Southmayd Mayor Thompson issues formal public apology following City Council censure

Southmayd mayor Debra Thompson was directed to issue a public apology after the City Council approved a censure during Executive Session of its March 12 special called meeting.

A censure is a formal, public reprimand issued by a governing body (like the City Council) to express disapproval of the mayor’s actions or behavior. This censure came after Mayor Thompson made the decision to scale back an order of supplies for a current water meter project without first consulting with the council.

Every home in the city is having its water meter replaced or upgraded, a project that is being funded by a federal grant received during Covid. When Mayor Thompson felt the city was ordering more supplies than needed, she reduced the order in an effort to minimize cost. Unfortunately, the Council didn’t approve of her actions.

As part of the censure, Councilman Mark Everett made a motion for Ordinance 469 to include the mayor is to start using the email system per the state guidelines for clearer transparency; explore ethics and leadership classes with the city to reimburse upon completion; a letter of apology to City Council and members of the City to be posted on the City’s Facebook page, website, City Hall bulletin board and employment boards at the Police and Fire Departments for a standard amount of time; and to post the letter to the mayor’s 
personnel file. The motion was seconded and passed with a three to one vote.

“I didn’t come back to the council and have that input from the council and I should have, that was my mistake,” Thompson said.

At its regular scheduled March 24 meeting, the City Council recognized Lieutenant Michael Aguirre for five years of service. Next, the Council approved the Feb. 2026 financial statements and report of accounts by Joe Madden, CPA. The reports revealed that Jan. was high due to high property tax rates and that year-to-date numbers reflected a loss in law enforcement. Sales tax continues to decrease from 2024’s record highs with overall revenue reflecting a 12 percent decrease in sales tax this year. The water budget would have broken even if not for the bond.

The Council approved Resolution 159 which releases land from the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction. According to Mayor Thompson, the City has no choice in the matter; the petition is legal and now the matter is between property owners and the county.

Plans for awning repair/replacement at the Southmayd Fire Department were tabled as the City has only received one estimate so far.

Discussions regarding the purchase of a water tender for the Fire Department went back and forth between the overall cost savings of purchasing now (the apparatus will cost around $500,000 but $300,000 will be reimbursed from a grant from the Texas A&M Forest Service) and Councilman Everett’s concern that it’s “not a good business decision at this time” based on the city’s financial standings. Mayor Thompson pointed out that “it’s either now or we wait another five to seven years.” Ultimately, the Council approved the purchase and will explore financing options with Lamar National Bank.

The Council approved seeking bids from the Grayson County Precinct 3 Road Department to consider chip and seal at Fossil Creek and Wrangler. They also are seeking estimates for repair of other main roads in town, including Elementary, Pine Ridge at Willow Ridge and Gibbons at Belknap by the school.

Lastly, the Council agreed that the S&S High School Baseball team can use the Community Center for team dinners on Thursdays from March 26 through April 16. The team must pay a cleaning deposit that will carry over to each rental, with the fee being returned if the center is returned in the condition it was found.

Upon returning from Executive Session, the Council called for continued leadership training for the Southmayd Fire Chief.