Friday's Internet Edition, July 04, 2008.
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News editor - R. Ray Gatewood was sworn into office for the place 5 seat on City Council during regular business on Tuesday.
Gatewood, who won over Charlie Youngs in a special run-off election in June, takes over the seat left vacant by Fred Harris. Harris could not run for the seat since he had already served two consecutive three-year terms.
As Mayor Bradi Diaz gave a farewell gift to Harris, Harris in turn presented two acknowledgments to the Mayor and City Manager Steve Alexander.
“Any illusions and grandeur I may have had in the beginning has been changed by recalls and CAVES (Citizens Against Virtually Everything),” Harris said. “These CAVES float petitions around and waste your money.”
Harris then told councilmembers not to let CAVES darken their way and to shed light upon them.
Harris also said that it was a shame to have newspapers reporting on what the CAVES had to say and only showing one side of the story.
“Talk to the council, get both sides of the story,” Harris said. “Don’t always publish the negative in Cove.”
Harris also went on to say that when he joined the council in 1998, many departments were against each other. Harris also stated that The City and Copperas Cove Independent School District did not have a good working relationship.
“We have come a long way with this council,” Harris said. “I remember when we didn’t have email, a mission, or a strategic plan.”
Harris said that while he does look up to Martin Luther Kind, Jr., he did disagree with him on one thing.
“He said to stand for something and fall for nothing,” Harris said. “I say stand for something good and fall for nothing bad.”
In other action Tuesday night, Council appointed Bud Owesly to Mayor Pro Tem for the next year.
Appointed to the Library Advisory Board was Robin Hopkins, Patricia Thomas, and Diane Howell.
Other appointments included Fred Harris and Wendy Henly to the Planning and Zoning Commission.
Other action included the dissolution of the Cemetery Advisory Board.
The board had been put into action in Jan. 2001. The purpose of the board was to help update a dated ordinance as well as work on other projects for the Cemetery.
“They in a sense worked themselves out of a job,” Owesly said. “I drove by this weekend and it look really good. It’s not fair to keep having people meet with no mission.”
With the dissolution of the Cemetery Board, the job for upkeep will be left to Parks and Recreation Director Ken Wilson.
“This is something, that if needed later on, can be re-organized,” Alexander said.
Council also approved the authorization of a grant submission through the American Heart Association asking to fund the purchase of external defibrillation devices.
Currently the fire department has six devices.
Council also authorized the City Manager to accept a subrecipient award for the 2004 State Homeland Security Program in the amount of $24,246.
David Landman, Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce, gave his report on the first and second quarter Travel and Tourism financial reports for the Copperas Cove Chamber of Commerce.
“We get $50,000 annually in $12,500 quarterly payments,” Landman said. “This comes from the revenue from hotel and motel taxes.”
The purpose is to develop tourism in Copperas Cove.
Landman said that they have seen some success and that will show for the next two quarterly reports.
Also presenting reports was the EDC Financial Report for the month of May.
Carol Mills, Executive Director of the EDC, said that they had 21 prospect leads and 27 consultants inquire for the second quarter.