Farmers’ market, police get federal grant money
The Texarkana, Texas, City Council on Monday gave the go-ahead for federal grant funds to support the city’s farmers’ market and Police Department.
The council voted to amend the city’s budget to account for a Farmers’ Market Promotion Program grant of more than $174,000 recently awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The council also approved an application for an Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant of $23,250 that would pay for equipment for the Texarkana, Texas, Police Department.
The city’s portion of the award would be $13,950, to be used to pay for improvements to TTPD’s mobile command post. The remainder of the grant award would go to the Bowie County Sheriff’s Office.
The Texas-side Farmers’ Market, in partnership with the Texarkana Regional Arts
and Humanities Council and the Housing Authority of Texarkana, Texas, will work to administer its grant to support the market’s Cultural Food Diversity Initiative, according to City Hall staff.
The program, set to begin later this year, is focused on the growth and expansion of the Farmers’ Market through the use of cultural foods and events, an expanded mobile market and online ordering system and increased advertising for all market activities.
The initiative will be centered on a “Shop Us First” branding campaign designed to establish the market as the first source for fresh local foods and to enhance direct sales of producer-to-consumer market activities.
Texarkana’s application was one of 49 funded nationwide and the only project selected for funding in Texas.
In other business, former Texas-side mayor and city water liaison Steve Mayo gave a brief update to the council regarding local water issues. Mayo expressed distrust in the Sulphur River Basin Authority.
“As far as staff or me or anyone going to an SRBA meeting, it is a waste of time. It’s just a waste of time,” Mayo said. “Can we trust any of them? No, we just can’t. Can we ever? Maybe. You know, we’ll see.”
Mayo said Riverbend Water Resources District was close to a funding agreement for environmental studies regarding potentially changing the water level in Wright Patman Lake.
“We’re waiting on the (Army Corps of Engineers) to give us the information,” he said.
The council voted unanimously to approve Bowie Central Appraisal District’s 2018 tax roll and to adopt an official investment policy as required by law.
Other action items included a unanimous vote to accept a cash offer for a cityowned house at 3523 Galleria Oaks Drive.
The council also heard a first briefing on rezoning property on East Wallace Drive to allow an automobile-related business there.
The council’s next meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 13, to accommodate the observance of Veterans Day on Monday, Nov. 12, when the council normally would meet.