Corsicana Council Hears Infill Lot Program Pitch, Canvasses Election Results

By Guy Chapman

A presentation on the city’s Infill Lot Program headlined the Corsicana City Council’s regular meeting Monday, May 11, as officials also canvassed results from the May 2 general election and swore in two newly elected council members.

The infill lot presentation, which drew the most attention of the evening, outlined the program’s efforts to develop vacant or underutilized properties within existing city neighborhoods, a strategy city officials have been exploring to address housing needs and neighborhood revitalization without expanding into undeveloped land. The program was created in October of 2016, and since 2023, 70 lots have been transferred. Since the program was picked back up, eighty-nine infill properties have been transferred, with sixty frequent buildings and 73 trustee lots withing the city limits that were eligible, and 47 applications so far.

After feedback from attending residents in the council chamber, a public workshop was planned for a future date to ensure residents get equal access to housing against developers or investors and make housing information available to residents online.

Before the meeting’s business, Councilman Pct. 4 Jeff Smith introduced the evening’s student participant for the council’s student-led pledge program. Camden Hawk, a first-grader at Bowie Elementary and Smith’s great-nephew, led the Pledge of Allegiance. When asked what he likes most about Corsicana, Hawk said, “that a lot of people here believe in God.”

The council canvassed the results of the May 2 city general election and administered the oath of office to two reelected council members: Councilman Pct. 1 Jim Pannell, and Councilwoman Pct. 2 Shayla Johnson.

During the public forum, the council presented a Certificate of Recognition to Don Butcher for his 40 years of service with the City of Corsicana. Butcher serves as service technician in the utility billing department and is currently the third longest tenured employee at the city.

In public hearings, the council received input on a request for a Specific Use Permit for an institute for alcoholic, narcotic, or psychiatric patients in the General Retail zoning district at 126 W. Mall Drive. The council approved the permit request in the ordinances portion of the meeting.

Among other business, the council approved a resolution requesting the Texas Legislature to amend Chapter 351 of the Texas Tax Code to allow Corsicana to use Municipal Hotel Occupancy Tax revenue for certain sports facilities, which includes new public bathrooms.

The council also approved the award of a bid for municipal government audit services covering fiscal years ending Sept. 30, 2026, 2027 and 2028, and authorized the award of a bid for banking depository services.

In appointments, the council confirmed the designation of Councilman Pct. 4 as Mayor Pro Tem and approved the mayor’s appointments to various city boards and commissions.

The council also approved City Manager’s appointment of Ron McGaha as Interim Police Chief.

In addition to the in-fill lot presentation, council members received a presentation on a proposed downtown parkway with a new green space, dog park, and art installations.

The next Corsicana city council meeting will take place on Monday, May 18 due to the Memorial Day holiday.

The Corsicana City Council meets regularly on the second and fourth Monday of each month in the Council Chambers of the City Government Center at 200 N. Twelfth St.

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