Hawk Cove, Texas, October 24, 2026. Since we cannot seem to agree on a budget, we finally have the financial freedom this administration has so desperately needed. On October 20, 2026, Mayor Darren Evans explained what it buys: “We cannot fix the roads” (meeting video, 0:22). He added: “I have major craters in front of my house” (0:22). We have found another way forward. At the same meeting, Council Member Kenneth Cork, Place 2, presented two signs, and we are proud to announce that Hawk Cove is now a handicap-accessible municipality.
The presentation
Item 6B on the agenda was a “Presentation and discussion by Councilmember Kenneth Cork, Place 2, regarding wheelchair user safety on City streets and his donation of two wheelchair traffic warning signs to the city” (agenda, October 20, 2026, p. 2). Mr. Cork told the Council that “weeks ago, I raised concern to Mayor Evans and the City Council about the safety of our disabled citizens that are in wheelchairs that travel our roads” (1:04:56), and that “sometimes you’ll go around a corner and you’ll see them in the middle of the road and it’s a surprise” (1:05:14).
- The signs. “So I’m donating these today” (1:07:24). “The total was $61 for both” (1:08:49). “These are rust-resistant.”
- The plan. “I would like to have six more put up in the area throughout the next year or so” (1:07:12). One, he said, he would like “up there” at the Valero.
- The posts. Asked what the signs would be mounted on, Mr. Cork said “it’ll be your standard post,” or T-posts, “which I suggested” (1:09:10).
- The precedent. “We have children playing signs. So now we have wheelchair” (1:08:30).
Our Council Chambers were already accessible. The agenda says so: “The City of Hawk Cove Council Chambers are wheelchair accessible” (agenda, p. 4). Now the roads are too, at least the parts with signs. The sign itself says “WHEELCHAIR TRAFFIC AHEAD,” so wheelchair traffic is now formally recognized on our city roads, where it has been the whole time.
We would also like to close the file on the offroad wheelchair street gangs that have supposedly ravaged Hawk Cove for decades and tanked our property values. We searched every record we hold. There are no wheelchair street gangs. There are, by Mr. Cork’s count, “at least five probably that travel on wheelchairs” (1:11:09), and they are in the road because the road is what we have. The thing that has been ravaging Hawk Cove is in front of the Mayor’s house, and he called it a crater.
So the sign does not tell anyone to avoid anyone. It tells drivers to slow down for our neighbors. Well done, Mr. Cork. We all owe you our enduring love and support.
What the State says about it
Some have suggested the State might have opinions about our signs. This is our town. For completeness, here is what the State says anyway, from the 2025 Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, published by TxDOT.
- Height. “In business, commercial, or residential areas where parking, bicyclist, or pedestrian movements are likely to occur, or where the view of the sign might be obstructed, the minimum height, measured vertically from the bottom of the sign to the top of the curb, or in the absence of curb, measured vertically from the bottom of the sign to the elevation of the near edge of the traveled way, of signs installed at the side of the road shall be 7 feet” (Texas MUTCD 2025, §2A.15, paragraph 05). In rural areas it is also 7 feet (paragraph 04), and over a sidewalk: “The minimum height of signs, measured vertically from the bottom of the sign to the sidewalk shall be 7 feet” (paragraph 07).
- Posts. “Sign posts, foundations, and mountings shall be so constructed as to hold signs in a proper and permanent position, and to resist swaying in the wind or displacement by vandalism” (§2A.18). And: “Post-mounted sign and object marker supports shall be crashworthy (see Section 1D.11) if within the clear zone” (§2A.16).
- The section. Mr. Cork told the Council the Manual lists wheelchair caution signs “as vehicular traffic warning signs under Section 2C.40” (1:05:51). The 2025 Texas Manual lists the W11-9 “Handicapped” sign under Section 2C.55, “Non-Vehicular Warning Signs” (Table 2C-1; §2C.55). We consider this a filing error, and we are familiar with those.
- The color. “The W11-2 and W11-9 signs and their related supplemental plaques may have a fluorescent yellow-green background with a black legend and border” (§2C.55, paragraph 12). Ours are bright yellow-green. We are counting that one.
We assume the 7 feet is so that a resident stepping around a crater does not walk face-first into the bottom of a sign. We cannot rule it out. But thanks anyway.
What the Council was told
City Attorney Ronna L. Hodges told the Council: “I think that there may be some regulation somewhere,” about “how far back they need to be set” and “what kind of construction they must have,” and that “we certainly would like to be compliant while we take care of the citizens” (1:11:22). The Mayor asked whether any of the Council would be opposed to the signs going up, and the answer was “No.” Then: “We might want to put it on an agenda” (1:12:35). No vote was taken on October 20.
The State’s position is in the Transportation Code. A local authority may place a traffic-control device on a road under its jurisdiction, and “The traffic-control device must conform to the manual and specifications adopted under Section 544.001” (Tex. Transp. Code §544.002(b)). A road under TxDOT’s jurisdiction needs “that department’s permission” (§544.002(c)). So the State does have a say. We heard it. But thanks anyway.