By V. Hugh Lewis, publisher
Jefferson City Council voted to look within the department for their next Chief of Police and to make that selection at a special council meeting next Tuesday.
“If Mr. Finstrom and Tyranni (Braddock, Alderman Ward 2) are both for promoting from within, I’ve been sick and at home, so I have no objection whatsoever to that, if it makes it easier,” said Ward 3 Alderman Kay McKinnon.
“Then we’ll vote to proceed with fillng the police chief position from within and take formal action next week,” said Mayor Pro Tem Victor Perot. Ward 1 Alderman Jim Finstrom made the motion, McKinnon seconded.
Carriage Tours
“The permit we’re applying for is just for a carriage permit,” said Sacred Spur Carriage owner Clay Voyles of Gladewater. “She’s (Lone Star Carriage) closing down at the end of the month regardless whether she sold to us or not. At this time we’ve not been able to acquire the lot she’s on. We’ve found two alternate lots and before we choose we want to make sure we’re within the restrictions to operate.”
Sacred Spur Carriage is looking at the lot behind GiGi’s Antiques facing Walnut Street or Jim Finstrom’s lot on Dallas Street. Council approved the application but indicated a lot had to be selected before operations could begin. According to a FaceBook post by Lone Star Carriage, this is the last weekend they’ll operate in Jefferson.
Events
Council approved all the event applications presented during the meeting as long as the events are compliant with guidelines established by the CDC and Texas Governor Gregg Abbott.
“We want y’all to have the events, but we also have to understand that the mandates of the state are beyond our control,” said Perot. “What is out of our control is out of our control. As long as you’re following those guidelines the state is setting out, we’ll allow you to have the events.”
The events approved include:
- Texas Sounds International Country Music Awards for October 15-18, 2020
- Halloween Festival on October 31, 2020
- 2nd Annual Jefferson Antique Tractor Show scheduled for September 18-20, 2020
- 18th Annual Diamond Don AHRMA Vintage National Motocross event at Diamond Don RV Park & Event Center on September 10-13, 2020
The Halloween festival will be on the lot on the corner of Polk and Henderson streets. It is not affiliated with the event normally put on by F.R.E.S.H. at the Community Center, and according to event organizer Sharon Goolsby, will not compete with that event.
Other Business
In other business, Council approved a variety of building permits including:
- A storage building at 607 N. Alley for Gary Amburn
- For Charleen Flanagan for 216 W. Broadway
- Greenhouse for George and Michell Otstott at 307 N. Vale.
- Home for Hamib Habibelahian at the corner of River Oaks and Westview
- Homeor Weldon Moses on Webster Street.
- Home for Tim and Paula Phy on E. Orleans Street
Council also tabled a request for variance on the animals ordinance from Charleen Flanagan who wanted to four stable horses behind the feed store on W. Broadway while they were prepared for adoption.
Council will hold a special meeting next Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at the Visitors Center to discuss:
- Budget planning
- Resolution to Accept a Grant for the CARES Act of up to $112,000
- Hire a Chief of Police.
The Herald will be live at that meeting.