REFUGIO — The town’s recently hired water department supervisor submitted his resignation earlier this month.

The Refugio City Council council retired into executive session to discuss David Furzer’s resignation during Tuesday night’s meeting.

Furzer is the second water department superintendent hired since Clifford Lynn resigned earlier this year.

Furzer, a former employee of LNV Engineering, the town’s engineers, did not attend the meeting; however, Jose Deleon of LNV, went behind closed doors with council members.

The aldermen voted to advertise for another superintendent and another city worker.

City councilman Joey Heard called for an independent inventory of all the city’s equipment. During the last meeting, he said his request for an inventory was intentionally left off the agenda. However, after the meeting, an inventory was initiated.

“This needed to be done a long time ago,” Heard said.

An employee of the town, who asked not to be identified, said the Texas Rangers have been called in to investigate missing equipment, including a $1,400 chop saw.

Before the meeting on Tuesday, Police Chief Andy Lopez said he could not comment on the report that the Texas Rangers are investigating the missing equipment. He said that he will make a statement next week.

In capital improvement matters, DeLeon said the water well is 80 percent completed, the elevated tank is 90 percent completed, and the clarifier should be completed in January.

“The water quality is good and the work is on schedule,” Deleon said.

In economic development matters, Ann Fierova, president of the board, introduced Joe Arredondo III, the director of the foundation.

“Our top priority is housing,” Arredondo said.

The director said employees hired locally are commuting because of the lack of houses. Contractors, including the people who built King’s Crossing in Corpus Christi, are interested in buying property to build. Arredondo said apartment complexes, modular houses and senior homes are needed.

“About 10,000 baby boomers are retiring every day,” he said.

The director also said Family Dollar Store based out of Tennessee is about to close on the Zarsky property and will return to Refugio.

During the meeting, Leslie Premo spoke during the items by citizens segment.

“I’ve been a contractor for 20 years, some of the things I’ve seen in Refugio would not be allowed anywhere else than Refugio County,” Premo said.

In particular, Premo was referring to electric wiring and decks that have been turned into rooms.

Prior to the meeting, a workshop began at 5 p.m. to hammer out ideas to zone, annex and enforce ordinances. The council decided to hold more workshops on those subjects in the future. The first workshop will be on zoning. The date and time was not set.