Hawk Cove City Newshttps://hawkcovetx.com/news Good news from Hawk Cove, Texas, from the public record. en-usSat, 24 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0500 Lawyers Ask the City for $514,536.64 by September 10https://hawkcovetx.com/news/2026-08-11-demand-letterhttps://hawkcovetx.com/news/2026-08-11-demand-letterSat, 24 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0500FinanceLawyers for James Mullis, the City’s Wastewater Plant Operator and Public Works Director under two 2023 agreements, demanded $514,536.64 and said he is “prepared to file suit” if the City did not pay by September 10, 2026. These are the letter’s claims; no suit is on file with us. (August 11, 2026) Hawk Cove Celebrates 26 Years as a Type A City, Pending Residentshttps://hawkcovetx.com/news/2026-10-23-type-a-pending-residentshttps://hawkcovetx.com/news/2026-10-23-type-a-pending-residentsFri, 23 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0500GovernmentOrdinance 100-5 made Hawk Cove a Type A city in 2000 because it met the 600-inhabitant minimum. The Census counted 457, 483 and 452. (October 23, 2026) Public Comment Streamlined to Numbered Items Onlyhttps://hawkcovetx.com/news/2026-10-20-numbered-items-onlyhttps://hawkcovetx.com/news/2026-10-20-numbered-items-onlyFri, 23 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0500GovernmentThe October 20, 2026 agenda limits public comment to “POSTED AGENDA NUMBERED ITEMS ONLY.” On the same agenda, public comment is not a numbered item. (October 20, 2026) FY2027 Budget Remains Under Consideration, Where It Is Comfortablehttps://hawkcovetx.com/news/2026-10-20-budget-under-considerationhttps://hawkcovetx.com/news/2026-10-20-budget-under-considerationFri, 23 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0500FinanceAs of October 20, 2026 the Council “did not and has not adopted” the FY2027 budget. The amended proposal’s “Balanced funding plan” spends $804,545.69 against $767,863.89 in revenue. (October 20, 2026) Records Department Protects Staff Timehttps://hawkcovetx.com/news/2026-10-08-records-staff-timehttps://hawkcovetx.com/news/2026-10-08-records-staff-timeFri, 23 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0500RecordsA request for the police department’s policies, racial profiling reports and funding received a $4,500.00 cost estimate. (October 8, 2026) Tax Rate Established by Operation of Law, Then Reopened by Mailhttps://hawkcovetx.com/news/2026-10-06-operation-of-lawhttps://hawkcovetx.com/news/2026-10-06-operation-of-lawFri, 23 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0500FinanceOn October 6, 2026 the Council was told the tax rate had been set by operation of law. On October 20 it was told the deadline was really October 23, because of when the appraisal roll arrived. (October 6, 2026) Eight Special Sessions in Fifteen Dayshttps://hawkcovetx.com/news/2026-10-06-eight-special-sessionshttps://hawkcovetx.com/news/2026-10-06-eight-special-sessionsFri, 23 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0500GovernmentEight special sessions were set between September 22 and October 6, 2026. Residents who missed one had seven other chances. (September 22 – October 6, 2026) Council Members Reminded of Their Own Records Methodhttps://hawkcovetx.com/news/2026-09-22-records-methodhttps://hawkcovetx.com/news/2026-09-22-records-methodFri, 23 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0500RecordsAt the September 22, 2026 session a council member described years of bank-statement requests. Ordinance 2023-05-31.5 gives council members one supervised hour with City records, phones surrendered. (September 22, 2026) Trash Service Expands to Include the Billhttps://hawkcovetx.com/news/2026-07-21-trash-service-expandshttps://hawkcovetx.com/news/2026-07-21-trash-service-expandsFri, 23 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0500UtilitiesA June 2026 City bill added a $10.00 Billing Fee (Garbage). The Council heard about it on July 21, 2026, under an item marked No Council Action. (July 21, 2026) Petition to Remove the Mayor Ends Six Days After the Electionhttps://hawkcovetx.com/news/2026-05-08-removal-petition-endshttps://hawkcovetx.com/news/2026-05-08-removal-petition-endsFri, 23 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0500GovernmentIn November 2024 the former Mayor and a former Council member petitioned to remove Mayor Delores Spence and two Council members and bar them from future election. It was dismissed as moot on May 8, 2026. (May 8, 2026) Lift Stations Report Record Variety of Visitorshttps://hawkcovetx.com/news/2026-03-17-lift-station-visitorshttps://hawkcovetx.com/news/2026-03-17-lift-station-visitorsFri, 23 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0500UtilitiesA Hawk Cove lift station clogged with socks on February 20, 2026, at a cost of $2,514.93. Plus pumps, wipes and a missing blower. (March 17, 2026) Records Storage Program Exceeds Expectationshttps://hawkcovetx.com/news/2026-01-20-records-storagehttps://hawkcovetx.com/news/2026-01-20-records-storageFri, 23 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0500RecordsAt the January 20, 2026 Council meeting, the Council heard that many original City records from before the current staff have disappeared or were destroyed by storage. (January 20, 2026) Fire Coverage Continues, With Communication Kept to a Minimumhttps://hawkcovetx.com/news/2026-01-20-fire-coveragehttps://hawkcovetx.com/news/2026-01-20-fire-coverageFri, 23 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0500Public SafetyAt the January 20, 2026 Council meeting: a county fire letter, a 9-1-1 reassurance, and no communication from the County about its January 5 vote. (January 20, 2026) City Gets Ahead on Its USDA Paymentshttps://hawkcovetx.com/news/2025-10-21-paid-in-advancehttps://hawkcovetx.com/news/2025-10-21-paid-in-advanceFri, 23 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0500FinanceAt the October 21, 2025 Council meeting: missed USDA auto-drafts, a $5,400 draft the bank rejected, a $7,200 check, and an October draft that left the City having “paid the November 2025 payment in advance.” (October 21, 2025) Proposed Budget Arrives With Instructions Not to Read Ithttps://hawkcovetx.com/news/2025-08-29-please-do-not-readhttps://hawkcovetx.com/news/2025-08-29-please-do-not-readFri, 23 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0500FinanceThe City’s proposed FY2025–26 budget, updated August 29, 2025, asks readers “please do not read” it, proposes a 40.0256 percent tax increase, and still shows $74,031.96 more in expenses than income. (August 29, 2025) Sewer Loan Passes the $800,000 Mark in Interesthttps://hawkcovetx.com/news/2025-06-17-sewer-loan-interesthttps://hawkcovetx.com/news/2025-06-17-sewer-loan-interestFri, 23 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0500FinanceFrom 2007 to January 1, 2025, Hawk Cove paid USDA $899,493.13 on its sewer loan. The Council was told over $800,000 was interest. (June 17, 2025) USDA Balance Sheet Certified Correct, Give or Take $11,099.67https://hawkcovetx.com/news/2025-05-16-balance-sheet-certifiedhttps://hawkcovetx.com/news/2025-05-16-balance-sheet-certifiedFri, 23 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0500FinanceOn the City’s USDA balance sheet certified May 16, 2025, total assets and total liabilities and equity are $11,099.67 apart. It also lists $129,205.11 in IRS back payroll taxes. (May 16, 2025) Gravel and Sand Program Enters Its Second Decadehttps://hawkcovetx.com/news/2025-02-18-gravel-and-sandhttps://hawkcovetx.com/news/2025-02-18-gravel-and-sandFri, 23 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0500StreetsAt the February 18, 2025 Council meeting a resident asked for a road plan more sustainable than gravel and sand, an issue of more than 10 years. (February 18, 2025) Celebrating 14 Years of Partnership With TCEQhttps://hawkcovetx.com/news/2023-12-06-fourteen-years-with-tceqhttps://hawkcovetx.com/news/2023-12-06-fourteen-years-with-tceqFri, 23 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0500UtilitiesSeven TCEQ orders for the Hawk Cove wastewater plant, 2009 to 2023, with penalties totaling $134,240. (December 6, 2023) Council Achieves Record Efficiency: Tax Rate Proposed With One Council Member Presenthttps://hawkcovetx.com/news/2023-09-09-record-efficiencyhttps://hawkcovetx.com/news/2023-09-09-record-efficiencyFri, 23 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0500FinanceOn September 9, 2023, a special session on the tax rate opened at 4:01 p.m. and closed at 4:10 p.m. One Council member answered the roll. There was no motion, no second and no vote. (September 9, 2023) Police Department Protected From Defunding, by Ordinancehttps://hawkcovetx.com/news/2023-05-31-police-protectedhttps://hawkcovetx.com/news/2023-05-31-police-protectedFri, 23 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0500Public SafetyOrdinance 2023-05-31.8 aims at “preventing any attempt to disband, remove, defund or interfere with” the police department, with penalties that may include imprisonment. (May 31, 2023) Outgoing Council Finishes Its Paperwork Before the Handoffhttps://hawkcovetx.com/news/2023-05-31-paperwork-before-the-handoffhttps://hawkcovetx.com/news/2023-05-31-paperwork-before-the-handoffFri, 23 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0500GovernmentAt a May 31, 2023 special meeting the Council approved nine ordinances after two and a half hours in executive session. Two public speakers are listed as “FUTURE COUNCILMEMBERS.” (May 31, 2023) Lifetime Information Security, Now Available to Council Membershttps://hawkcovetx.com/news/2023-05-31-lifetime-information-securityhttps://hawkcovetx.com/news/2023-05-31-lifetime-information-securityFri, 23 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0500GovernmentUnder Ordinance 2023-05-31.5 a Council member may not share City records with anyone, at any time, even after leaving office. (Ordinance 2023-05-31.5) City Administrator’s Purchasing Authority Set at a Round $50,000https://hawkcovetx.com/news/2023-05-31-fifty-thousand-dollarshttps://hawkcovetx.com/news/2023-05-31-fifty-thousand-dollarsFri, 23 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0500GovernmentOrdinance 2023-05-31.1, approved May 31, 2023, gives the City Administrator $50,000 in purchasing authority and hiring and firing “(without City Council approval).” (May 31, 2023) Municipal Judge Resigns, Leaves His Reasons in Writinghttps://hawkcovetx.com/news/2019-03-26-judge-resignshttps://hawkcovetx.com/news/2019-03-26-judge-resignsFri, 23 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0500GovernmentFour days after an agenda listed his “POSSIBLE REMOVAL,” Municipal Judge Anthony C. Cuciniello resigned by letter, writing that Ordinance 100-11 “WAS CHANGED WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF THE COUNCIL.” (March 26, 2019) Free Potatoes Found to Require a Permithttps://hawkcovetx.com/news/2018-12-15-potato-tickethttps://hawkcovetx.com/news/2018-12-15-potato-ticketFri, 23 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0500Public SafetyCitation No. 002667: “SOLICITING WITHOUT PERMIT,” written to the potato guy at Morris and Northshore. No ordinance cited, no fine written, and no record we hold of how it ended. (December 15, 2018) Fee Ordinance Revised in December, Put on the Agenda in Februaryhttps://hawkcovetx.com/news/2018-12-11-fifth-revisionhttps://hawkcovetx.com/news/2018-12-11-fifth-revisionFri, 23 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0500GovernmentOrdinance 100-11’s 5th Revision is dated December 11, 2018 and says the Council passed it December 12. The December 11 agenda has no such item, and the ordinance reached an agenda on February 12, 2019. (December 11, 2018) Municipal Court Writes to Say It Is Confusedhttps://hawkcovetx.com/news/2013-12-12-court-is-confusedhttps://hawkcovetx.com/news/2013-12-12-court-is-confusedFri, 23 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0500Public SafetyThe Municipal Judge wrote to Delores Spence that the court was “confused” about her plea; to appeal, she would first plead guilty. A sign ordinance had been published that fall. In 2017 she signed for its successor. (December 12, 2013)