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The Como city council recognized Como-Pickton graduate Katie Morgan (center) as their 2021 scholarship winner. From left are council member Austin Baxley, Mayor pro tem David Fordinal, city secretary Mary Doss and Mayor Jerry Radney. Staff photo by Todd Kleiboer
Morgan recognized as scholarship winner
The recent rainy weather has done more than frustrate lawn care sticklers. It has also delayed the return of street repair bids to the city of Como as well as hinder the city’s ability to patch any potholes before actual work is done, city officials and council members said Tuesday.
“With the weather conditions like they are and the constant rain that we’ve had, all we have to fill these potholes with is rock [gravel],” city secretary Mary Doss said. “Putting gravel in these potholes does us no good because it washes out.”
Bids a part of a $350,000 Texas Department of Transportation grant have also been delayed, Mayor Jerry Radney said, and he wants the bids in by the July meeting. The city may call a special meeting if bids come in before that.
“We’ve already approved to do the work,” Radney said. “We just need to make sure the bids aren’t astronomically out of place.”
Having the most deteriorated streets repairing first is a priority for the council, and federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act will also go toward infrastructure repairs in the city.
“We’ve got to do something, but we can’t do anything until this rain quits,” Radney said.
Fortunately, a dry stretch is in the forecast until Wednesday at least, according to the National Weather Service Friday afternoon.
In other business, council members recognized Katie Morgan as the city’s 2021 scholarship winner. During the council’s May meeting, Morgan was announced as the winner as she was the only applicant.
“We’re grateful to be able to do that and send someone off to college to add society instead of take from,” Radney said.
Morgan recently graduated from Como-Pickton CISD and was the class Valedictorian. She was also a member of the Como-Pickton Lady Eagles softball team.
“Thank you for providing this opportunity for kids at Como-Pickton,” Morgan said. “It really helps out.”
After a bit of hesitation, David Fordinal was selected to serve as mayor pro tempore. Austin Baxley previously served in that position. Fordinal will be attending a July conference put on the Texas Municipal League to learn the ropes of city government.
“I admire David, and I like showing up to meetings and helping out,” Baxley said. “And David has more life experience than me.”
“He just called me old,” Fordinal said with a laugh as they voted him into the spot.