Municipal Court Judge Shawn Wilson sworn in
The Levelland City Council went through several items requiring action during Monday’s meeting including park projects, Main Street facade grants and this years election process.
Kicking off the meeting was City Secretary Andrea Corley swearing in the newly appointed Municipal Court Judge Shawn Wilson.
Previously a Levelland Police Department detective, Wilson will be taking over the position for Norma Garza.
The election for City Council District B and D will be held this year on May 6th. Only those who reside within one of those two districts may vote in the election; Additionally, should a citizen seek to add their name to the ballot for election, notice must be given to the city secretary.
The cutoff date is February 17 at 5 p.m. This year’s election will have Mary Engledow of District B and Michael Stueart of District D up for re-election.
In line with this years election, citizens will also be voting on a ballet item regarding road maintanence.
For the better part of two decades, Levelland has had a program which takes one fourth of a percent of sales tax to help maintain municipal roads. The program needs to be renewed every four years to continue. Mayor Barbra Pinner emphasized that this was not a new tax, a renewal of a system that helps keep the roads maintained.
Main Street will be taking over the Gazebo and additional responsibility that the Levelland Chamber of Commerce had while handling the operations.
An additional reason for the changing of hands for the Gazebo is to limit the amount of steps and confusion it had took in the past to occupy the space if someone applied.
Ownership of the Gazebo to the Mainstreet Program was proposed and agreed upon, with the Mainstreet Program agreeing to utilize the gazebo in assistance for the annual Cotton and Crude Festival the Chamber hosts.
Created more than 30 years ago by the Chamber of Commerce, Chamber President Mary Siders added that the upkeep of the structure and general well being had been taken care of and is more than capable of staying that way for future needs without heavy expenses.
The Façade Grant, which helps downtown merchants renovate the front of their buildings, such as awnings, has seen five applicants in 2020, six in 2021. and Mainstreet Manager Tania Moody only expects that interest to grow.
Moody made the request of $12,000 in funding for the 2023 year. After answering a handful of questions from council members, Moody’s amount requested was unanimously approved.
Parks Director for the City of Levelland Dustin Riechelt explained to the council the Development Corporation has moved forward with plans to improve both LG Griffith and George C. Price Park with new pavilions, which would be around $75,000.
The amount was budgeted and approved by the LCDC and moved to the Council for approval.
The item was brough to the council sooner than usual because the LCDC wished to get the improvements to LG Griffith Park finished before the yearly Juneteenth celebration.
The improvements were unanimously approved by the council.
Additionally, the council moved forward with approving Riechelt to purchase a new riding mower for the current fleet as it is ageing.
Slightly over what was budgetd, Anderson added that a budget amendment could be made in the future.