Organization recognizes city with special Purple Heart
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Chapter 0900
The Post Dispatch / Elizabeth Tanner
Mayor Marvin Self holds a plaque which was awarded to the city by patriot members of Chapter 0900 of the Military Purple Heart.
By Elizabeth Tanner/The Post Dispatch
Steven Oien, commander for Chapter 0900 of the Military Purple Heart, bestowed The Military Order of the Purple Heart Special Recognition Award to the City of Post at the recent City Council meeting.
As a Purple Heart City, Post will honor and remember military personnel wounded or killed in combat and recognizes Aug. 7 as National Purple Heart Day, flying a special flag given to the city by Oien and other patriot members of Chapter 0900.
“Thank you for honoring the veterans of your community in so many ways,” Oien told the council.
In other agenda items, the council approved the annual interlocal cooperation contract for administrative services between the City of Post and South Plains Association of Governments (SPAG).
“They help us jump through the hoops to get grants faster,” Mayor Marvin Self said. “They have helped us with the downtown revitalization and other projects.”
One of the recent projects SPAG assisted the city with is the $400,000 grant to replace water lines throughout the city, said Meg Nelson.
The council also approved the negotiated settlement between the executive committee of cities served by Atmos West Texas and Atmos Energy Corporation West Texas Division regarding the company’s 2020 tax rates.
“We trust that they are getting us the best deals,” Self said.
Additionally, three separate tax deeds were approved along with two applications for zoning variance.
In the first application for zoning variance, a HUD home, a foreclosed property up for sale by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, was approved for location in the R1 district on W. 15th St.
Code Enforcer Eddie Pitts told the council that six other HUD homes are currently in the area, helping sway the approval of the zoning variance.
A double-wide mobile home, it is to be set on permanent foundation, said Pitts.
In the second zoning variance, the council approved the construction of a carport at a home on W. 12th St. which the owner is currently remodeling.
The carport will be in line with the surrounding houses carports, extending 19 to 20 feet from the home, said Pitts.
“There are no safety issues or lines in the way,” Pitts said.
Additionally, Sheriff Terry Morgan told the council that this year, the sheriff’s office has responded to 2,000 more calls than in 2013 when Morgan first took office.
“I stress this,” Morgan said. “There have been more calls this year than there has ever been. If you don’t see my deputies, they’re being run ragged on calls.”
Morgan also reported that the installation of a video call system, which will be free of charge to the county, will soon be in the works for the benefit of inmates and their families.
“I have some depressed inmates that haven’t seen their families since March,” Morgan said.
Believing that the state will soon mandate the implementation of video call system in jailing facilities, Morgan said by installing the system now, Garza County will be a jump ahead of other counties.
The next regular meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m., Nov. 10.
