Woodcreek fills vacant seat

Bill Scheel may not have run for re-election, but he sure didn’t take a very long vacation from the Woodcreek City Council.

Scheel, the former mayor of Woodcreek, was appointed to the Woodcreek City Council last week to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Councilmember Cyndi Jackson. This was the first regularly scheduled meeting of the council since Scheel turned over the gavel to newly elected Woodcreek Mayor Gloria Whitehead.

Whitehead nominated Scheel for the position and he was confirmed unanimously by the council. There is one year remaining in the term.

Councilmember Nancye Britner was once again named the Mayor Pro-Tem.

There are three outgoing members of the governing body that didn’t run for re-election including Scheel, Ray Don Tilley and Eric Eskelund. All three were honored at the meeting before Scheel was re-appointed to council.

“We are truly appreciative of all of your time and effort,” Whitehead said.

Each former council member was offered a chance to speak.

“I think it is a new beginning, a new council and a chance to move the city ahead,” Scheel said. “I look forward to a new era under your (Mayor Whitehead’s) leadership.”

Eskelund said he has appreciated his time on the council.

“I truly appreciate the opportunity to serve the city again – once more,” Eskelund, who has served as a council member and mayor for the city of Woodcreek multiple times each, said. “Forgive me, but give me a break for a year or so and maybe with some strong language you can get me to come back,” he said jokingly.

Tilley thanked the community and council members for his time of service.

“It has been a wonderful two years, and a very interesting two years,” Tilley said, who thanked the staff, citizens and the fellow council members who served during his two years on the council. “… I have told anybody who would listen that this town has more amazing people per square inch than it deserves and it is just continually astounding the people I meet.”

Tilley also dedicated his service to his brother, who recently passed away, saying that he was influential in many items Tilley brought to the city and was a “great counselor these last two years.”

Noel Kern Tilley served ten years as IT Director at the City of New Braunfels from 2006 to retirement in 2016.

“He loved talking with and counseling me about the City of Woodcreek, and contributed to my writing and editing of our Parks & Recreation Master Plan, our Social Media Policy, and especially our Cyber Security Policy,” Tilley said.

The city also appointed a new City Attorney. Bud Wymore was named the new attorney for the city.