Resources, News, and Announcements
From the Mayor’s desk – 1/2/26
Happy Friday…and Happy New Year!!
A very brief update this week with the holidays, but I had a few important items to share with you all today.
Human Resources:
We hired a new City Secretary at the end of December. Please join me in welcoming Shirley Archuleta to the Village of Surfside Beach staff. She had recently moved locally with her family from New Mexico and is rapidly learning all things State of Texas and Village of Surfside Beach. Feel free to stop into City Hall and say hello to Shirley and welcome her to Surfside.
A reminder that our posting for the new City Administrator position is live. Clear Career Professionals projects to have the position open and posted until late January. They will interview a slate of “semi-finalists” in February, and bring in the finalists for in person interviews at City Hall. They have suggested that we have an open forum with citizens as part of the process to allow the candidates to meet and hear from residents, and for you to ask questions of prospective City Administrator candidates. More to come.
Other items of interest:
We have the “Early Bird” beach passes for sale at City Hall starting today. They are available for half price ($15) only during the month of January. One per person please.
As always, I hope that you have a great day in wonderful Surfside Beach! Wishing you all a very happy and healthy New Year in 2026.
Thanks,
Zach
Additional to 1/2/26 Mayor’s letter…
After publishing my letter yesterday, on Friday afternoon Erick and I attended an important meeting with Dr. Danielle Kelly, the new Freeport City Manager about our past water purchases. The results of the meeting we're important enough to share here today.
In that meeting she shared that Freeport had discovered an overbilling error on their part. The error was a clerical change to our per gallon water rate that was made in Freeport's utilities department over a year ago. As a result, the VOSB was overbilled for more than a year and in turn overpaid Freeport. In short, Freeport now owes us a significant amount of money that they estimated to be several hundred thousand dollars. Exact figures coming soon.
I thanked Danielle for her immediate response and informed her that VOSB will work on a mutually agreeable solution. The VOSB will provide Freeport the same grace that they gave to us when we could not pay bills after Hurricane Beryl. Mistakes happen and we will work together with our neighbors to rectify the financials without forcing undue, unplanned burden on Freeport.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me directly.
Thanks,
Zach
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