After eight years leading the City of Willow Park's Communication Department, Rose Hoffman has announced her resignation. She is accepting a similar position for the City of Mineral Wells.
Her final day with Willow Park is Friday, Aug. 14.
“When I joined Willow Park in 2018 my only instruction was to establish messaging to the city’s residents. I learned quickly that was just the beginning,” she said Tuesday, Aug. 11, in a farewell message during the Willow Park City Council meeting. “What became clear was that our growing city needed a structure to tell our story and truly connect with the community.”
Hoffman came to the city following her role as a journalist with The Community News that included covering the City of Willow Park. She became the first person to define and hold the communications role for the city.
She received numerous accolades for work during her tenure there, including a Certified Public Communicator degree from Texas Christian University.
“During these years, I’ve grown alongside the city — establishing channels, building relationships, and aggressively pursuing and sharing training to better serve our community,” Hoffman said. “There is still so much work to be done. However, my time here has reached its conclusion as I move forward to my next adventure.”
City Manager Toni Fisher broke down in tears as she bid Hoffman farewell.
“Monday won’t be the same without her at City Hall,” she said.
To which Councilman Scott Smith added, “The City of Willow Park without Rose is going to be different.”
Councilman Chawn Gilliland said he’s known Hoffman since childhood as Hoffman’s sister and he grew up together.
“She’s going to be an asset wherever she goes,” Gilliland said.
The meeting began with Mayor Teresa Palmer debating with council on which set of minutes to pass from the July 14 meeting.
At that meeting, Palmer said she received a phone call from a council person in another city who said they overheard a Willow Park city staff member say false, vicious and malicious things about her at a Texas Municipal League meeting.
Palmer wanted verbatim wording placed in the minutes concerning the alleged incident. However, Mayor Pro Tem Nate Crummel noted the “corrected” minutes still did not contain verbatim language.
Nonetheless, Palmer pushed for the second set of minutes to be approved to no avail as it failed by a 3-2 vote. Then, Palmer asked the council, “Is somebody going to make a motion to approve the bad minutes?”
At which point Councilman Eric Contreras made a motion to approve the original minutes, which were passed by a 3-2 vote.
Fisher's contract as the new city manager is being contested by Palmer.
As Palmer was about to begin speaking on the matter, she was advised by City Attorney Judy El Masri to be cautious not to violate attorney-client privilege as the contract has still not been discussed in public.
Palmer insisted she was not committing any such violation and that it was OK to discuss it as the public has access to the document. Again, she was cautioned by El Masri, “It’s totally up to you what you say. I’m just cautioning you.”
Palmer is disputing Fisher's contract, stating it contains clauses in conflict with state law, giving Fisher more power over the city than her, and Palmer is therefore attempting to label it as illegal.
Crummel explained to Palmer that in the city structure of Willow Park, Fisher is the CEO. Palmer is the board chair and the council is the board of directors.
“We have someone who works 60-plus hours a week (Fisher) and is compensated to do so, and then you have a group of volunteers (mayor and council),” Crummel said. “Personally, I want the person who’s versed in all areas of our local government to be the one handling a lot of these things and then bringing it to us.”
Palmer seemed dissatisfied with Crummel’s explanation and pushed for action from the council, though none was taken. Contreras asked Palmer for specifics and what she brought in support of her request, to which Palmer could not present anything.
Ultimately, Palmer said the matter would be tabled and that she would attach the contract for council to look over before she brings it back before them again.
Smith asked El Masri about the legalities of the contract, to which she replied such matters would be discussed in closed session.
Council approved a special election for Nov. 3 for residents to vote on a home rule charter for Willow Park.
Some basic differences between general law and home rule are:
General law has no charter and may only exercise those powers specifically granted by state law.
Home rule may do anything authorized by its charter (which is voted on by the citizens) that is not specifically prohibited or pre-empted by the state constitution or state/federal law. A charter is essentially the constitution of the city.
In a home rule city the mayor can have more power than in general law, depending on the type of charter drawn up. The mayors of many home rule cities also vote during council meetings, along with having veto power and the ability to force reconsideration.
Under the current system in Willow Park, the mayor can only vote to break a tie, which isn't often, given the council has five members.
Other things a switch to a home rule city could bring include the ability of citizens to remove officials through recall elections; allowing for the removal of council members for such things as absences and intentional violations of the charter; and term limits.
General law cities have no right of recall. To remove officials they must file a petition in the district court and have a trial.
However, among the questionable topics in the charter drawn up by a home rule committee in Willow Park is the razor thin threshold for recall. The committee pushed for 30% of those who voted in the most recent election as the qualifying number, whereas other cities call for a percentage of all registered voters.
Contreras asked that an addition be made to the charter concerning protection against data centers being built in the city. He said when he mentioned this previously, someone called it a “novel idea.”
“Other novel ideas were the Constitution and The Bill of Rights,” he said. “Sometimes novel ideas are good ideas.”
Palmer responded by noting the deadline for putting the home rule charter on the November ballot is Aug. 17 and that there is simply no time to add anything more.
Council called for a special election Nov. 3 to determine their authorizing the issuance of certificates of obligation for $10,110,000 to pay for road work, most likely for the Squaw Creek Road Project.
Late last year, council approved issuing certificates of obligation not to exceed this amount for repairs on the project. That possibility, however, was squelched following a petition organized by resident Marcy Galle in early 2026 aimed at forcing a public vote.
However, as Contreras pointed out Tuesday, the petition was brought to council too late to have the matter placed on the May election ballot. He stressed that while Palmer knew it was coming, she said nothing to council members.
“That’s not true!” Palmer said.
Contreras also noted that on the petition, wording also included the phrase “et al,” meaning the petition extended beyond Squaw Creek and could mean all such work. When Palmer said she was not clear on the subject, Contreras responded, “I’d like to educate you on that.”
An infuriated Palmer insisted he rephrase his words, prompting one member of the audience to stand up as if he were going to step forward. He sat back down after police took a step forward, ready to corral him.
Contreras followed with, “You said you didn’t know what it means.”
Crummel explained to Palmer that the wording “et al” limits the city’s ability to issue certificates of obligation across the board.
“I’m trying to, respectfully, clear things up on all things laid out tonight,” he said.
The appearance of the petition forced a public vote for approval of certificates of obligation. Fisher said should the public approve this in November, it would clear the way for council to once again have freedom to issue more should the need arise — unless another petition is brought forth.
Fisher also pointed out the danger of the matter failing on the November ballot, meaning the city could not issue or even request a vote for funds for such work for three more years.
Palmer called for a five-minute recess. After returning, she resumed the meeting by saying, “I was just reminded by our attorneys I run the meeting. So if we have any more personal attacks up here I’ll stop the meeting. Yes, Eric, you heard it.”
Council approved issuance of a tax note not to exceed $6,430,000 to pay for road work and connecting projects such as drainage, landscaping, sidewalks, etc.
The city had reached what is called a "debt cliff," wherein they paid off some debt. This forced them to lower the rate on an interest and sinking (I&S) fund, unless new debt is issued.
An I&S fund is a dedicated account used by governments, municipalities, or corporations to set aside money over time strictly to pay off debt service.
It is expected a significant portion of the new funds will be used toward work in the Squaw Creek area.
Council approved the decommissioning of the existing wastewater treatment plant following the successful completion and commissioning of the new wastewater treatment facility.
The project will include the demolition and removal of the obsolete treatment plant structures and the relocation of the existing package plant to the site of the new wastewater treatment plant for storage until a final determination is made regarding its future use.
Rey-Mar Construction LLC submitted the lowest bid of $674,370.
To restore the site of the soon-to-be decommissioned plant site, the city will reuse material at other facilities as needed.
Public Works Director Chase McBride has said the new plant is expected to be up and running soon, with a tentative deadline of mid-September.
Council approved a resolution to accept voluntary petitions, along with having a public hearing, for the proposed annexation of property owned by Bar-Ko Land Company LLC, to annex approximately 0.82 acres and 0.33 acres of land where a Tractor Supply business is being built.
This is an expansion of the original property that was previously approved by council in late April for just over seven acres on Bankhead Highway near the ballfields just south of Willow Bend Drive. The public hearings will take place at the Sept. 8 council meeting.
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