City approves park committees, OKs comprehensive plan grant

The Cameron City Council made a move to help improve the city’s parks during its meeting on March 4. The council approved the development of two committees – the 12th Street Park Committee and the Master Plan Park Committee – during the meeting. They also approved applying for a grant for the purpose of creating a City Comprehensive Plan. “Recently we did a city-wide survey that allowed us to apply for the planning grant,” City Manager Rhett Parker said. “Our current comprehensive plan expires in 2020 and we have to have one to apply for all of the CDBG grants.” The grant will pay for up to $55,000 of the comprehensive plan planning. The plan will update all of the city’s maps along with the plan. The 12th Street Park Committee is in the beginning stages. Parker said during budgeting the council decided to show special interest in the 12th Street Park and they have met with a park planner. The committee met on Wednesday, March 6, to plan on how to best have public participation. Parker said they want input from the community and this is the best way to do that. He said the city is also looking toward having park and recreation master plans and forming these committees will help with that. The council also accepted the resignation on Gary Fuchs from the CEDC Board and appointed Carl Bradley to take his place. In other business, council also: approved the 2018 Audit presented by Don Allman; approved a request from Cameron ISD to host its Community Cook-out at the City Park; approved a request from resident Basilio Montez Jr. for a street light at 206 Scott Avenue; and tabled a resolution from the City of Cameron in opposition to a revenue cap and legislative interference with local services. During department reports: Street Department Manager Craig Arnold said he has received his two new trucks and they have been doing a lot of patching of potholes as well as fixing the hole on US 190 last week. They are also working on repairs to the swimming pool to get it ready for the summer season. Fire Chief Henry Horelica said that there were only 13 calls in February and one house fire. He said the Easter fundraiser sale is coming up. He also asked council if he could apply for a grant to replace a 1985 fire truck through the Texas Forest Service. The grant would be for $200,000 and the fire department would have to pay only 10 percent, which would be $10,000. Council said he could proceed with that. Police Chief Lonnie Gosch said February was pretty uneventful and that the PD has received two new cars and they are working on striping them along with other vehicles. He also told council that an auction brought in $54,000 that will go back to the department for purchase of needed equipment. They are working on changes in code enforcement and getting everything in order to begin issuing complaints. Librarian Marie Christopher said the library is staying busy replacing old books with new donated books and they are working on the Summer Reading Program and will be adding programs for the teens this year. She also said the Fleur-de-Lis Garden Club planted a tree at the library by the flag pole. Ginger Watkins, Executive Director of the Cameron Industrial Foundation, said it has been a good start to the year and there are several projects in the works. She said they have awarded two Façade Grants to The Bling Box and Texas Country Title. Chamber Director Melanie Reed said the Cameron Funfest BBQ Shootout in coming up May 10-11 and there are several new things planned including Train Day and a Quilt Show at the Milam County Museum. Parker said the work has been done inside City Hall and there are plans to begin repainting the outside in the next few weeks. Utility Director Jerald Brunson said everything is running well and they are busy. They will begin the next phase of sewer improvements this week and the second phase of 600 electronic meters will begin being put in this week. Work will also begin on the water lines on 3rd Street. He said there is a leak at the railroad they are working on getting fixed.