, in the grassy lot next to the current restaurants on Russell, close to Highway 121.
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Council took no action on a resolution on potential resale of struck off property. The mayor commented that the city is now looking to go another direction with this property.
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Meeting adjourned at 5:53 p.m.
