Due to the high fire threat this week, the Texas Forestry Service staged equipment at the Jacksboro Fire Department for part of the week. We will continue to monitor the fire situation and plan accordingly.
City Departments were closed Friday morning so we could complete Open Enrollment for the next fiscal year. We want to extend a HUGE THANK YOU to the Jack County Appraisal District Chief Appraiser for making breakfast for the staff.
The Fire Department responded to eleven (11) calls for service. Those calls included three (3) grass fires, seven (7) EMS calls, and one (1) motor vehicle accident. Seven (7) of those calls were in the county, and four (4) were inside the City limits.
Today (Friday, August 1st) is the last day for the swimming pool to be open. Tonight is Family Night at the Pool, and we hope to have a large crowd to close out the season.
The Parks and Recreation Department continued to work on the drainage ditch on South 2nd Street. In addition to that, they cleared trees that were overhanging the road to the airport, and continued to maintain the area around the lake. They also cleaned up Stewart Street next to Chicken express, mowed several city lots, and sprayed herbicide around the Activity Center and the airport.
The Police Department conducted nine (9) interviews for law enforcement officers this week. Chief Penny has extended an offer to one individual for the position of Lieutenant, and hopes to extend additional offers next week.
On Monday, the City Council approved changes to two separate streets to make them one-way, as well as "No On-Street Parking". These streets include North 6th Street from Belknap to Live Oak, which will become one-way going north. The other street is North 4th Street from Live Oak to Belknap which will become one-way going south. We have sent letters to all the residents on both of the those streets to explain that once we have signage marking the one-way designations, then it will become effective.
I attended the Open House and Ribbon Cutting for the new maintenance facility for Precinct 2 in Perrin. The new facility will be an incredible addition to the County and provide an excellent facility for Precinct 2.
The Distribution and Collection Crew responded to thirty-eight (38) calls for service. They also assisted the Parks and Recreation Department to deliver and/or pickup five (5) trash dumpsters.
The airport had thirty (32) ground operations and continued to sell a large amount of fuel. We also had sixty-two (62) visits to the Activity Center.
Our Building Inspector and Code Enforcement Officer conducted seven (7) inspections. He also met with a resident to discuss a possible re-zoning request.
Our Employee Spotlight of the Week is Jesse Maxwell. Jesse is the Superintendent for Parks and Recreation Maintenance and routinely goes above and beyond to assist other departments. He has taken on the responsibility to ensure the Animal Shelter is cleaned each weekend, and the animals are fed. In addition he has taken on the responsibility of maintaining drainage ditches around town, and taking care of maintenance at the airport. Jesse has an outstanding team, and leads by example.
Our next City Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, August 11, 2025 at 5:30 P.M.
Respectfully,
Mike S.
MICHAEL R. SMITH, Lt Col, USAF (ret)
City Manager