Tyler County News - Breakout

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By Chris Edwards
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AUSTIN – On Friday, the state’s General Land Office (GLO) approved $68 million in funds for the region toward mitigation projects.

The state’s land commissioner Dawn Buckingham said that the GLO’s funding announcement works toward empowering communities to “move forward projects that will protect the homes and business of those who live here.”

The $68,042,000 funding package covers six different federally eligible infrastructure projects, including more than $42 million for broadband and radio communications infrastructure, which will be administered by the Deep East Texas Council of Governments (DETCOG), according to Buckingham.

Tyler County will benefit from the broadband and radio funding, along with Polk; Jasper; Newton and San Jacinto counties.

DETCOG executive director Lonnie Hunt called the funding announcement “a great day for Deep East Texas.”

“Broadband is a basic building block of the future and the lack of it negatively impacts every aspect of our life…from public safety to economic development and job creation to education and healthcare,” Hunt said.

The $42 million funding package will also address current and future risks of communication outages caused by flooding, storms and other severe weather events.

Other projects the funding package earmarks includes street improvements in Ivanhoe and Woodville.

Ivanhoe is receiving $1.9 million, which will go toward flood mitigation by improving surfaces on Lakewood Drive and improve water flow away from homes.

Woodville will get $3,325,000 of the funds, which will see streets improved to create safe, all-weather thoroughfares, which are essential during disasters and evacuations.

The streets in Woodville slated for the project include the Beech/Dogwood area; Carlow Hill and Timberland.

“Locally led prioritization of mitigation projects is important because it strengthens critical infrastructure and protects communities against the impacts of natural disasters,” Buckingham said. “I am proud of the work being done at the [GLO] to not only help those in need, but to support our communities as they grow.”

In all, the GLO allocated more than $1.1 billion in Community Development Block Grant Mitigation funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the Regional Mitigation Program to reduce the risks and impacts of future natural disasters.
Each regional council of government with HUD-designated eligible counties developed a method of distribution for allocation of funds to local governments, according to Buckingham.

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By Chris Edwards
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TYLER COUNTY – Tyler County Emergency Management officials want the public to know that the burn ban has been rescinded, as of Tuesday.

The ban, which was issued on July 25, was active for 64 days, as the county was under critical fire weather conditions, and weathered a major wildfire in August, which began in Jasper County and spread across the county line.

On Tuesday, Tyler County Judge Milton Powers issued the order to lift the ban.

Powers encouraged all county residents to exercise caution and take all necessary precautions when burning.

The lift of the ban comes on the heels of “beneficial rainfall,” in the wording of the judge’s order, across the county on Sunday and Monday.

“After assessing all information from the necessary sources the burn ban has been rescinded. Therefore at this time you are allowed to burn,” Powers stated on the Emergency Management’s Facebook page.

Powers implored everyone, however, to be mindful that if circumstances change, the county could go back to a burn ban in a matter of days.

In the state of Texas, local governments are empowered to take action on the behalf of their constituents, and when drought conditions exist, burn bands can be put in place by a county judge or a county commissioners’ court that prohibit, or restrict, outdoor burning in the name of public safety.

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By Mollie LaSalle
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WOODVILLE – Woodville City Council held a special called meeting Monday evening to consider three agenda items.

The first item up for discussion was to consider for approval Resolution No. 20230925, a resolution adopting an Investment Policy and Strategy of the city of Woodville and Broker List. City Administrator Mandy Risinger explained: “we have a management company, (Meeder Investment Management Group ) that advises us on our purchases. They are trying to get all their clients consistent with what the act permits and give us flexibility in our purchasing options depending on the market at the time”.

David McElwain is the contact person in the Meeder group for the city. They have clients in several cities in the state; Woodville is one of the smaller portfolios that they manage. Risinger did say that since the city has been with this group, their return on investment has increased dramatically. The city is required to review the policy annually, and 2023 marks the first time there have been changes to it in about three years. The primary changes are sending out the maximum securities and the length of securities that can be purchased by the city. When all was said and done, council approved the resolution.

The next item up for discussion was a consideration to accept bids for City Hall Interior restorations. Risinger explained, “we know what we have to repair. Do we want the building to be consistent throughout, or did we just want to repair the damaged portion? We had six companies do a walk through, and three submitted bids. The lowest bidder didn’t submit a complete bid and did not have good references” The second lowest bidder was Timberline Constuctors, who had done the original remodel of the building in 2001.

After a lengthy discussion back and forth, council opted to go with Timberline Constructors to do the remodel project at city hall.

The last item discussed was the purchase of a transport vehicle (hauling truck) for the city.

Risinger said, “we had recently sent out a notice for bids on a new garbage truck, and now we are needing another haul truck”. The city has two trucks currently in use, one is still operational, the other one is needing to be replaced. Council approved the authorization to solicit bids for another haul truck for the sanitation department.

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By Chris Edwards
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WOODVILLE – The Woodville Police Department is hosting a citywide “Woodville Night Out” as part of the nationwide “National Night Out” event.

The event takes place on Tuesday, Oct. 3 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Hyde Street City Park. According to a representative from Woodville PD, the event allows the public the opportunity to meet first responders and see emergency vehicles on display and offers a wealth of other fun and informative offerings for the whole family.

The National Night Out concept, according to its website, is an annual community-building campaign that works to promote police and community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie, in order to create safer neighborhoods.

The event was first established in 1984 by Matt Peskin of the National Association of Town Watch in order to improve those relationships between communities and law enforcement.

While millions of Americans take part in the event on the first Tuesday in August, Texas celebrates it on the first Tuesday in October.

Night Out celebrations typically include block parties with parades, cookouts and various other community events. Demonstrations slated for the Woodville event include water safety demonstrations, a Jaws of Life demo, air rescue and ambulance and more.

Woodville PD encourages everyone to come out and meet your neighbors, and bring your whole family.