Sunday's Internet Edition, July 20, 2008.
summit meeting
|
News editor - Members from Copperas Cove City Council, City Services, Copperas Cove Independent School District, Copperas Cove Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Development Corporation gathered Thursday afternoon to discuss what has been going on in Copperas Cove.
This summit meeting allows for each department to give an update on the happenings of Copperas Cove.
City Manager Steve Alexander spoke to officials about the different activities the city is involved in to update Copperas Cove.
“We now have the civic center and the human resource center projects fully underway,” Alexander said. “We are ready to begin demolishing the stage and we are almost done with the ceiling work.”
Alexander said that they have also chosen the colors for the Human Resource Center building, and hope to have it’s exterior finished very soon.
“I’m hoping to have this done by the first of August but at the very latest these projects will be finished by mid August,” Alexander said. “This project seems to be coming along very nicely.”
Alexander also updated attendees on the wastewater treatment projects to update their facilities. He also introduced new Parks and Recreation Director Ken Wilson.
“He has only been here a week and he really hit that floor running,” Alexander said. “We can expect to see some great changes in the near future.”
Alexander also gave updates on the construction on Constitution, which closed last week for the addition of more streets as well as the beginnings of the access road to the proposed reliever route.
The new smoking ordinance was also addressed at the summit meeting.
Alexander said that letters have been mailed out to businesses detailing how the ordinance will work. Alexander also mentioned that if the smoking petition does get turned in and is certified, that the ordinance would either not go into effect, or if it already has, it will be suspended until the matter is resolved.
Alexander also told attendees about the Civil Service petition and the fact that it was turned in and awaiting verification.
“As that comes through, if verified, you will be hearing from us on what exactly Civil Service will mean to the taxpayers,” Alexander said.
Also presented at the summit meeting was the new Copperas Cove City Flag. While the flags are not ready to be flown, Alexander did say that General Corelli has placed an order to use the flag for when he holds conferences while in Iraq.
“It’s a really good thing to have our city supported,” Alexander said.
Alexander then spoke on how the FCC License has been approved for use with the police station.
“They are currently installing them in the vehicles and we hope to have it up and running very shortly,” Alexander said.
Alexander said that currently, the city has been working on the budget.
“Its real tight this year, as it seems to keep getting tighter and tighter every year,” Alexander said. “We hope to have it turned in by July 6 and we expect to have a balanced budget.”
When asked about the proposed pedestrian walkway, City Engineer Paul Boyer said that the survey portion had been completed and that plans were currently being drawn to sketch out the walkway.
“This is a 12 month design, and we are two months into it,” Boyer said.
Speaking to attendees on what CCISD had going on, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Rose Cameron said that the biggest project this summer has been Bulldawg stadium and the renovations to C.R. Clements Intermediate.
“We have had $900,000 worth of projects approved last fall,” Cameron said.
Roofs and new air conditioning systems have already been replaced.
Cameron said that the most notable changes were those made for the stadium.
Changes made within CCISD include the new scoreboard, a new 2,000 seating area at the stadium and the changes to C.R. Clements.
Cameron also handed out the new school supplies list as well as the new school calendar.
Cameron also mentioned that TAKS scores were in, and though they did well, they still hope to achieve more next year.
When it comes to hiring for CCISD, Cameron said that they were doing remarkable well.
The district only has about 18 open positions, where usually they need 50 personnel by the end of June.
Cameron also noted on the fact that over 1,200 years of experience had been lost this past school year due to many teachers rushing to take advantage of the social security stipulation before July 1, when the rules change for teachers.
Under the new rule, teachers will no longer be able to collect as much social security as others will and collect their retirement from school districts.
Executive Director David Landman presented chamber news.
Landman said that Rabbit Fest had been hugely successful, Landman also asked that everyone attend the first round of the Music at the Gap concert series.
“This will be a wonderful time for people to get out and listen to some truly unique Texas music,” Landman said.
Landman also said that the proceeds from the concert series will benefit the Coryell County Boys and Girls Club.
EDC director Carol Mills spoke to attendees about the survey that is currently being circulated to area businesses.
“We want to encourage those to fill them out and send them in,” Mills said. “The more we get, the better opportunity we will have to better serve those in Copperas Cove.”
In other summit news, new councilman R. Ray Gatewood invited everyone to attend Singsperation on Sunday afternoon at City Park in the Festers House pavilion.
“We are going to have representatives from 9-10 churches out there singing” Gatewood said. “We will have choirs, soloists and much more, plus it’s free to everyone.”