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COLUMBUS — The City Council had a few actions to review and move on during their Feb. 12 regular meeting. The council discussed several items including the Nesbitt Memorial Library’s annual report as well as deciding when the annual Trash-Off event in the spring will be.
The official day of the Coumbus Trash Off will be on Saturday, April 6. It will once again be sponsored by the Columbus Garden Club and its members. The initiative will be a part of a statewide event as the “Don’t Mess with Texas Trash Off” has the same spirit to clean up the cities of Texas. Any waste, recycling or otherwise can be discarded safely and sanitarily during this event.
Volunteers can register any day from March 1 to May 31 by texting or calling 979-733-4343. Volunteers will receive their clean up kits and supplies at the Columbus Visitors Center on the day of the event.
The Garden Club asked the city for a few items to assist with the event. They requested assistance with the collection site and supply of dumpsters at the City Maintenance Yard which will stay open for disposal items from Wednesday, April 3 through Saturday, April 6. The CGC also asked for help with temporary storage at the Maintenance Yard and funding for disposal and advertisement. The City’s officials will take a publicity photo outside council chambers on Feb. 26 prior to the council meeting that day, and city property will also display promotional items advertising the event.
The city will provide its annual limb chipping service for trees on residential property the following week after the event.
The Nesbitt Memorial Library also gave their report during the meeting, informing the Council of their progress from October 2022 to September 2023. They reported their visit numbers with 36,266 visits and 28,096 checkedout materials during that time. The library also reported on their 273 programs that netted 3,373 attendees.
In other news, the sewer averaging process is nearing an end as Feb. 15 marks the last day that the city will be tracking water use to set residential sewer rates for the next year.
Also, the City Council moved to allow the sale of surplus property that the city has decided is not currently needed and will not be necessary for future needs. Two trucks are the current surplus items to be sold by the city. Any sale will need to be authorized by mayor Lori An Gobert before its completion.
The City Council moved to submit a Community Development Block Grant to the General Land Office. Mayor Gobert will act as the city’s executive officer as they look to earn a grant that promotes providing improved living environments and stronger infrastructure.
City Council will meet again on Feb. 26 at 5:30 p.m. for a regular meeting in City Hall at 605 Spring St.
