During the Aug. 11 meeting, Trophy Club Town Council voted to restrict access to any public funds, including, but not limited to, annual allocations for travel, training, memberships and clothing by council member Stacey Bauer.
The vote passed 4-2, with Jeff Beach and Bauer voting against the motion.
What's happening?
Bauer is currently facing felony theft charges in Denton County for allegedly stealing money from two youth sports organizations in Roanoke, according to previous reporting. Her attorney, Blakely Mohr, said his client will not resign from her spot on council and will seek re-election in the spring.
Council member Steve Flynn, Mayor Jeannette Tiffany and council member Dennis Sheridan all brought up costs that are being incurred by the town through a litany of subpoenas filed by Bauer’s legal team, which is being handled by the town's attorney.
“Every penny, dime, quarter, and whole lot more that gets spent on this issue is money taken away from the community and things we could be doing,” Flynn said. “That concerns me the most. This is not an issue of legal matter. Yes, that's out there. This is a matter of Stacey performing her duties as a council member. The last six meetings, she was absent three times, late two times and video conference the sixth time. That's the issue.”
What else?
Jolley Orthodontics is reinvesting in its business for a second time because of Trophy Club’s Thrive Business Grant.
This is the second year for Trophy Club to provide grants to local businesses that apply and are approved by the EDC, according to town documents.
Five applicants submitted projects in June and only Jolley Orthodontics, owned by Dr. Cameron Jolley, was chosen, said Tamara Smith, assistant to the Trophy Club town manager.
Jolley Orthodontics was approved for $5,775.04 for interior remodeling, she said at the Aug. 11 meeting.
According to previous reporting, the business was awarded a grant for $18,10.17 last year to expand by adding dental chairs.
“They've done an amazing job with the grant money and their project in the first cycle,” Smith said.
Diving deeper
The Thrive Business Grant program offers reimbursable matching grants of 75%, up to $20,000, to support facade enhancements, sign improvements, interior renovations, equipment upgrades and other critical investments, according to town documents. Under the terms of the grant, work must begin within six months of the date of the award.
During the first year, seven businesses were approved for $104,380.67 in grants, but the town only reimbursed six business in the amount of $76,521.20, leaving a balance of $223,478.80, according to town documents.
