<div class="byline">Reece Tincher PPP Reporter</div> MINERAL WELLS—City officials welcomed newly elected Kyle Wayne Kelley to the Mineral Wells City Council and focused on the ongoing water crisis at their regular meeting, May 16. Kelley took his oath, replacing former Place 1 Councilman Brian Shoemaker who did not seek reelection. “It’s been a pleasure serving the community the last six years,” Shoemaker said. “I don’t know what I’m gonna do next, but I’m gonna try and stay involved somehow. I want to congratulate Kyle, and I look forward to seeing what y’all accomplish moving forward.” Along with Kelley, Ward 2 Councilman Carlos Maldonado and Ward 4 Councilman Doyle Light retook their oath following reelection. Light was reselected as Mayor Pro Tem. Once the oaths were taken, the council met with Community Christian School to discuss the awards and recognition of CCS’s theater department. The CCS Warrior Theater department has had a successful year, with student Price Horton securing the state championship for monologues. The theater department managed to win its one-act play state championship. “They are state champions,” said CCS administrator Doug Jefferson. “That’s huge and an honor, but it’s a bigger honor to know that they’re amazing students. Thank you to the city of Mineral Wells for being such a great city for us to have our school.” <strong>Drought Update:</strong> City Manager Dean Sullivan gave crucial updates on the progression of the drought and current conditions. Sullivan said the lake only raised three or four inches, keeping Mineral Wells in phase two of the drought contingency plan. Sullivan showed projections taken prior to the weekend rain, tracking for Palo Pinto County to enter stage three by the end of July if nothing changes. “With the rain we’ll adjust, we meet every Thursday in a big conference call,” said Sullivan in regard to monitoring the drought. “We send out a weekly report. It’s also on our website where we will add the weekly report so people can see the information we’re tracking.” In April, total consumption dropped 9% from April of 2022 in Mineral Wells. While not at the 25% necessary, Sullivan didn’t expect it to be with the shock value of the drought. “We need to review and update our drought contingency plan,” Sullivan said. “We can’t control where it rains or how much. We’re fighting the evaporative loss of our lake. All we can control is modifying our own personal behavior of our companies and et cetera” Other Actions: <ul> <li>Approved action on the ordinance of a specific use permit to operate a Smoke Shop in a General Retail zoning district located at 11100 SE 1st Street, Mineral Wells.</li> <li>Approved a rezone of Lot A, Block L rezone of a local business. Purchasing of three and a half acres to be turned into a three-story 60 doors apartment complex.</li> <li>Approval of a primary Depository Banking Services Agreement with First National Bank of Albany/Breckenridge.</li> <li>Approval of the 2023-2024 fiscal year budget calendar.</li> </ul>
