Mark Heatwole
No biography on file yet.
Voice
- Meetings spoken in
- 2
- Total speaking time
- 0:39
- Avg per meeting
- 0:20
- Segments
- 12
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The OpenCity MCP for Claude.ai answers questions like “what has Heatwole said about housing this year” with one prompt — full speaking history, with YouTube timestamps.
Top issues during term (20)
Business grant programs (sign and facade grants)
Unknown — the grant amount was not disclosed in the record.
Water Well No. 3 replacement and utility capital planning
The winning bid came in below the engineer's estimate, saving the city versus other bids that were up to 50% higher on some line items.
Speed limit on West Florida Street
Keeping the limit at 30 mph avoids enforcement costs that a lower limit would create.
Stop signs at West Kansas and Cherry Streets
No cost impact since no signs are being removed or installed right now.
EDC FY2026-2027 budget and grants
$12,500 from the EDC's economic development funds.
Election cancellation
Saves about $5,000.
Potential purchase of the Denny Rucker property
A purchase price hasn't been made public, so the cost to EDC funds is unknown.
Strategic Planning Workshop
Costs of any workshop or planning effort weren't published.
Repeal of open-records limitation ordinance
Saves staff time previously spent logging every records request against a running tally.
Official newspaper designation
Publication costs for legal notices continue under the existing arrangement.
Interlocal road agreement with Van Zandt County Precinct 4
City residents pay about $240,000 a year in county road tax; the deal would return one repaved city road per year in county labor and materials.
E-bike and golf cart safety regulation
Possible small costs for signs and a bike rack; state-funded police training is free.
November 3, 2026 city election
FY 2027 tax rate and budget
Sales tax is pacing ~7% up, but new construction only adds ~$100,000 in taxable value; the proposed budget keeps the same tax rate.
Hazard Mitigation Plan action items
New Emergency Medical Services provider
Terms not fully detailed, but the incoming provider would not require a subsidy and would honor existing memberships.
City hall remodel
Likely a significant multi-year capital expense, with a possible USDA grant helping offset costs.
Development and sales tax growth
Growing sales tax bankrolled this year's unbudgeted water and sewer projects.
FY2026 budget adoption
About $3.85 million for general government operations plus roughly $5.8 million across water, debt and other funds.
FY2026 property tax rate
No overall rate increase; the M&O portion on a $100,000 home is approximately $30, and the total levy drops about $9,806 due to lower appraisals.
Decisions during term (66)
Recorded while Heatwole was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.
Consent agenda: minutes, financial report, and repeal of Ordinance 09-14-2023-4
Resolution 10-08-2026 — official newspaper
Minutes from the budget hearing September 10, 2026
Minutes from the regular meeting September 10, 2026.
Minutes from the called meeting September 24, 2026.
Consent Agenda: August 24 Minutes and Financial Report
Van Healthcare Sign Grant
Longhorn Barber Company Facade Grant
488 W. Main — Van Shopping Plaza Facade Grant
VEDC Resolution 09-28-2026 — Annual Review of Investment Policy and Investment Strategy
Resolution 09-28-2026-1 — Purchasing Policy
BRE Programs, including Facade Grant Program and new BIG Program
ADJOURN
Tax rate hearing opened and closed
Adopt FY2026 budget (ordinance 09-24-2026-1)
Adopt FY2026 tax rate (ordinance 09-24-2026-2)
Ratify FY2027 rate revenue (ordinance 09-24-2026-3)
Adjourn meeting
Selecting a new Emergency Medical Services provider
Consent agenda (August 13 minutes and financial report)
Voting record (72)
Oldest to newest — hover a bar for the item.
approve a matching Facade Grant with funds coming from the FY25-26 budget
award matching Facade Grant
ADJOURN
CONSENT AGENDA
VEDC Resolution 09-28-2026 Annual Review of Investment Policy and Investment Strategy
EDC's Business Expansion and Retention (BRE) Programs, including the Facade Grant Program and the new Business Improvement Grant (BIG) Program
Resolution 09-28-2026-1 Purchasing Policy
488 W. Main — Van Shopping Plaza Facade Grant
Open public hearing at 6:01 pm
ordinance 09-24-2026-2 adopting the tax rate for FY2026 for the City of Van
ordinance 09-24-2026-2 adopting the tax rate for FY2026 for the City of Van
Tax rate hearing
appropriations ordinance 09-24-2026-1 adopting the FY2026 budget for the City of Van
ordinance 09-24-2026-3 ratifying the rate revenue for FY2027
ADJOURN
Tax rate hearing opened and closed
Adopt FY2026 budget (ordinance 09-24-2026-1)
Adopt FY2026 tax rate (ordinance 09-24-2026-2)
Ratify FY2027 rate revenue (ordinance 09-24-2026-3)
Adjourn meeting
Discussion, Consideration, and Possible Action on approving Certification of Unopposed Candidates.
ADJOURN
Discussion, Consideration, and Possible Action on an amendment to the FY2025-2026 annual budget.
CONSENT AGENDA
Approve entering into a contract with a new EMS provider to begin no later than June 2028, and move forward with terminating our existing provider contract due to default.
Discussion, Consideration, and Possible Action on approval of the EDC budget for FY 2026- 2027.
Discussion, Consideration, and Possible Action on the Order of Cancellation of the November 3, 2026, General Election for the City of Van.
Discussion, Consideration, and Possible Action on the destruction of outdated records in accordance with the State Statues concerning record retention standards.
Selecting a new Emergency Medical Services provider
Consent agenda (August 13 minutes and financial report)
Amendment to the FY2025-2026 annual budget
Approval of the EDC budget for FY 2026-2027
Certification of Unopposed Candidates
Cancellation of the November 3, 2026 General Election
Destruction of outdated records per state retention standards
FY 27 budget, proposing a tax rate for FY 27 and setting a date for the required public hearing
FY 27 proposed tax rate and hearing date
Concerned the budget starts with negative revenue and frozen positions.