City of Groveton tackles housing, grant issues

TCNS staff

GROVETON — In hopes of keeping the city moving forward, the Groveton City Council discussed dilapidated buildings and grant applications at its Feb. 27 meeting.

Sandy Richards addressed the council about ramshackle buildings around Groveton Schools, in particular properties on Fourth street and on North Main Street.

She is asking the city to take action on these properties because of potential safety hazard to the students. The city took no action at the meeting.

In a related matter, the council heard a presentation and training regarding Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing and affirmed that Groveton is a city that promotes fair housing for current and prospective residents.

The council also approved applying for a 2023-2024 Texas Community Development Block Grant-DC offered through the Texas Department of Agriculture and designed for community development.

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Along with the application, the council designated signatories the grant and will select a firm to provide engineering services.

In other business, the council:

•proclaimed February as Black History Month;

•approved payment of $9,635.59 to Inframark for city water and sewer services. Mike Brown reported an average flow of 109,000 gallons per day of sewage went through the wastewater plant, and that a total water pumped for the month was 2,666,000 gallons;

•received the annual Racial Profiling report from the Police Department; and

•received the monthly report from Police Chief Justin Cowart. The department had 41 calls for service, made 114 traffic stops, issued 33 verbal warnings, took five reports, wrote 75 citations, assisted the county five times, and made five arrests.