There is an opportunity for someone to serve on the Aubrey City Council, as long-time council member Matt Jones has stepped down from his seat.
Matt was elected to the council in 2020.
'I reluctantly make the motion to accept the resignation,' Mayor Pro Tem Jeff Perry said.
Matt shared his feelings about having served on the council.
'Thank you, everyone,' he said. 'Thank you to the city of Aubrey, thank you to the staff members, every employee of the city. Thank you, council. I have thoroughly loved serving the city. A special thanks to Jeff Perry and [Mayor] Chris Rich for really encouraging me to run when I was young and didn't have any experience in city government.'
He added that he is proud of the work done while he served on the council and for the community, which he described as 'a good city' with 'great people.'
'I'm excited to see where the city's going,' Matt said. '… This is in a unique position of extraordinary growth.'
He also encouraged the city leaders to not get bogged down by being between the city's past and what it will grow to become.
'My humble suggestion is to just look around and be thankful for what we do have,' Matt said.
He was honored with a proclamation and a commemorative street sign with Matt Jones Drive 2020-2026 on it.
'Council member [Matt] Jones has played a key role in guiding strategic investments in our employees, infrastructure and community projects, always with a focus on maintaining a high quality of life and fiscal responsibility, and his leadership, integrity and collaborative spirit have made a lasting impact,' Rich read from the proclamation.
The council also discussed how it plans to fill the seat through appointment.
Later in the meeting, the council unanimously approved a treated water supply contract with the Upper Trinity Regional Water District, which has been in the works for over two decades.
'Aubrey currently relies solely on groundwater, but with continued growth and with the availability of groundwater supply that necessitates the need for additional sources,' Assistant City Manager Leanne Wilson said. 'This need was recognized by city officials over 25 years ago, when planning for the future started with the Upper Trinity Regional Water District.'
Water from Upper Trinity will 'serve east of Highway 377 and north of Spring Hill Road,' Wilson said, at a rate of 2 million gallons per day.
'It will be supplemented with groundwater sources for a blended supply in that area,' Wilson said. 'The remaining service area within Aubrey's city limits and service area will remain on groundwater for the near future.'
Fikes asked what the current demand is.
'We are currently pumping about 500,000 gallons a day,' Wilson said.
He responded that that's 'substantially more water,' to which Wilson said, 'for our near future, we will be in good shape.'
'That does take into consideration developments that we have planned that should be in construction in two years,' Wilson added. 'We'll be ready for it when it gets there.'
Also at the meeting, Perry and council member Randy Jones were again sworn in after running unopposed in the May 2 election, and Perry was again elected mayor pro tem by the council with Chuck Fikes named deputy pro tem again as well.
The council also approved changes to the Aubrey Municipal Development District bylaws and to amend the comprehensive plan to change 10 acres along FM 2931 to public/institutional instead of rural life for Aubrey Fire Station No. 4.
The council voted not to approve a preliminary plat for Solid Rock, citing the roadway provisions of the subdivision ordinance.
