Hope City Board…Catherine Cook Announces Retirement

By Mark Keith, 06/8/22 12:55 AM

 

The Hope City Board met Tuesday for their regular meeting.  First up, two ladies, Kelly Muldrew and Arnetta Bradford spoke on behalf of a new Civic group called ‘Creating a Brighter Future for Hope”  that was asking for the city to waive the rental fee on the Fair Park Coliseum for an event July 30th.  The group wants to have an event in answer to the recent shootings.  The board voted to waive the deposit and rental fee for the group.  The board also pledged to try to help further when the group knows some more specific needs.

The board looked at two bids on some areas of terra cotta on City Hall and plaster inside the building.  Discussion ensued about the difference in price on the bids ($69,960 compared to $84,840).  The board first approved an ordinance waiving competitive bidding.  They then accepted the $84,840 bid.

The board approved a request for an access easement for the driveway leading to the solar array at 710 Lakeshore.  The board approved the easement.  The board approved the easement.

An Eagle Scott candidate, Riley Golden, is asking the board to work on a driveway into the coliseum adjacent to the pad the Lions Club uses to put their fish cookers.  The board voted to provide the concrete and to participate in the project.

Under the City Manager’s Report, Catherine Cook noted the Watermelon Festival Parade will be August 8th.  Cook also said the Street Scape project didn’t get any bids on it and it will rebid July 7th.

Sylvia Brown gave some details on the Juneteenth event.  It is set for June 18th.  Events begin with a parade at 10:45am starting at the Yerger Museum.  The parade is a counter to the negative activities in the world today.  Other activities will include games, tailgating, vendors, a motivational speaker, a kid’s “dance off” with DJ Baccside, and a Juneteenth History Presentation.  For info or booth access phone 826-7890 or 826-5223.  Juneteenth is celebrated in honor of the day slaves in Texas learned they had been freed at the end of the Civil War.

The board went into executive session at 7:32pm.  The board reconvened at 7:52.  Mayor Don Still noted City Manager Catherine Cook has announced she is retiring at the end of the year.  Mayor Still lauded her for 32 years of service to the city.  Cook said it has been an honor to work for the people of Hope.  The crowd gave Cook a standing ovation and the meeting adjourned.