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COLUMBUS — Columbus City Council changed an ordinance related to public information requests, appointed municipal judges, added to the library’s name and more during its meeting, Monday, Sept. 14.
Public information
The council unanimously approved an ordinance amendment effective immediately that outlines a “reasonable limit” of 15 hours per month and 36 hours per 12 months on city personnel time for public information requests before charging fees on all further requests. The limit applies to each individual requestor, not the total amount of requests the city receives.
“Which is just to say that we don’t want people coming here making frivolous requests, so be cautious and intentional about what you’re asking,” Place 3 Councilmember Paige Sciba said.
City Secretary Bana Schneider said the ordinance was recommended by the city’s attorney after a requestor submitted five large requests numbering a “conservative” 80 personnel hours and covering thousands of emails.
Columbus resident Bobbie Gustus told the Citizen the city quoted her $1,400, which she appealed, after she requested documents pertaining to public works projects, water quality reports, city vendors, city council eligibility and city litigation. She said the city’s proposed increase of 34.39% to the median Columbus residence homestead motivated her to investigate how the city has handled its funds.
“As precinct chair, I’ve had residents asking hard questions about what’s driving an increase of that size, and I felt the public deserved documented answers rather than assumptions,” Gustus said.
“...The price of transparency in this case has been exorbitant.'
Schneider estimated the city’s legal fees for September to range from $3,000 to $5,000 to review the information requested. She said the city cannot pass legal fees onto a requestor.
“Typically, you can only do personnel costs—it’s set at $15 an hour—but you can only do that if it’s a very large request,” Schneider said. “Well, once someone has surpassed 15 hours in the month, then we can charge for those small requests... like if it’s 50 pages or under.”
Sciba added that large requests are “taking them away from their jobs.” Place 4 Councilmember Renee Long said the ordinance “doesn’t have anything to do with limiting people.”
The ordinance also authorizes the city secretary to create additional policies for requests “not inconsistent with the Public Information Act and (Texas Local Government Code) 1.06.014,” which outlines records management.
Schneider said she would “have to come up with some guidelines” for the council to approve at a later date.
The city is scheduled to host public hearings on the proposed max tax rate and 2026-2027 fiscal year budget on Thursday, Sept. 24 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall, 605 Spring St., Columbus. The council is expected to vote on both items during its regular session on Monday, Sept. 28, at 5:30 p.m.
“Decisions like this often get made with light public turnout at budget hearings, which is exactly how costs quietly grow over the year without real scrutiny. I encourage everyone (impacted) to show up,” Gustus said.
Municipal judges
The council appointed Michael Peters to serve as municipal court judge and Rodney Meyer to serve as associate municipal court judge. Meyer would serve as judge when Peters cannot make court.
The appointments follow former municipal court judge Leonard Peters being appointed to serve as the new 492nd Judicial District Court Judge for Colorado, Gonzales, Guadalupe and Lavaca counties. Michael Peters is the son of Leonard Peters.
Place 1 Councilmember Keith Cummings abstained on the vote to appoint Meyer.
Library name
The council approved renaming Nesbitt Memorial Library to Nesbitt Memorial Library & Archives. Executive Director Lynette Weido said the change more accurately reflects the library’s services. She added that the library plans to revise and update its website soon.
“We have been steadily working towards this,” Weido said. “...I think it’s going to make a difference with grants. I think it’s going to make a difference with people...trying to get information.”
Mayor Lori An Gobert congratulated the library and said the library’s archival work extends back years, starting with Bill Stein. Stein served as the library’s director and archivist from 1997 until his death in 2008.
Other reports
The city tabled the Columbus Community and Industrial Development Corporation’s operating budget for 2026-2027 to look into a suggestion by Place 5 Councilmember Chuck Rankin to add an executive director position.
Interim Deputy City Manager Kevin Faichtinger said work is underway for the city’s new splashpad at Midtown Park. Contractors have completed the majority of underground work. Additionally, Faichtinger reported that the city will soon accept bids for the wastewater treatment plant project, and engineers anticipate bringing a recommendation for the winning bid for the council’s approval in early November.
The sales tax payment portion to Columbus for the month of September was $111,670, which is $17,366 (11.6%) more than September 2025. This comparison is made after removing a $127,769 prior year audit adjustment included in the September 2025 payment. Weimar saw a decrease of 15.6%, and Eagle Lake experienced a decrease of 13.8%.
Overall, Colorado County saw an increase from last September of 23.4%, or $53,212.
The city awarded a bid to First State Bank for the city’s bank depository.
This contract will begin on Oct. 1 for a two-year period with an optional one-year renewal.
City laborer Tony Kubicek will retire effective Sept. 30 after serving the city for 15 years.
