Each month, entities such as The Woodlands Township, Shenandoah and Oak Ridge North hold meetings to discuss spending, ordinances and matters of importance. To provide more transparency in local government, the Texas Open Meetings Act was adopted in 1967 to ensure meetings are open to the public. While the act includes a number of requirements for entities to follow, one of the most important provisions allows for public comments, which allows residents to  express opinions relating to their local government. Our issue this month features a number of stories relating to meetings in the area. On the cover, we discuss the changed tone in meetings of the Shenandoah City Council as former and current council members remain divided following a tense summer election. On Page 28, we feature a group of residents from Timarron Lakes who have attended area meetings, including the township and Municipal Utility District No. 386, to demand answers to concerns about flooding mitigation in the area. For more meeting coverage throughout the month, visit communityimpact.com.