HTX-COM: Impact 10/24/2025

The city of Conroe welcomed its new chief financial officer April 1, Ariel Khan Gibbs, who brings a decade of experience in governmental accounting, finance and auditing. With a background that includes a master’s in public administration and a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance, Gibbs steps into the role as the city continues to navigate rapid growth, major infrastructure projects and long-term financial planning.

Gibbs shared her priorities for Conroe’s finance department with Community Impact and how she plans to maintain transparency and accountability, and the strategies she’ll use to ensure the city’s financial health remains strong amid growth and rising costs.

Bella Mia Salon is staying in Conroe, but expanding into a bigger space with upgrades, owner Leann Mae Schnelle confirmed.

The details: The salon, which offers blonding, extensions, haircuts and spray tans, will hold a grand reopening on Nov. 29 before its Dec. 1 opening date.

• 14277 FM 1314, Conroe

Conroe City Council on Oct. 9 approved a new ordinance strengthening local oversight of oil and gas infrastructure following months of public concern over the proposed Blackfin Pipeline compressor station.

Blackfin Pipeline is developing an approximately 193-mile intrastate pipeline designed to transport up to 3.5 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas from Colorado County to Jasper County in East Texas. The company had plans for a natural gas compressor station to be located in Conroe; however, the station’s location drew opposition from nearby residents and business owners who expressed safety, noise and environmental concerns. 

The overview: The measure amends Chapter 26 of the city’s ordinances to regulate sites, facilities and structures related to oil and gas wells and pipelines, according to the agenda. Under the new rules, compressor stations, storage facilities and similar sites must be located at least 2,000 feet from occupied structures, and property owners within 3,000 feet must receive advance notice of any proposed facility, City Attorney Mike Garner said.

Two constitutional amendments on the Nov. 4 ballot would impact the operation and oversight of Texas’ judicial system if approved by voters.

The details: State Proposition 3 seeks to require judges to deny bail for certain felony offenses, keeping more defendants in jail as they await trial. Proponents of the measure, which passed the Legislature with bipartisan support, said in June that it would improve public safety by keeping violent offenders behind bars.

Proposition 12 would rework the 13-member State Commission on Judicial Conduct, allowing the governor to appoint a majority of the commissioners and requiring most sanctions for judges accused of misconduct to be issued publicly. The bipartisan proposition faced pushback from some House Democrats who expressed concerns that allowing the governor to appoint a majority of commissioners would politicize the nonpartisan judicial conduct commission and give Abbott more power to remove from office judges whom he does not agree with.

Zooming out: The measures are among 17 state propositions being considered by Texas voters in the Nov. 4 election.