General Board Meeting Recap: June 18, 2025

Fear & Loathing in MUDville: The Clear Bags, Sticky Notes & the Great iPad Hostage Crisis

Previously on “As the MUD Turns”... the board continues its valiant campaign to make local government look like a middle school group project gone terribly wrong. Between banning texting, hiring private security to protect fragile egos, and trying to call the cops on a fellow board member over an iPad, this meeting wasn’t so much democracy in action as it was a live-action farce with taxpayer funding. Citizens of MUDlandia, let’s break it all down before this circus packs up the tent.

Public Comments: Facts? Meh.

• Sarah Teale politely reminded the board that under Texas Water Code 54.237, deed enforcement requires “reasonable judgment.” Naturally, no one on the dais seemed familiar with either reason or judgment.


• Linda Fabre dropped a popcorn-worthy truth bomb: Beth Jones hired private security primarily to escort her and Carroll Norrell to their cars, using taxpayer money for personal expenses. Because apparently, democracy is scarier than a dark parking lot.


• Oh, and Sage Management? Cashed a taxpayer-funded check in May for a job they didn’t even do. Nice work if you can get it.


Clear Bags, Foggy Thinking

Jones, apparently in her role as Captain of the Fear Brigade, fast-tracked a clear bag policy because “LISD does it” and “today’s world requires it.” In Beth’s world, clear bags ward off evil spirits and democracy itself.

Avila nodded gravely, referencing “what happened at the last meeting”—but stopped short of clarifying. Was he talking about dissent, public comments, or the tragic cookie shortage during recess? We may never know.

Ban the Texts, Save the World

Jones escalated her control-freak streak, moving to ban public texting during board meetings. No reason was given—because in Beth’s kingdom, reasons are for peasants. Flores questioned the logic. Jones countered that texting caused “chaos in the parking lot.” Apparently, emojis are the new weapons of mass destruction.

Rocco: Pay Now, Ask Never

Rocco claimed he didn’t get any information about bills but still urged everyone to pay them. (Fun fact: Linda sent an email in May detailing Sage’s non-performance payday. Receipts don’t lie, but Rocco’s memory does.)

Deed Drama: Call the Lawyers!

Jones and Rocco want to hire a “deeds lawyer.” The only problem? It wasn’t on the agenda. The attorney reminded them that this little thing called the Open Meetings Act exists. Unfazed, they demanded a special meeting. Flores asked for a proposal ahead of time—because he’s into wild concepts like “preparation.” The rest of the board nodded blankly, content to cosplay as sentient rubber stamps.

Lawsuit Letters & Secret Votes

The board decided to insert a letter in residents’ water bills announcing their lawsuit against three citizens and Director Flores. Flores asked, “When was adding me to the lawsuit discussed?” The room fell silent. Why? Because, friends, they decided this outside of a public meeting, in an unlawful manner. Again.

Jones lied (as she does), claiming it was discussed publicly. Avila mumbled something about executive session secrecy. Both delivered their lines like seasoned performers in a Community Theater production of “Democracy? Never Heard of Her.”

The Engineers: Beacons of Sanity

The engineer delivered actual professional updates while the board stared blankly. Hatch Lift Station is leaking again—because deja vu is cheaper than competence, and actually writing contracts with warranties in them is apparently beyond the MUD’s ability. Hire a lawyer to strip first amendment rights from residents - tick, to enforce the heavy hand of deed enforcement through fining neighbors and dragging them into court over things like visible trash cans - tick, but to look over contracts to make sure repeated issues are covered by warranties and your tax dollars are protected - not a chance. 

Private Security & The iPad Hostage Crisis

Jones unilaterally hired a private security firm (five days a week!) to patrol the board’s fragile egos. Flores asked, “How many hours?” Rocco: “Appropriate.” Translation: “Shut up and stop asking questions.” (Note: a currently overdue open records request to find out who is actually making this contractor’s hours is shaping up to look like the contractors may actually BE MAKING THEIR OWN HOURS - in a contract that does not even include a not to exceed limit.)

But wait—it gets better.
1:25:58 - Jones demanded Flores hand over his district-issued iPad for a “cybersecurity check”. When he hesitated, Beth told him to write down his password on a sticky note for… “someone” to access. Flores asked ‘who’ was going to look at the iPads and Rocco replied - “a contractor that hasn’t been hired yet.”  

Avila went full Deputy Dawg and instructed the rent-a-cop to “call the police and report a stolen iPad.” Yes, dear reader, they tried to 911 their own colleague over a $200 tablet. Rocco even chased Flores out of the building like a sitcom villain screaming, “He’s deleting files!”

Jone’s School Committee: MUD as PTA

Jones proposed a new committee to “support local schools” and leaned on Norrell to join because she “used to be a teacher.” Rocco chimed in with, “We’re watching you, LISD.” Flores (ethics intact) reminded everyone that government bodies should not meddle in other agencies’ decisions. Beth insisted LISD asked them to intervene. (Spoiler: They didn’t.)

Sticky Notes & Short Meetings

Jones bragged about her goal to reduce meeting lengths because “most MUDs wrap up in 30 minutes.” Pro tip: It’s easy to have short meetings when you make all decisions in secret.

Final Scene: Democracy Dies in Stickies

At 1:25, Jones passed sticky notes around like they were state secrets. Moments later, chaos erupted over Flores’ iPad. Avila stationed himself in his chair, awaiting police like a vigilante in Dockers.

Closing Credits

This board is actively:

• Violating the Open Meetings Act.


• Spending public funds without transparency.


• Using rent-a-cops as personal bodyguards.


• Calling 911 over electronics.

At this rate, we’re one meeting away from Jones proposing ankle monitors for public commenters.

Stay tuned for next month’s episode: “Flock Cameras, Fear, and Fiscal Cliffs.”