DeSoto City Council approves fleet and equipment purchases, leases building to food pantry; two board‑support resolutions fail

The DeSoto City Council approved a batch of routine purchases and a lease for the DeSoto Food Pantry at its May 20 regular meeting and held other items for separate action.

Approvals on consent: The council voted unanimously to approve most consent‑agenda items after staff read the list. The approved purchases included: a Mitsubishi forklift (model FGC25N) from Darr Equipment Company for $30,275.13; two Ford F‑250 trucks (one with a lift gate) from North Central Ford for $112,830 total; a 2025 Ford F‑450 from Rush Truck Center Dallas for $90,911.96; a 2025 Ford F‑550 from Rush Truck Center Dallas for $92,518.96; a 2026 Ford F‑750 from Mackay Ford for $112,861.75; a Yanmar athletic field mower from V V Tractor for $69,998.36 (Omnia contract #204690); and a Wacker double drum roller from Central Texas Equipment for $29,540.25 (BuyBoard #685‑22). The city also approved vehicle replacement purchases identified in the FY2025 replacement program and other equipment items listed on the consent agenda.

Service‑center repairs moved: Item F11, a proposed contract for repairs to the City of DeSoto Service Center car wash with Floyd Peacock Company Inc. for $97,500, was pulled for separate discussion. Councilmember Perrette Parker asked to be recused from that item; staff said a recusal left fewer than five members able to act, so the council voted to move the item to the June 17 agenda.

Lease with DeSoto Food Pantry approved: After public comment from Iris Tenner, who said the pantry has served thousands of households locally, the council voted unanimously to authorize the city manager to negotiate and execute a lease between the city and the DeSoto Food Pantry for property at 106 Lindolin Drive. The staff presentation and discussion said the lease is for three years with two one‑year renewal options that require agreement by both parties; the pantry will be responsible for insurance, maintenance and operating costs under the lease terms as presented.

Resolutions to support council member applications fail: Two separate resolutions to endorse Councilmember Crystal Chisholm’s applications to serve on the National League of Cities board of directors and the Texas Municipal League board of directors were considered separately (items F12 and F13). Both motions to approve the resolutions were moved and seconded and failed by identical 3–2 votes. The council did not identify individual roll‑call votes in the minutes read aloud; the minutes record only the final tallies.

Other items: Staff read announcements about a city runoff election (early‑voting dates and vote centers), community events and multiple ceremonial proclamations recognizing Mental Health Awareness Month, Public Service Recognition Week, Teachers Appreciation Week and others. With no citizen speakers on other matters, the council recessed briefly and then canceled a planned executive session because not enough members were present to form a quorum for closed meeting action.

Ending: The council adjourned at about 8:04 p.m. with no additional votes during the canceled executive‑session interval.