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
Hugh Lewis/Jefferson Jimplecute Jefferson and Marion County has a new mascot – of sorts. Marion County Judge Leward LaFleur, County Commissioners, and Jefferson Mayor Rob Baker all proclaimed the Paddlefish as the official fish of Marion County and the City of Jefferson during their regular meetings the last week inContinue Reading
The “lights went out” on the downtown trestle bridge earlier this year due to vandalism and then by nearby lightning strikes. But they’ll be back on for the fall events after council approved spending $7,380, or $410 per bulb, to replace damaged bulbs. Council previously approved $900 on repairs whichContinue Reading
Staff Reports Resident and tourist safety, but not comfort, took center stage during Tuesday nights City Council meeting. Aldermen approved reimbursing a tourist after a limb from a Bradford Pear tree on Market Street fell and damaged their car. Aldermen Richard Turner and Robin Moore were against the decision citingContinue Reading
Once again, the desire to have a “Quiet Zone” established in town fell on deaf ears of the majority of City Council. It’s been a frequent request of Bed and Breakfast owners, tourists, and those who live along the railroad tracks. But according to one council member those are justContinue Reading
Photo by Laura Allen The Texas Tech campus in Jefferson has been officially open for some time, but COVID restrictions prohibited a ribbon cutting and open house. Last Saturday, officials from Texas Tech joined local officials in opening the campus. Above, from Right, Jefferson Mayor Rob Baker, Smith County JudgeContinue Reading
Jennifer Perry Middleton/Jefferson Jimplecute The Jefferson City Council voted Tuesday to create a new position of an administrative assistant to City Secretary Melissa Boyd. The position, which will be posted immediately, will assist Boyd in all her duties, including those involving human resources. “We have the need in the officeContinue Reading
Austin Lewter/Jefferson Jimplecute After two years of deliberations, the Jefferson Economic Development Corporation (JEDCO) agreed Tuesday night to enter a Capstone Agreement with Texas A&M University for strategic planning. Against the advice of their attorney, W.F. Palmer, the board agreed to expend up to $41,000 on the project. PalmerContinue Reading
V. Hugh Lewis II Jefferson Jimpecute Several young events are back on track in Jefferson after Council approved payments from the Tourism Board’s Discretionary Funds to help get the events going. Ward 3/1 Alderman Richard Turner had initially pulled the payment requests by the Tourism Board so Council could discussContinue Reading
Jennifer Perry Middleton Jefferson Jimplecute Neither the general public, nor members of the Jefferson City Council will be allowed to attend a meeting about the construction of an activity center for the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. That’s according to Robin Moore, city alderman and member of the church. “The meetingContinue Reading
Staff Reports Earth Week 2022 is set and Commissioners are gearing up for the annual event allowing residents to dispose of many types of waste and debris. This year, Earth Week will run from April 22 through May 1, giving residents two weekends to make it to any of theContinue Reading
Staff Reports After two executive sessions, the Jefferson City Council held a public hearing on a personnel matter between City Administrator Eric Kuykendall and Public Works Director Allen Whatley on Monday morning. Yet, they did not take any action on the matter. The two-and-a-half hour meeting opened with Whatley requestingContinue Reading
Staff Reports After 38 years, the wait is over. Jefferson City Council approved new Alderman Ward maps following a public hearing Tuesday evening. According to the notice, and read at the beginning of the hearing by Jefferson Mayor Rob Baker, on January 21, the Council: • established criteria for theContinue Reading
Staff Reports Jefferson Police Chief Tino Perez will be getting a raise along with his other officers after Council approved a $6,000 immediate lift in salary and an additional $1,000 a year raise, with annual review, for the next five years. “I called several towns in our population range,” saidContinue Reading
Staff Reports City employees will have fewer paid holidays in the 2022 Calendar year, and the City set a $150 deposit requirement to have new service in a resident’s name after the their marathon 4.5 hour City Council Tuesday night meeting. “I’m stating for the record that I feel badContinue Reading
Jennifer Perry Middleton/Jefferson Jimplecute In a called town hall meeting Tuesday, the Jefferson City Council gave an opportunity for public input on their lengthy special event application, something Mayor Rob Baker said hadn’t been revised in a number of years. “I think we can do better,” he said. “We canContinue Reading
Jennifer Perry Middleton/Jefferson Jimplecute Officers with the Jefferson Police Department will ring in the new year with a raise, thanks to action taken during Tuesday’s City Council meeting. Members voted unanimously to approve a raise for the city’s three full-time officers. Chief Florentino Perez told the council that they wereContinue Reading
By Jennifer Middleton/Jefferson Jimplecute Jefferson’s regular City Council meeting opened with public hearings on budget and tax rate, and continued with a delay in hiring a new City Secretary. Council approved a $4,451,836 budget beginning October 1 with a property tax rate of $0.45000 per $100 in valuation. The budgetContinue Reading
The City of Jefferson is aware a number of people have mot received their Latest water bill, but hold they are still due on August 10. Mayor Rob Baker acknowledged that a number of bills have not been delivered by the Postal Service, even though they were mailed on timeContinue Reading
Tuesday night’s Council meeting closed out with a 26-minute discussion on the March approval of a building permit to allow the placement of a modular home at 211 E. Clay Street, and whether or not the Council can restrict modular home placement in the future. “In my opinion it cameContinue Reading