Sewer improvements contract awarded
The Cumby city council met Tuesday to discuss items such as policy updates and information pertaining to the city’s rural community development block grant, a speed study was conducted of the I-30 frontage roads to establish new reasonable and prudent maximum rates of speed, setting a budget and tax meeting for Sept. 20 and hearing an update of the city’s finances among other items.
An item regarding the sale of city owned properties at 206 East Main Street and 102 Frisco Street was tabled due to one council member having a conflict of interest and another being out sick so the council was unable to establish a quorum.
The first order of business was to open the floor for citizen comments.
A resident shared that she would like for Cumby to reclaim the name Black Jack Grove, which was the name of the city until 1896 when it was renamed after Confederate soldier and legislator Robert H. Cumby.
“I’ve lived in Texas for half of my life,” the resident said. “I’ve always had a love of history and when I found out that Cumby was originally Black Jack Grove and carried that name until 1896. I don’t know who decided to change it change it to Cumby, probably the post office and railroad because there was a conflict with another city over in Smith County named Black Jack. Just Black Jack. And people would up going to the wrong place so the name was changed.
“I would respectfully like to make an effort to have the name reclaimed for the original historic name,” she continued.
Simmerman thanked her for her time and passion, and he felt that reclaiming the name was something to consider.
“What will we have to do to get it changed over?” council member Wayne Mobley asked
“I believe we would have to petition the governor’s office to have it changed back from Cumby to Black Jack Grove,” the resident said. “I have been very involved in restoring my house and I haven’t really had the time and energy but I am a trained genealogist and I feel that I have enough knowledge to research the records.”
Next, council member Betty McCarter thanked the police and fire departments for their speedy response to her 9-1-1 call, with special recognition to Officer Tally.
The police chief also introduced a new officer, Christopher Hall, to the council and residents that were present Tuesday evening.
The council then reviewed a presentation in their council packets that referred to policy updates and information for the city’s community development grant, which included employment opportunities for Section 3 workers, contractor outreach and the tracking of work hours for all contracts.
The council approved a contract with JW Electric for sewer improvements on M&R Drive as part of the community development grant.
Betty Jo Hardman shared that the grant was valued at $24,650 with the city contributing being $4,850.
Leigh Thompson, city attorney, commented that the council had already passed all required amendments needed before the council voted to approve the contract.
The city then discussed an ordinance pertaining to a speed study done by TXDOT of the service roads to establish new reasonable, maximum rates of speed for certain areas of the service streets. The speed was raised to 55 miles per hour in specific areas, mainly between Frisco Street and Dalton Street and at the entrance ramp. In other areas, like in front of the gas stations and on Frisco Street, the speed limit stayed 40 mph.
A special meeting for the city’s budget and tax rate will be held Sept. 20, 2021. City secretary Betty Jo Hardman shared an update on the city’s finances, including outstanding bills and available funds in the budget.