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COLUMBUS CITY COUNCIL
Columbus City Council received quarterly reports from numerous departments during its meeting, Monday, July 28.
Nesbitt Memorial Library Nesbitt Memorial Library Director Lynette Weido shared the success of the library’s summer reading program. The “Color Our World” program ran May 19 through July 25, culminating in a Summer Reading Ending Party on July 28. Weido said the program experienced a 22% increase in participation from the previous year.
“Last month, the really big full scale summer reading program – we had 862 souls to come in those doors so that is beyond fabulous,” Weido said.
Weido reported that the large amount of people, especially children, generated a lot of noise and movement. In response, the library staff reorganized bookshelves and furniture to create a quiet reading area for adults near the archives.
“We came up with a plan to kind of pull the adults back into the Texas Room area. We’ve tweaked a lot of that,” Weido said. “… We have moved things to the point of making nice seating areas in that back part. We would love for y’all to come by and see. We would love to show you the archives.” Utility Department
Department head for water and gas Kevin Faichtinger revealed that the utility department is struggling to locate the correct water shut off valves to cut the water line to continue with the Interstate 10 project. According to Faichtinger, the utility department started randomly shutting off valves on Monday, July 28, to rely on complaint calls for mapping.
“We’re trying to put together a picture of a 100-year-old water system,” Faichtinger said. “… Feel free to direct all complaints to me.”
The utilities department can be reached through the city hall at (979) 7322366.
Faichtinger also discussed a gas line leak that occurred on Friday, June 20 at Shult Drive near Columbus Community Hospital. According to Faichtinger, contracted workers dug deeper than needed and struck the gas line. Faichtinger said he would be working on new ordinances for contracted construction on gas lines to help prevent further incidents.
“I’ve been speaking with the city of Lubbock, Fredericksburg, Sealy, Bellville, pretty much all the cities that have their oil and gas systems still. They’ve all sent me copies of their ordinances,” Faichtinger said. “We put all of that together and sent it to the attorney and said, ‘This is the kind of guidelines we want to follow,’ and so they worked something up that I really love everything about it.”
Faichtinger said he requested specific legal language to be included, such as only doing work when city hall is open, so people are available to respond for damage repairs. He said he would have documents ready for city council at the next meeting.
Code Enforcement and Fire Department Code Enforcement Officer and Fire Chief Richard LaCourse provided a brief update. LaCourse notified the council that nine firefighters will be attending a swift water training session on Aug. 8 and two others attending an advanced course two weeks later.
LaCourse also discussed a new grant that the fire department received from the recent state legislative session. He said that the department is reviewing options to utilize the grant, including building a new fire station.
Police Department
Chief of Police Milton Edman addressed April’s increase of warnings – 202 compared to May and June’s low 90s. Edman credited the increase in warnings in April to officers receiving training and high temperatures. He then touched on a change for the active shooting training.
“We can do the training instead of sending our guys all over the state… I’ve got two guys now that are certified, qualified,” Edman said. “…We will do it here in our own schools.”
Edman said the next active shooter training will most likely be over spring break.
“We’re trying to put together a picture of a 100-year-old water system.”
Kevin Faichtinger Department head for water and gas
