City Council members (l-r) Greg Lewellen, Alan Monroe, Bruce Fleming, and Mayor Ricky White are shown with a check for the final $243,960 bond payment.
The Friona City Council met in regular session on Monday, January 10, 2022 at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at 619 Main in Friona, Texas. The meeting began with roll call, an invocation, and the Pledge of Allegiance.
There were no public comments. The Minutes of the December 13, 2021 regular meeting were approved.
The accounts payable for December 2021 and the financial statement for December 2021 were approved. The first quarter (Oct-Dec 2021) financial statement was also approved. The City made its last bond payment of $243,960 and is now debt free.
Brandt Engineer Group, Ltd. of Amarillo was approved to develop a 50-year comprehensive water study for the City of Friona. The study is contracted to cost no more than $119,000 to produce. The finished product will be comprised of a complete inventory of all assets including capabilities, deficiencies, projections of population and industry expansion along with model that will be able to run various scenarios in order to solve short-range and long-range issues.
The Council approved the submission of solid waste grant applications to the Panhandle Regional Planning Commission (PRPC) pertaining to the City of Friona Baler Project and the Forklift Project. Plans are for the City to able to recycle cardboard.
OJD Engineering Inc. of Amarillo was selected to provide engineering/architectural services for the 2021 Friona Community Park Redevelopment Project.
In other business, bids will be solicited for an agricultural lease and plans are underway for a possible day care center to be located at the Redeemer Center. The Council also authorized a Task Force to develop plans for the use of the property recently purchased from 4-Way Pump.
All meetings are open to the public. The City Council reserves the right to go into Executive session at any time. Visit cityoffriona.com to find agendas and minutes from previous meetings. Information in this article is only a summary. Any questions concerning specific actions should be directed to the City Council.
We would like to express our appreciation to the people and businesses in our district for their diligence, especially during the high wind events we have had. Thank you for being careful.
We also want to thank you for your support. As a volunteer department with limited funds your support is truly needed and appreciated. We strive to be professional in our actions and service. The firefighting business is expensive. We need to replace two trucks this year. These trucks are our First Response vehicles to every call except grass fires.
Again, Thank You
Danny Campbell
P.S. - Smoke alarms save lives. Check your batteries and make sure you have smoke alarms in your home. If you need help with this, let us know.
Blood Drive Results — Thanks to everyone who turned out for the "shortened" blood drive last Thursday. The drive only lasted from noon until 4:30 p.m. because of the large blood drive scheduled the next day in Amarillo. 28 individuals signed in and 25 were able to donate. 17 provided whole blood units and 8 people used the "double" machines. The next scheduled Friona Community Blood Drive is Thursday, April 7th.
***
Local Election News — January 19th is the first day to file for a place on the General Election Ballot for the May 7th Election involving City Council, School Board, and Hospital Board races. The last day to file is Friday, February 18th at 5:00 p.m.
***
State Election News — The Land Commissioner race is the only statewide seat that is an open race, since incumbent George P. Bush is running for Attorney General. While Republicans have held all statewide seats for more than two decades, Democrat challengers have filed in every statewide race. Texas Senate: All 31 Senate seats are on the ballot due to the redrawing of district lines. Five of the 31 seats are open, with no incumbent on the ballot. Texas House: In the 150-member House, a much higher turnover is anticipated. There are 26 open House seats. Additionally, 38 incumbent House members face a primary challenger. Of the entire House, 25% have a general election challenge.
***
Business Improvement Grants — The Friona Economic Development Corporation (FEDC) is offering financial assistance to upgrade your business store-front with signage, aesthetics, or other improvements. Currently this program is for Highway 60 businesses. For every $2 you spend, the FEDC will match you $1. The maximum match amount you can receive back is $1,500. For example, if you spend $2000 you will receive $1000 from the FEDC. You can pick up an application at the FEDC office at 621 Main or download the application at www.cityoffriona.com/fedc-loan-program. The deadline is February 1, 2022. Applications will be reviewed by February 18th and grants will be awarded on March 15, 2022.
***
Upcoming feature story — According to studies by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, milk production in Texas increased 190% from 2001 to 2020 (from 5.1 billion to 14.8 billion pounds), the largest increase in milk production in the U.S. Consequently, Texas went from being No. 10 to No. 5 in milk production. Now, the imminent expansion of milk processing capacity in the Panhandle may position Texas as the No. 3 dairy state in the country within the next five years.
***
Free Vaccination Clinics — Parmer Medical Center now has Pfizer Pediatric doses available for kids 5-11 years of age. Please call 806-250-2754 (ext. 120 or 121), 806-240-1562, or 806-240-1761 to schedule an appointment.
***
PMC offers weekly shot clinics on Thursdays from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in Friona at the 6th Street Church of Christ and on Fridays from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in Bovina at the XIT Recreation Center.
***
National Days
January 13:
Sticker Day
January 14:
Dress Up Your Pet Day
January 15:
Hat Day
January 16:
Religious Freedom Day
January 17:
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
January 18:
Winnie The Pooh Day
January 19:
Popcorn Day
***
Bryan Chavira was named to the All-Press Pass Team for 2021 as an utility player. Chavira was the do-it-all player for the Chieftains playing nearly every position of the field. He stacked up 1,526 yards on the ground with 20 touchdowns, threw for 434 yards and five TDs, and caught nine passes for 230 yards with three more scores. If that wasn't enough, he averaged 39.3 yards per punt. Go to www.presspasssports.com to see the whole team.
Contributors: Lee Passmore, Craig Sperry, Kale Steed
Schedule:
Tuesday, January 18
10:00 a.m.
Steers weighed/classified
10:30 a.m.
Steer Show
2:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Goats & Lambs weighed/classified
Wednesday, January 19
8:00 a.m.
Goat Show
Lamb Show
2:00 - 6:30 p.m.
Barrows weighed/classified
5:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Rabbit check in
7:00 p.m.
Rabbit Show
Thursday, January 20
8:00 a.m.
Barrow Show
3:00 p.m.
Dairy Heifer check in
5:00 p.m.
Dairy Heifer Show (NEW)
Saturday, January 22
1:00 p.m.
Premium Sale