Blooming Grove Council Prepares for Holiday Events

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The Blooming Grove City Council met this week to review city business, approve budget adjustments, and discuss upcoming community events. The meeting started with the approval of the October meeting minutes, following a correction to the date from the previous meeting.

In public safety, the department reported a relatively slow month. The department described Halloween as “uneventful,” which was viewed positively due to the reduced amount of criminal activity around the city. Council members discussed concerns about children lacking transportation home after football games, with more walking around town after games. The concern grows as Daylight Saving time has begun, and it’s darker at an earlier time of day.

The department also confirmed the purchase of a casting system, obtained through donation funds, to enable the television to connect to phones and laptops for presentations during council meetings.

In infrastructure, it was noted that a leak at the booster plant was reported and repaired. Street patching projects were reviewed, with a budget of $1,000 per month, though only $600 had been allocated previously; this adjustment will be corrected. Council member Connie suggested pursuing a security update at City Hall, referencing similar improvements completed in nearby towns such as Richland and Frost.

The proposal includes installing a security door with bullet-resistant glass and adding a secondary locked door to limit direct access. The goal is to improve employee safety and response time by giving staff the ability to see incoming visitors before granting entry.

The discussion emphasized a need for separation and better visitor control.

The council approved painting the city’s storage tank in Tank White, finalizing a decision that had been under review. Additionally, council members cast votes for the Appraisal District’s Board of Directors, selecting Jeff Smith to cast all votes on behalf of the city.

The council reviewed the pay scale for limb removal services, currently set at $100 per trailer load. Discussion followed regarding the high cost of landfill disposal and whether to include the service fee on residents’ water bills to offset expenses. The city may also require the contractor to pick up limbs at least once per month. Council members agreed to revisit the issue after seeking new bids. The council also reviewed a TxDOT agreement, expressing concern that the current terms put the city at a disadvantage.

Members agreed to send the document for legal review and comparison with previous agreements.

Planning is underway for the City Christmas Party, tentatively scheduled for December 19th, with the Christmas Parade set for December 13th. The meeting concluded with all agenda items addressed and no new business introduced.

The next city council meeting is expected to continue discussions on the limb removal service and security improvements at City Hall.