Booming business at Groesbeck City Pool gets Council attention
Groesbeck City Council met and discussed current happenings as well as future plans at the Tuesday, June 15, meeting.
Perhaps most notable is the success of the City pool so far this summer.
“The city pool has been up and running since the last week of May, and we’re averaging 75-plus swimmers in the pool at any given time of day,” said City Administrator Chris Henson. “That pool is packed every single day; there are kids that show up at 10 a.m. when they open and they do not leave until it closes. We have a large influx of people from Mexia, Coolidge, Mart, and when I tell you it is busy out there, they have all lifeguards in the seats at all times; it’s wild, but it’s good.”
As further discussed, Mexia’s city pool has been filled in, but a splash-pad will break ground nearby soon. Still, as the second oldest city pool in Texas (soon to be celebrating 100 years of service in 2024), Groesbeck’s continued success is worth celebrating. Praise for the maintenance and upkeep work by Pool Operator Jason Williams came from both Henson and Public Works Director Keith Tilley.
Council also heard from Henson about recent concerns that will soon become agenda items, including a proposed permitting process that requires insurance for organizations holding special events in Groesbeck, as well as regulations for mobile food vendors; not for the purpose of making money, but for legally minimizing potential liability issues for the city.
Henson also went on to recognize road complaints by citizens, which he explained were understood, known, and difficult to work through with a small Street Department staff (two to three employees max) and inclement weather over the past few months working against them
“Keith [Tilley] and I are very aware that these streets are in bad condition; we’re not blind to it, it’s not a secret, we know. Every city and every county in the state of Texas is dealing with the same thingthe weather from February til now has kicked our tails, and the streets can’t handle it,” Henson said. “We did not budget for all these repairs we’re having to do, so what we’re tinkering with is the idea of doing half of our big Angeline Street project for the year, from Archer to Preston, and diverting the remaining funds back to the immediate street repair.”
He explained that the shortterm fixes to potholes and low spots in the road have been made more difficult to accomplish thanks to recent flood-like weather, but several areas need attention and that the remainder of Angeline Street work could be taken up once the new budget year begins.
In other business, the council approved a change to the vacation/leave policy for city employees which states that any unclaimed vacation time expires (and does not “rollover” or remain valid) when the new year begins Jan. 1. Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Kim Harris stated he had thought the council approved such a measure several years ago, and City Secretary Brenda Jackson stated that it had been discussed but never carried out, so the council approved this change.
Though Harris was a contender, the council chose Warren Anglin to serve on the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) Board. In accordance with bylaws, Mayor Ray O’Docharty and Mayor Pro Tem Matthew Dawley are mandatory members of the EDC Board, and Anglin will be filling a vacancy and joining Councilwoman Tamika Jackson, who also serves on the board.
Council also approved a letter in support of State Adoption of Old Fort Parker, following the lead of county commissioners who approved a similar letter last month in hopes of improved maintenance and operation at the site without the financial obligation. Henson noted that the city contributes $20,000 per year to Old Fort Parker through hotel/motel funding, which could be put toward other projects if the state opts to take over the site.
The next Groesbeck City Council meeting is set for 6 p.m. July 20 in the City Commons.