City Council - Regular Meeting

I will go ahead and call to order our April 23rd, 2026 city council meeting for the city of Long View. Thank you to everyone that has joined us here tonight. We're always glad to have people here with us. Um, first we will have our invocation and pledge that will be led by Reverend Dr. Evan Dole and uh, Dr. Dole is the executive director of the Greater Long View United Way. Um, today happens to be World Book Day here in Long View. The Greater Long View United Way helps promote literacy through its Read to Succeed book vending machine program. United Way has book vending machines in nearly every school district here in Gray County and has been a part of distributing over 16,000 books in three school years. United Way also helps facilitate Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, which is a program where children with a Greg County address under the age of five can receive a highquality age appropriate book every month at no cost. Since January of 2023, over 80,000 books have been delivered to children with more than 2,400 children currently in the library. We've asked uh Dr. Doolie to join us um and also give us just a brief update on the glue week of action which starts May 1st and maybe how people could sign up for that.

Yes. Uh thank you. Uh so thank thank you for being here and thanks for recognize us on World Book Day. We're very proud of our literacy initiatives. Uh so week of action uh used to be called day of action but we some of our of our corporate partners and our volunteers said uh maybe that Friday that we picked wasn't the best day but we could have done the next Tuesday. And so from May uh 1st through the 8th uh there are various projects that are happening around the city from our funded partners and our community partners at the United Way. Uh if you go to ETXcares.com you can find all those uh on there or go to longunitedway.org/weekofaction and it has all the details there. We have projects that you can work outside, projects that are inside or gathering supplies for uh child care centers or the the women's center or and a whole host of other things. So,

awesome. Let's check it out. Yep. Mr. Kelly has a question. Defin not a question. I just want to commend um the partnership with I know with I believe the book vending machines at almost every campus sit pine tree and I think we're one of the first one of the first birch uh I can't remember one of our campuses one of the first to get that and appreciate you guys and how much that that continuing the uh love of reading literacy very important and appreciate you guys in that that aspect. Yeah thank you sir. Yeah we have 29 currently in operation with a 30th one in production right now. So, we are um we are pumping out books like they're going out of style. So, um we're very excited for them though. Um we're very excited for it. Thank you, Sarah.

Good. Uh if you will rise, we'll join Dr. Doliv in the prayer and pledge.

Let us pray. We give you thanks, oh God, for you are the creator and author of all life. You have gathered your people together in community so that they may find a place to call home. A place to work, a place to raise a family, a place to learn, and a place to formed by the work of your hand. We remember those this day who struggle to make ends meet. We remember those in our community who do not know where their next meal will come from. We remember those who have no place to lie their head. Open our eyes to see the neighbor in need. Open our ears to hear the cries of hungry children. Open our mouths to speak your truth, your mercy, your love, and your righteousness. Move our hands and feet to do the work that you have placed before us. Remove barriers of this side of town or that side of town. Remove the prejudice that stifle growth and stifle unity. Transform our hearts into our hearts of stone into hearts of grace. May we see our neighbors as beloved children of God, not merely the product of their own decision-making. Remind us of a time when we were in need and someone cared. Someone picked us up when we fell. Filled our stomachs, tended to our wounds. Help our leaders to govern with conviction and with grace, with love and with tenderness. May the decisions made in this chamber not reflect a personal conviction or a partisan politics, but what is best for the city, its citizens, and all of its visitors. May we seek your guidance now and in the days to come. Give success to the work of our hands. We offer this prayer in the name of Jesus the Christ, the Holy One of God. Amen.

Amen. Amen. Will you join me in the pledge of allegiance? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, Evan. Appreciate you. Thank you.

I have uh one citizen comment card which is next on our agenda from Miss Brenda Wridge. Good evening. I'm Brenda Woolrich, 2217 South 13 is where I reside. I come this evening and this is a surprise. I talked to Mr. Adverson about the Southward Park was in bad condition and come to find out it had some red tape to be resolved with LISD. And I talked to him about it. He got it resolved. I'll come by today and it's already in in process. And that made my heart glad to see because it's been that way for a good while. And he and his crew have done an awesome job and they're still doing an awesome job. The second thing I want to address was the fact that um the contractors that are doing our roads, I come through the other day on Marbley and I asked the guy why um it was cut off the sidewalk and he said, "Well, I just hadn't moved the barrels." I said, "So, you cut this off just, you know, so people couldn't come on it, but all you had to do is move a barrel." And so, whoever's that contractor, whatever, y'all need to talk to them and tell them we need all our sidewalks so we can walk on it. And thank you very much.

Thank you, Miss Wilidge. Job, John. Uh, next we have two presentation items, but I am going to go with B first, which is a presentation in appreciation of Verarbank's donation to the city of Long View in support of the America 250 kickoff celebration. I would invite my Verarbank friends up here to the front with me. All the way up. Okay, come on up here. Okay.

Good. Thank you guys. Uh today you want to stand in the middle. Come on. Yeah. I mean that's Yeah. Come on. Today we recognize Verbank for their generous sponsorship of the America 250 kickoff celebration laser light show. Who went to see the laser light show? Pretty great. Uh truly this event could not have happened without their support and involvement. Verbank not only provided a $10,000 sponsorship for the show itself, but also had extensive logistical support requiring several days of advanced preparation from the staff of Verbank and Beerwells Real Estate Services. Um, if you look on the photo there, you can see obviously the laser show used their building and so all of their windows had to be blacked out uh for that to work. So, it was a lot of work in preparation, taping off windows, making sure that that was able to be used, and we appreciate all of that work. Uh, we are very grateful for how Vera Bank helped make the America 250 laser light show reality, but most importantly, how they continue to improve downtown Long View through their present and presence and involvement. Thank you guys very much. Appreciate you being here. two minutes or less.

Get in here. Thank you. Good job. We're back up to presentation item A, presentation regarding a community development block grant CDBG program update from Mr. Dietrich Johnson, our director of community services.

Thank you, mayor, uh, council, city manager. I'd like to share with you this evening a little bit about our community development block grant program and just kind of give you a big picture overview and how we do it and actually who does it. And I'll start with that in terms of who does it. All four of the great team members who make these programs happen are here tonight. I'll start with Brandon Portley and Parker Harrison are part of the community development side of the house. Next slide. And our older adult home modification program staffers are Regina Phillips and Marva Taylor. So, thank you guys for being here. Appreciate you. Just to give you an idea of how we receive these monies, we receive them based on a formula grant. We're a city over $50,000. So, we get money just to be because who we are. And those formula grants are usually based on the uh census tracks that we have throughout the city. And the census tract in terms of community development block grant appropriate funding is used is usually made up of a city's population and the whole dynamics of the poverty level that's part of uh the city censor track that you that we have within our city or where people where people live. And the n national objective of how these community development block grants can be used. They must fit neatly into one of these three bullets. Benefit low and moderate income persons, slum and blight. And on occasion, you know, if there's a disaster need that we can um use some of those funds or there's a special um designation of funds that may

come from the federal government to address those national um objectives and sometimes they come through the office of community development. Next slide. Home Investment Pro partnership home is exactly what it says. It is to fund initiatives that help create affordable houses and low-income households. Next slide. And we use a lot of those funds go directly to support our northeast te Texas Habitat for Humanity. They're a community development housing um organization. Habitat already does what they do for our community and that's what they do every day. So it makes sense for us to give the majority of the monies that we receive from the government to the home program so they can do those day-to-day activities. They have the staff, they have the uh expertise and the leadership to to help make that happen. And we also do some things in house with some of our home funds, but we uh direct a lot of those to prioritize the elderly and disabled. Okay. And this gives you just an idea of trending of how the formula, how the monies are used, have come to us over the years since 2022. Just kind of give you an idea. a little bit of es and flows there, but but for the most part, we we've seen somewhat of an uptick. So, and some of the community development activities that we use our monies are since we do have a small pool of money, we try to have a comprehensive approach that it addresses a lot of stakeholders in our community. And we'll start with the public service. We provide some

technical assistance grants that comes under the economic development opportunity to where if students in our community that live in our city limits, if they have um want to get a corrosion technology certificate or they're in nursing school or if they're in an occupational therapy school, this fits neat neatly into what the intent of some of the community development block grants can be used for. We also support um uh child care, Seesaw Children's Place. We give them u funding to for scholarships so they can attend that that daycare. And we also uh work with community health cor and they focus a lot on uh we help with some of their uh mental health initiatives, the staffers that help uh guide some of their mental health programs. We um we support the community health corps public facilities and the women's center of East Texas. We give money to them to help provide shelter and upgrades in terms of their programs so they can house women who come to them. You know, those are our most vulnerable populations sometimes. So those are very much um the appropriate use of those funds. And we have our CDBG facade programs. That's also part of the economic development or addressing slum and bright blight, you know, to kind of pretty up our cities and some of our downtowns. And I'll show you a picture later, but also an appropriate use. And our own owner occupied programs. Habitat does some and we also do some in-house with the city of Long View that that Brandon and Parker help facilitate. And in 24 25 and 2526, this is kind of

an overview of some of the activities that we've um funded over the past two years within our community that kind of puts a dollar amount to some of those organizations I just shared with you. And this is a home rehab that Parker and um and and Brandon kind of before and after picture like I said targeted to our elderly and disables u disabled and this is an example of our facade program. Our facade program this is the most recent that's happened in terms of 2025. I think is still working on the end of that. But as you can see, that's a before picture of 217 Center Street. And this project is is unique because this entity, they that building could be considered as two facades. So the facade grant program, there's a $10,000 grant for each facade. So, this um business had the opportunity to access $20,000. And this program is great for if you are going to make um modifications to your business storefront. Anyway, if you if you were going to do that anyway, this facade funds are perfect because that leverages you you have to put money up front as well. but we will give you a grant to help to help that facade initiative take place. So, and a firsttime home buyers program. Uh the requirements for this is you have to complete an 8hour HUD approved buyer home buyer course and you have to live within the city limits and this is

one-time grant and to date since about 22 we've assisted about 20 plus families with this grant. For years, I've searched for the epic trail to home ownership. Many have tried, but most get lost in the jungles of high interest rates and confusing paperwork. But the map is finally clear. The road to home ownership begins at the East Texas Home Ownership Summit. Whether you're a firsttime home buyer looking for preapproval or a current home owner looking to protect their property, this is the treasure you've been hunting for. Join us for this free event at the Brotten Recreation Center in Law. And this collaboration in terms of the East Texas Home Buyer Summit is with our Long View Housing Agency as well as our community development office because it's called East Texas Home Ownership Summit because if you know within our housing authority we al we also serve as Carthage, Begville, Henderson and Kilgore. Okay. And the next program is kind of to share with you some of the funds that we receive in terms of the formula automatically and directly from HUD. But there's also monies that that you can compete for and receive from HUD. And that is our older adult home modification program. We received a three-year grant to help facilitate this initiative for the our older adult um program and

we are we were awarded $1.9 million to help make this happen in April of 2025 as I shared with you that Marva and Regina helped make that program happen. And so, um, just kind of give you an idea of the public service announcement that we're using to, um, to showcase what this program can do for our aging in place community.

As we age, our homes should grow safer with us. Simple modifications can help older adults live independently, comfortably, and confidently in their own homes. Small modifications like adding grab bars, slip resistant floor coverings, or brighter lighting can prevent falls and add to safety. Installing ramps, handrails, or replacing appliances such as stoves and refrigerators ensures that every part of your home is accessible, easy to navigate, and safe to use. Even everyday tasks like being able to reach cabinets or use the bathroom safely can be made easier with thoughtful home modifications. Our team works directly with older adults to assess needs, plan changes, and make your home safer without major disruption. Safe, comfortable, and independent living is possible. If you are a Long View resident and 62 years or older, ask about home modifications today because your home should work for you everyday. Contact the Department of Community Services at 903237121 or R. phips@ longview texas.gov to learn more and apply today. You can also scan the code on the screen to visit our website.

Thank you. And once once again, these funds weren't gifted to us. We had to compete for them. So, thank you. Good job. Uh any questions for Oh, go ahead, Mr. Conley. Yeah, I just wanted to ask was first part was the um you mentioned some things on that one slide about public facilities. Okay.

And uh I think the Seesaw uh one of them was Seesaw. Um just curious about if these funds could possibly used in partnership with our parks and recreation and some of our um p low higher poverty areas to help with some of the funding for uh with could public facilities some of those grants be used for uh any type of recreational uh programs or actu equipment for kids in some of those areas cuz we've got some parks that you know are or could use some updates.

Yes, we can use the funds and we have used the funds in the past to assist with um playground equipment in those um targeted areas. They have to be of low to moderate income area. But yes, we have used funds to help support our parks program. Okay. And then second part question I had you said something about the grant for the firsttime home buyers and I'd really appreciate that assistance for 20 uh 20 Long View residents. What what happen how how much how much is that do you have an like is that grant what does that do? Does that help them with uh down payment? Does help with closing cost? What does it do?

All the above you just called it down payment closing cost. And the goal is to um each one is case byase basis because the goal is to be sure that if you're a homeowner, we help leverage these funds so you can manage the monthly mortgage, you know. So it just based on each person in terms of how much down payment assistance you you will need to to help you get to that monthly payment amount to for that house to be attainable for you. Well, I'm sure that plus that very entertaining video we watched about the summit and we should have a lot of big turnout new home buyers after that summit. That's our resident Richard Gley. So So thank you sir.

Yeah sure.

Great. Um first of all thank you for the presentation because I I learned more information about it. Some I kind of knew about it but I I learned some more details. Um so how how much do y'all get annually and how much where are y'all at now? We get about over the years this year we got 699,848 for our allocation and a little uptick for our home of 316,000 and we will be using that in the upcoming year. In our past years we we're pretty much to capacity. some of the projects that I showed you on the activities, we funded some of those as well. And so that's

So pretty much when y'all get these funds, y'all already allocate them. How do So I guess for the citizens, how would they apply for it? Like the firsttime home buyers, like what is the time frames? Cuz if you if you have that budgeted amount and it's already allocated, then how would they come in and apply and be a part of it?

Yes, it's the first time, first come, first serve. And like I said, we try to put the information out there through public service announcements and partnership with our Long View Housing Authority. And we've also worked with um some local bankers. I've even gotten involved on the community reinvestment act. That's where the banks or depositories have to kind of work on seeing how they are lending into the low to moderate income community. So, I've reached out and done some partnerships with them. I think in March of 2025, we had the representative from HUD here and we have the representative from she she has a fancy title. from the office of comm community deposits, but their public affairs person was here to help promote and share the message about, you know, that communities do have funding to help with um firsttime home buyer assistance. So, sometime we work with the banks, we work with Long Beach Housing Authority, and we work with uh with our team members. So,

and so another question I have um so with the facade program is that more targeted towards businesses? Yes.

And so how would that the same thing with them is first come first serve? Like do y'all do like an annual thing that hey we're opening up the block the grant to apply? How does that go? Once again on the facade program, the um that informalness kind of gets gets around in terms of how those monies can be accessed. And again, a lot of times it's when you're already having a project, you're going to spend the money anyway and then people can come and apply to to help leverage some of those funds. Yes. cuz the pro I mean it seems to me that the program covers like a whole lot of things and I guess the miscommunication with the public is you know is it for older businesses like this or whatever they come in and they beat a match or whatever and then the grant will pay so much. Those are the kind of the details that like I'm asking for them.

Yes. And what people can do and what they usually do, they come into the office and they sit down and they they kind of give a get a broad overview in terms of the expectations because a lot of times when you are accessing these funds, they are from the federal government. There's a trunch of bureaucracy and paperwork that go along with it. And a lot of people gom, no thank you. And then some people say, "Well, yeah, I'm going to do it anyway, and we don't mind keeping the records for this amount of time." And yes, this works for us, just like this project I showed you.

And one last question for me, and I'm done. I promise that. So, um the one of the uh other questions I got, so it was um brought to one of the one of the residents of the citizens of Long View that there's a program to where like if you want to purchase a home like the city of Long View can purchase a home and it could be purchased for a dollar then sold back to the community under this grant. Not this grant. Oh, I I'm clearing up. Hey, there may be another municipal grant, but yeah, because that is the kind of things that are being floated around. And I wanted you saw the activities that we do with the pool of money that we receive. So, okay, that's all I thank you.

Um, how much of the grant funds um for the facade does it does it get fully utilized up or is there money left over or how does that how how much are you using that? I think the facade program is the the funds are about to be Oh, there we have about 15,000 left. May have. Okay. Okay. So, this being fully utilized and there these are also just to clarify this is targeted areas. So, like downtown is the area that's eligible for that only. Yes. Well, no, not downtown. Another example was Tuskan Pig was a facade. So, what areas are eligible then? As long as they're in a low to moderate income census track.

Okay. So, that's the limitation. Okay. I always started the downtown. So, hearing like different things it was focused on the downtown. All right. And then um All right. Yeah, that's all I have. Thank you, D. Oh, and and also great job Richard and uh Scott show horse on the video.

Yeah. Uh just do you have a comment? No. Uh one comment I wanted to make just because I uh Laura Hill has been I think educating us on the important of the census and so in an upcoming census uh having a committee and a task force put together in 2030 to help promote the census because our funding and things like this is very dependent upon it. So helping educate people that they need to participate um how important that is because it actually brings dollars into our community. So this is one of those things that is based on that. So upcoming and future years we'll be talking about the need for that and just thought I would mention it since we're talking about funding that comes from that. That's perfect. Correct. You're right. Thank you, D. Sure. Um anybody else? All right. Thank you so much. Appreciate you. Uh next we have our consent agenda. What items would you guys like to hear about tonight?

A B A E E. Anybody else? H

E was yours, too. Okay. And H. Okay. I got A, E, and H. Any else? All right. Uh, A is consider a resolution authorizing the city to apply for the 2026 ASPCA rescue effect campaign grant to benefit our Long View Animal Care and Adoption Center with Miss Hubard. That is a lot. Hello. Uh yes, we are ramping up our foster program and in addition to that, we need funds um to help send the medical animals home that need some additional care to our foster parents and along with kennels and all the supplies that need to go. So that's what this grant is.

Yeah. So basically, I just noticed um I don't know if it's we've talked about this before. I mean the I've had in our neighborhood at least like within the last few weeks two different dogs that were look seems like they were abandoned and so just concerned I know you guys do a great job. I know we had a so just want to kind of get an explanation how how you with the rescue effect and maybe how do citizens out there that maybe if they can't afford to take care of an animal what's the what are options and how could this help? How could this grant help you? Thank

this grant is for a different type of rescue. This is for animals that are already in the shelter's possession and ownership who adoption has not been an option for them because of medical treatment or they need long-term care. Um instead of the alternative, this is finding a home in which they could go and receive medical care until they are able to be adopted. Um for your question, there are resources at the shelter. um if a citizen were to call like I need vet care, I need animal, I need uh pet food. We do have resources where we could assist them, we are also a pet food pantry. Um so it's just the communication with the staff when they call to let us know what their needs are so we can assist in finding them those resources.

That's very good to know. Thank you so much. Thank you'all. How many how many animals would you say a year goes into this foster program that we do do medical care before they go out? Um, our foster medical or foster program has been on a long hiatus. We are bringing it back. Uh, we have about 20 to 30 animals in it at the moment. Our problem is finding uh, humans that will do this for us. Do you want to foster? It takes a special person. My wife would talk to her next way. Yeah. Ray's helped us out, too. Yes, sir. My puppy's doing well, by the way. She's growing up.

Yeah, if you don't want to foster, we have a skip the shelter day now where you can take an animal out and enjoy the day and give them a break. So, pretty cool. I think everything that's happening there is really amazing. Kids can do it too. They can. How old are they? Uh 16. 16. Under 16 with a parent. Then the participation on that, what was the day what you had the Oh, strut your mut. Strut your mut. Uh that is March of every year. I think there were 3,000 I want to say in attendance. There were breaking record numbers every year. Every year biggest number ever. Y thank you.

People love their dogs. Good job, Bonnie. Uh moving on to item E. Consider a resolution authorizing and directing the city manager or designate to execute any necessary documents with Chlor King Innovations for 60-month lease in an amount not to exceed $310,000 for on-site chlorine production equipment. Mr. Albertson. Uh, this item would allow us to enter into a maintenance and operations agreement with Chlor King for our on-site chlorine generation equipment for all three of our pools. Uh, this is a patented technology, which is why we're allowed to use salt source for I'll gladly answer any questions. So 60 month, that's all three pools. Yes, sir.

That was one one of my questions is do we is it based at one? But you answered it was all three and that's that's awesome. What's uh the cost like if you were to purchase something like this versus a lease? Uh the cost would be pretty similar to what we have right now with this. But with this piece, we get the maintenance side of it where we can't maintain their patented equipment. We have to have them come in to be able to do it. Uh so we would have to try and find another company that would offer something remotely close and that's going to be extremely hard to try and do. So Okay. Is it also with the outdoor pools versus the indoors? So, is it is that a factor? So, the indoors more I can tell you a bigger cost

with this. We actually have changed what we're going to be using at Poly Mart and Jones specifically to address the issues that we had with the gutter system. It was a concern that we took to chlorine whenever we were looking at the welds that gave way. Um, and they came back with a different product that will help us address that issue in the future. So, we did do some tweaking for that. Great. I just have another look. Go ahead. Right. Yeah. Are they a local company? They are not. No, they're a national brand. Where are they based? Where are they based out of? Uh, they just got bought by Hayward. So, I'm not sure where Hayward is actually based out of these days. So, so, but they'll be maintaining our pools from outside the region.

We do have a local uh regional rep that comes from Dallas uh that maintains it. They're responsible for all of the repairs that we need done. So, we're actually in the process of getting the uh chlorine generation equipment fixed at Ingram and they were actually here just last week to to repair it. I was going to ask what the turnaround time was for getting them in here and getting them involved. I didn't know how many people they were servicing and were they adequately staffed to handle our needs during the pool season? Of course, they're usually stretched pretty thin, but they usually are here within a week. So, Jefferson. Yeah, I have a while you're here, John, I have a

next question about overall parks and wrecks. Um, just driving through beautiful Mcuarter Park yesterday and had a lot of people out there and just kind of seeing an update on the uh pickle ball courts. Uh, we are in still in the design phase on those pickle ball courts. Uh, we just saw the preliminary designs I believe two weeks ago, approved those. Uh so we should be expecting to go out to bid within the next uh month I would say at least. Yeah, we have really good a lot of baseball, soccer, basketball, everything was being utilized last Thursday. So good job. Glad to hear it. Thank you, John. Thank you.

Uh let's see. Next we had uh item H. Consider a resolution awarding a contract in the amount of $18,658 with Rayford's Truck and Tractor of Marshall, Texas for the construction of CDBG Park Street Improvements. Mr. Rick Evans. Yes, sir. I I really just want to know a little bit about it. Could you explain a little bit more what you got there? Everybody else is aware.

Yes, sir. This is a fully reconstruction of Park Street from Sabine all the way to Boyd. That's the whole road. Uh they're going to use the existing road to mix in with the base. They're going to grind it down. They're going to mix it in with the base to make a more firmer base. Uh once they get that done, they'll stabilize it. Uh once that's stabilized, then they'll come through and overlay it with a smooth riding surface. Okay. And go back what we was on. So we're doing 32 miles of uh of chip seal. Yes, sir.

And that's 16 lanes. So, I just wanted to bring that up as well. You had got back to me on that and I know that was a question we had. I wanted everybody to be aware, you know, we're not doing 500 yards or a couple miles. U there's 32 running miles of lanes that we'll be doing on that chip seal project. Yes, sir. Okay. Thank you, Rick. Any other questions? Oh, go ahead.

When will that when will that start? Uh once once y'all approve it tonight, uh it has to go through uh what is we have to go through the uh execute the contracts. Once those are executed, it'll talk take about six weeks for that to happen. Then it has to go through all the signatures and all that stuff and then they'll probably start sometime this summer. Yes, ma'am. Thank you. Thank you. Um any other items or can I have a motion to approve the consent agenda? I move to approve. And a second. Second. All in favor, please say I. Any opposed? Consent agenda is approved. I do need a motion to excuse Sydney, please. Motion to approve Sydney's absence. And a second. I ain't miss any, but all in favor, please say I.

I. Any opposed? Only Shannon excusing, but that's all right. We'll excuse him. Um, we are moving on to items of community interest. Starting with you, Mr. Connley.

I'm just really proud. A lot of winnings going on at Pine Tree athletics. Uh it's the baseball team, senior parent, senior uh baseball players with their parents and families. And uh last night they clinched the playoff birth. And uh softball's playing the playoff game tonight. It officially means that every it's the well first baseball is the first time we're in the playoffs in 10 years. And all Pine Tree High School teams this year and I I would imagine Coach Barry might. It's been a while, but every team has qualified for the playoffs. It was awesome.

And um I'd like to say that these are some junior high kids with some records. Uh Jasmine Brown has multiple uh new school records. 100 meter dash and 12.68. I don't know if you guys know that. That's that's that's bringing it 17 ft long jump.

Ava Evans is new record holding shot put. I think she beat that new the previous record by 5T 39 ft 7 in. And then the the uh 4x1 meter relay team also broke a record. I think that record's about four years old. And then f uh not just ac not just athletic but academic. I told you guys how um much pine tree the points totals for last at the last meeting about the district UI and real soon we'll have 50 UL academic students qualify for region 50 students. It's very impressive. And I'd like to end with uh last week uh and and when we we showed softball, longtime Pine Tree athletic supporter and Pine Tree community member Jim Campbell passed and just want to uh recognize uh uh thoughts and prayers with his family and the community of Pine Trees is grieving that loss and he's a big supporter of Pine Tree Pirates. So, thank you.

Nothing. Great. Nothing tonight, Mayor. Thank you. All right.

All right. I'm taking uh Councilwoman Moors and Councilman Wade's. All right. So, I first want to say thank you to everybody on city staff for the and all the volunteers at Ambuks and had to pull together to pull this off on the America 250th. I mean, this took months and months of planning by the committees and uh organization, the coordination and the the day was just full. I mean, it was a full day from the time Dalton Day started in Shitakqua Festival all the way to the end of the laser light show. To cap it off, I do also want to give a special shout out to Captain Cooper on the with the Long Beach Fire Department. Uh he we rode in the uh historic uh fire truck here and Captain Cooper was just amazing and uh just the tentness and loud and uh to put up with my son ringing that bell a thousand times. I mean that deserves its own medal. I don't know Chief Grimes if there's anything you can get him for that but appreciate appreciate everybody involved in that. Had a great day.

Uh Love Long View. Another so man there's so many things America 250th will warm your heart as a community of all the stuff going on. Then you have uh Love Long View and I remember like I was driving up at 8:30 and there was hundreds of people there. I mean, it was just so many people that came came there, loved on that neighborhood and uh like in a matter of hours, that place was just a whole new place. And so very appreciative. This is a picture of uh my church group there that was there uh part of it. Um we were competing against Motion Church across the street. Um and so it's all good. Um that's the church I think. And so love Long View. Oh, shout out to Keep Long View. Keep uh Long View Beautiful. Zach and his team, everybody that put together uh for this connect Long View Ingrid, the the utilities, uh the sanitation team going through and picking up um all the loads of of that on their Saturday. It was just amazing. So, thank you everybody

and all the volunteers.

Yes, all the volunteers. All the all of them. Phenomenal. And then uh the Lord of the Rings uh symphony, Lombie Symphony. Uh this was uh they sold out Belchure there was all the way up. I mean it was amazing event and this is another thing that's I mean this is a community driven event as well like they do the map challenge that brings everybody together and uh we went there and brought hosted somebody that was a transplant here and like showed them around and they could see like they were just brand new here and could see all the stuff that we're doing and see the arboritum and see all the people and just uh the event and it culminates up to this the night of the symphony and uh there was the uh children's choir that my kids were part of that luckily was uh up there. But the music's beautiful. The the amount of effort and coordination and work that goes into that. I appreciate Nikki and all the all the people that just put that together. So, thank you. And then uh the Long View Public Library got their third consecutive award of the 2025 library. We got the library of excellence award winner. And this is puts them they were one out of uh 516 there's 516 libraries in Texas and Long View Public Library is one of the 101 awarded which puts them in the top 20% of public libraries in the state and this is awarded by the Texas Municipal Library Directors Association. So big shout out to our library. Uh we go there often. It's a excellent library and they just do a great job and so it's no wonder that they get the award. So go by and visit them. April 19th to 25th is National Library Week. They uh Are there chairs out there now? I haven't been there since then.

So they unveiled them. Yeah. They're not permanent yet. I don't think so. Okay. So those are going to be cool. I didn't get to see the unveiling of that at Shitakqua Festival. But um another great thing too as well. So that's all I have. Mayor, thank you. All right.

I'm telling you, there's a lot of things going on and it don't cost you a dime to go to it. And like John was mentioning, last Saturday, you you could have you had your hands full and you you could have picked anything and you could have stayed all day and enjoyed it. Uh I want to give it up to everybody in the city who put forth the effort to make sure everything was prepared, uh cleaned, picked up, and put away. Uh kudos to everybody. Want to wish Coach Methman the best of luck. Uh they're fixing to finish up their district championship this week. Um I believe play tomorrow night at 7. and uh wish him good luck in the playoffs. And also uh Spring Hill's got a bond going on and you've got no room to talk if you don't get out and vote. And I know we also have a race for a place here on the council and Ray, I hate to see you stepping aside, but uh everybody, it's real important to be involved in your community and voting is one of the ways to make it happen. Uh I know when I was running, I wanted to I run across the lady, she said, "Well, I only vote in federal elections." And I said, 'You realize the ones that impact you the most are your local ones and the things that happen here and people really need to get involved and take that as a responsibility as a citizen in Long View. Uh it's a great way to get your voice out there and get you involved. Well, we're working through boards and commissions right now and I'm telling you, the people that we had sign up, we had more than enough and it's great to see people stepping up wanting to be a part of it and want you to be a part for a good reason. So, get out and vote while you got a chance. And thank you all for showing up every week, every two weeks here for us.

Great. Good job. Um, I have a couple of items of community interest. First, the blue crew. We invite you to join the blue crew today to help Long View hit our 300 ton recycling goal and lead the way in environmental stewardship. You can enroll now at longex.gov/blcrew /blcrew to receive your exclusive recycling kit and enter the monthly bin it towin it challenge for your chance to win. Uh next, another one of those super fun events happening in Long View. Cinco de Mayo. You can celebrate with us at the Long View Arboritum on May 2nd for an evening of live mariachi folkloruric dancers and ultimate taco contest. Grab your $10 tickets at the West Gate for a familyfriendly night of culture, music, and margaritas. Also, another fun event coming up in Long View is the Wine Swirl downtown. You can sip local Texas flavors and enjoy live jazz at downtown Long View Wine Swirl this Saturday, April 25th from F 4 to 8:00 p.m., excuse me. Grab a $15 ticket at the gate to score your commemorative tote and support downtown Revitalization while you shop, swirl, and sample. Um, lots of things always coming up. You can check out our website at visit Long View for those upcoming events, but there's always something happening that you can participate in. Um, want to also say good luck to Hannes King. Very proud of you and want to wish you luck in the upcoming NFL draft. Uh, and tonight we will retire to executive session under personnel matters, Texas government code section 551 074 to discuss the appointment, employment and duties of the city secretary. We will not reconvene. So you guys are free to go home and we will see you next time. Thank you for being here.