Palestine Council dedicates box for collecting water bills

The Palestine City Council recently dedicated a water bill drop-off box in memory of longtime councilman Gary Gore.

During the meeting, the council also discussed the need for a new lawn mower for the city and trash problems on the eastbound on-ramp of Interstate 40.

Council member Michelle Garner was absent.

According to Mayor Billy Shafer, Gore cared about the town.

"As everyone knows, Gary served as a councilman for many years in Palestine and he was very active in everything that went on here in the city," said Shafer. "He worked on a lot of projects over the years in the community. He took a lot of pride in keeping our city clean and in good financial order. I worked with him for 14plus years and I just know that Gary cared about the town, the community and his neighbors."

In other business, Shafer told the council the city needs a lawn mower to replace one that has had problems over the last few years.

"The lawn mower we have out here is pretty much gone and over the last year, we have spent anywhere from $400 to $1,000 each year keeping it up," said Shafer. "I think it is time for us to get a new mower. The other one we have will crank, but it doesn't mow very well. We have to have two mowers to do the mowing that we have to do."

According to Shafer, the city will have to purchase a commercial mower and could potentially sell the old one for parts.

"I have stopped to look at them and we are looking at $10,000 to $12,000 for a new, 60inch, top-of-the-line mower," said Shafer. "We need a commercial mower. We don't need one that you would use at home. I just don't know whether to trade this old mower in or not because I am not going to tell them that this is a good mower when it is not. We can advertise it and maybe someone will buy it for parts because it has good parts on it. But the main part, which is the motor, is not working right."