Conroe investigation into votes spurs new conflict of interest rule

February 2, 2024

The Hyatt Regency Hotel and Convention Center is seen in 2023. The Conroe City Council will now require its members to disclose any conflicts of interest on agenda items at the start of every meeting after several projects landed multimillion-dollar contracts for the concrete company that employs Councilman Todd Yancey. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer

*Originally posted on The Courier of Montgomery County. Read original article here. 

The Conroe City Council will now require its members to disclose any conflicts of interest on agenda items at the start of every meeting after several projects landed multimillion-dollar contracts for the concrete company that employs Council Member Todd Yancey.

“This is a valuable practice to implement in Conroe to ensure we as councilmembers are responsible with our voting.”

“This is a valuable practice to implement in Conroe to ensure we as councilmembers are responsible with our voting,” said Council Member Howard Wood, who represents the city on the Houston Galveston Area Council. Wood said the Galveston council uses the same procedure to ensure the board adheres to the highest ethical standards.

The change comes after fresh scrutiny of Yancey and millions of dollars in city contracts that were awarded to the concrete company he used to own and that still employs him. He did not serve on the council when the contracts were awarded, but once seated he voted on payment of invoices to the company. He has denied any conflict of interest.