By Patricia Finstrom I take this opportunity to announce my candidacy for Mayor of Jefferson. My family moved to Jefferson in 1967. I am a 1971 graduate of Jefferson High School. I look forward to working with all the citizens of Jefferson to make our home better. Infrastructure should beContinue Reading
The City of Jefferson will conduct a public hearing for the proposed operating budget for fiscal year 2023-2024 on Thursday, September 14, 2023, at 6:30 pm. The adoption of the ordinance approving the budget will be immediately following the close of the public hearing on the proposed budget. The meetingContinue Reading
Staff Reports The Jefferson Police Department located and arrested 53-year-old, Michael Mohamed Elawar on August 10 for possible fuel theft from the City of Jefferson Fuel Pump which isused for city vehicles. “During the investigation and properly placed game cameras, JPD was able to capture the criminal act when itContinue Reading
V. Hugh Lewis II/Jefferson Jimplecute V. Hugh Lewis II Jefferson Jimplecute The City and it’s various boards are starting work on th 2023-24 Fiscal Year budgets, yet some numbers are still unknown. The final tax roll valuations are due to the City in the next week and that will establishContinue Reading
V. Hugh Lewis II/Jefferson Jimplecute Water, water everywhere… and you’ll pay more to drink. The cost of treated water could go up as much as 75% according to Northeast Texas Municipal Water District General manager Wayne Owen. Owen gave a presentation to Jefferson City Council Tuesday evening indicating the possibleContinue Reading
V. Hugh Lewis II/Jefferson Jimplecute The Jefferson Quiet Zone Committee got off to a fast start this week holding their first meeting, electing officers, and establishing their first priorities. Jim Stacey volunteered to be the chairman of the group and lead the monthly meetings. Mark McKay joined in as vice-chair,Continue Reading
V. Hugh Lewis II/Jefferson Jimplecute The City of Jefferson was found to have violated the Texas Open Meetings Act in connection with the dismissal of former Jefferson Police Chief Jason Carroll. Last week’s trial in Federal Court in Marshall saw a jury awarding Carroll $50,000 as a result of theContinue Reading
Survey Opportunity The City of Jefferson is conducting a survey for sidewalks along Martin Luther King Street. Your input is essential! Please click on the link to the survey blow to provide your input. https://forms.gle/6yziM3eqFqqqSgCY8Continue Reading
V Hugh Lewis II/Jefferson Jimplecute Following the canvassing of the May 6 election, Ward 3 incumbent Alderman Robin Moore and newly elected Ward 2 Alderman Ray Hengst were sworn in at the start of Tuesday night’s City Council meeting. Ward 1’s new Alderman Bubba Haggard was on a pre-planned familyContinue Reading
Today residents of Marion County can go to the polls and choose the next members of the Jefferson ISD School Board and City of Jefferson Aldermen, and to see if alcohol can be sold everywhere in the County. Polls are open from 7a-7p. Polling Locations are: Jefferson ISD Leah Cooper,Continue Reading
V Hugh Lewis II Jefferson Jimplecute Editor’s Note: This is the first in a series of articles focusing on the Texas Target Communities [TTC] presentation and draft proposals made during a public meeting on April 27. The project is ongoing and is designed to help the City develop a 20+Continue Reading
V. Hugh Lewis II/Jefferson Jimplecute Jefferson’s regular City Council meeting held a mix of emotions as Council had not one, but three voting ties requiring Mayor Rob Baker to vote. The meeting started along normal routine as Council heard quarterly updates from JEDCO, FOJA, and George Otstott on NETMWD, butContinue Reading
V. Hugh Lewis II/Jefferson Jimplecute Using a sidewalk to get from the elementary school to the high school got one step closer this week as TxDOT approved moving the City’s two grant requests to stage 2. The designation change means the City needs to supply TxDOT with more specific engineeringContinue Reading
Hugh Lewis/Jefferson Jimplecute First year officer Joshua Cox is the 2023 Officer of the Year for the Jefferson Police Department. Chief Florentino Perez recognized Cox’s contributions to the department during 2022 at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. “It is my honor and a privilege to recognize officer Joshua Cox for hisContinue Reading
Staff Reports Jefferson’s Planning & Zoning Commission held the first of three planned town hall meetings Monday night in Ward 2, but few residents attended. Notice of the meeting only started going out last Friday and may have contributed to the poor showing. P&Z has two more town halls scheduledContinue Reading
Jefferson has long had a history of “interesting” politics. From street fights following, or during, council meetings, to behind the scenes “good ol’ boy” favors and actions, there’s always been something to “entertain.” In truth, it’s more like “embarrass” than “entertain.” The last few years we’ve seen an uptick inContinue Reading
V. Hugh Lewis II/Jefferson Jimplecute Over the next few weeks election signs will start popping up across the county like daffodils. The City of Jefferson, Jefferson ISD School Board, and Marion County will hold elections in May. Portions of the County will be holding a special election to convert theContinue Reading
Hugh Lewis/Jefferson Jimplecute The new activity center currently being constructed by Immaculate Conception Catholic Church was the focus of the majority of Tuesday nights’ special council meeting. Ward 3 Alderman Robin Moore had requested two items be placed on the agenda: temporary closure of part of the alleyway between HendersonContinue Reading
Staff Reports The Jefferson Planning & Zoning Commission will be holding Town Hall meetings in each City Ward in the coming months. P&Z members approved a suggestion to have the meetings based on city wards to allow more time for residents to express their wards needs and desires. The meetingsContinue Reading
Hugh Lewis/Jefferson Jimplecute The temporary relocation of City Hall, the hiring of a building inspector, grants for sidewalks and trails, and a few building permits were under construction during Tuesday night’s Council meeting. Recent structural concerns along the back of the main building and the old City Bathrooms and Jail,Continue Reading