A proclamation was signed Monday at the Levelland city council meeting honoring Animal Control Officers Crystal Goforth and Jon Corder to recognize and honor the memory of the officers who were tragically killed in in the line of duty in 2022.
The proclamation follows a 2025 amendment to Texas “Move Over, Slow Down”; law which was prompted by the deaths of the Levelland officers.
Mayor Breann Buxkemper read the proclamation at the city council meeting in the presence of a gathering of family members, friends, city administration, Levelland Police Department officers and Levelland Fire Department firefighters.
As stated in the proclamation, the Levelland community suffered a tragic loss when Goforth and Corder were involved in a devastating on-duty vehicle crash while serving the citizens and animals. Both individuals displayed extraordinary dedication, compassion and courage in their daily lives, protecting not only the animals entrusted to their care, but to the safety and well-being of the community.
The proclamation goes on to say their legacy lives on through the passage of the ‘Move Over, Down’ law in Texas which now includes animal control officers and first responders as a vital safety measure that will help prevent future tragedies and save lives.
Buxkemper encouraged all citizens to exercise caution, respect and awareness for emergency responders and animal control personnel by observing a ‘Move Over, Slow Down Awareness’ and ‘Animal Control Officer Remembrance’ period from Oct. 20 through Nov. 30.
In other business at the city council meeting, a payment request from AMERESCO for $89,948 was approved for the engineering, procurement and construction agreement with the city.
Also approved was a payment request from MH Civil Constructors, Inc. for payment of $502,444 for the new 1.8 MGD Wastewater Treatment Plant.
The council approved paid staff holidays for 2026 which include Jan. 1-2 for New Year’s; Jan. 19, Martin Luther King Day; April 3, Good Friday; May 25, Memorial Day; July 3, Independence Day; Sept. 7, Labor Day; Nov. 26-27, Thanksgiving; Dec. 24-25, Christmas; and Jan. 1, 2007, New Year’s Day.
Council members also discussed the board appointment process for 2025-2026. Board members of various agencies and organizations whose terms are expiring in 2025 include: Jody Rose, LEDC; Jacob Tucker, Frankie Ruiz and Kelly Read, LCDC; Sham Myatt and Todd Paxton, Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone Board No.1; Sham Myatt, chair, Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone Board No. 2; Butch Wade (chair), Pete Cunningham, and Jaremiah Gavina, second alternate, Planning and Zoning; Butch Wade, chair, Zoning Board of Adjustment; Jerimiah Gavina and Brian Thoms, Housing Standards Commission; Derek Dunn and Ryan Fitzgerald, Airport Advisory Board; Reese Taylor, Cemetery Advisory Board; Kimberley A. Young and Amada Chapa, Main Street Advisory Board; and Cara Phelan and Christina Lopez, Levelland Housing Authority.
The next city council meeting is set for Nov. 2 at the Levelland City Hall.