A key piece of Teague’s history will get a second chance at life following the City Council’s decision to transfer ownership of the Old City Hall to the Economic Development Corporation (EDC).
After a brief executive session during the Monday, July 17, 2017 meeting of the Teague City Council, Aldermen announced the Economic Development Corporation as the new owners of the former City Hall, located at 521 Main Street.
Following the meeting, EDC Director Bill Elliot shared that the organization has a three phase plan for the restoration and utilization of the building.
“This won’t be a historical restoration,” he clarified. “We’re going to restore it to save it [the building].”
The EDC’s first task, once the transaction is complete, will be to install a new roof. In the future, they will begin work restoring the top floor, with plans to convert the first floor in to retail space.
Mr. Elliot said that he hopes the building will be able to provide a unique space for events and commerce.
The stifling July heat may seem a strange time to discuss Christmas decorations, but the revamped Community Christmas Decorating Committee, represented at the meeting by Bill Bowers, wants to get an early – and more organized start.
Mr. Bowers told the Council that the committee has already begun preparing for this year’s Light Up the Park light show at the City Park.
He told Aldermen that the committee plans to begin decorating after the annual Park Fest event. To ease the strain on City employees and services, they will seek to provide their own equipment, such as man lifts, while decorating. This will allow the City employees to focus on the decorating of the town’s Main Street, with expected cooperation between the two organizations.
The committee is currently raising funds for the light show event, as well as this year’s addition of a New Year’s celebration. They have also spoken to Oncor about adding an updated electric pole to replace the one east of 8th and Ash Streets.
According to Mr. Bowers, decorating procedures have been outlined to make sure that the light show does not interfere with the use of the park and play area. To ensure safety, displays will use outdoor extension cords and secure loose cords.
Extended park hours have already been approved for the New Year’s event, which will reportedly feature a Train Drop countdown.
Following the presentation, the Council voted unanimously to approve the committee’s plans for the 2017 Christmas season.
In other business, Aldermen approved the consent agenda and accepted the resignations of Public Works employee John “Matt Robinson, and Police Officer DeMarcus Jones.
After an employment interview conducted in executive session, Haden Proulx was hired to the Public Works Department.
