Breckenridge Texan

By Carla McKeown/Breckenridge Texan

In a quick meeting last week, the Breckenridge City Commission met to discuss a variety of items, including an update on the swimming pool, the recent winter storm and the damage it caused, as well as a couple of upcoming clean-up opportunities for local residents.

Swimming pool

Stacy Harrison

Stacy Harrison, Public Services Director for the City of Breckenridge, said that the swimming pool at the Breckenridge Aquatic Center had been drained for repairs to the plaster before the sub-freezing temperatures hit the area last month. The City won’t know if there was any damage to the pool until April, Harrison said.

“We had some plumbing issues in the showers and in the building itself, but as far as the pumps go, until we turn the crank, we’re not going to know for sure, but we feel like we’re in pretty decent shape,” he said. “This is the first time since the pool was built that it’s been empty through the winter months. Twenty-nine years ago, from then to now, it’s always had water in it through the winter. This is the first winter it’s ever been completely empty, bone dry, which might be a blessing.

Winter storm damage

For several days during mid-February, Breckenridge, as well as most of the state of Texas and much of the country, experienced a severe winter storm that dropped temperatures below 0 degrees on at least one night and kept the temperature below freezing for several consecutive days. Many homes and businesses, as well as government facilities, lost electric power during the storm.

One item that was damaged during the deep freeze was the fountain in Foundation Park on the northwest corner of Walker Street and Breckenridge Avenue.

“The downtown fountain was doing really well till the power went off, and then it froze up,” Harrison said, adding that repairing the damage will cost about $1,500. “But that old filter… it was sunbaked, you know. All that sits out there in the sun in Foundation Park. It lasted nearly 12 years, so we got our life’s worth out of it.”

City Commission Election

The commissioners approved a Certification of Unopposed Candidates as prepared by Election Administrator Diane Latham for the election that had been scheduled for May 1. The election includes two places, Place 3, currently held by David Wimberley, and Place 4, currently held by Tom Cyprian. Neither incumbent chose to file to run for re-election.

Vince Moore was the only person to file for Place 3, and Gary Mercer was the only candidate to file for Place 4. Therefore, they will automatically be elected to those positions, and an election will not be necessary, said Interim City Manager Heather Robertson-Caraway.

An ordinance canceling the election will be on the April City Commission agenda, she explained.

Brush Chipping and Clean-up

The City of Breckenridge and Stephens County have announced that, as a cooperative effort, they will be picking up brush/tree trimmings with a woodchipper inside the corporate limits of Breckenridge from Monday, March 15, through Friday, March 19.

Residents who have brush that they would like chipped and hauled off need to have the brush at their curbside by Friday, March 12. Any brush put on the curb after March 12 will not be picked up. However, throughout the year, tree limbs can be taken the Convenience Station at no charge to customers. Convenience station hours are 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

No brush larger than 4 inches in diameter will be picked up. Brush must be cut in lengths no longer than 6 feet long, and the butt ends must be placed toward the street or curb. Uprooted trees with roots attached cannot be run through the chipper. No dirt can be encrusted on the brush.

It will not be necessary for residents to contact either the City of Breckenridge or Stephens County to receive the service, as the trucks will run the entire city during this week. The service will be provided by the City of Breckenridge and Stephens County at no charge to residents.

Additionally, the City of Breckenridge will host a clean-up week Monday, March 15, through Saturday, March 20, from
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the City of Breckenridge Convenience Station for all City Water customers (you must bring water bill). The Convenience Station is located at 220 Industrial Loop/FM 287.

City water customers may bring a truck or bumper pull trailer loaded with trash. Items accepted are stoves, refrigerators (CFS’s must be removed and tagged), water tanks, washing machines, furniture, any other waste materials. Items not accepted are
construction debris, dead animals, hazardous waste, stable matter, chemicals, paints, thinners, tires, batteries, oil or oil filters, antifreeze, drums, asbestos, untreated medical wastes, contaminated soils, sludge, liquids, and automobile/truck engine parts.

Although tires will not be accepted at the Convenience Station during this clean-up project, a special tire disposal event is being planned for May, according to Houston Satterwhite, Public Works Director.

For more information, call the City Offices at 254-559-8287.

Other Business

In other business, the city commissioners approved the following items:

• The 2019-2020 audit of the Breckenridge Economic Development Corporation by George, Morgan & Sneed Certified Public Accountants;
• A resolution appointing Raul Duran Jr. and Blaine Reatherford to the Breckenridge Planning and Zoning Commission;
• A resolution to apply for a Criminal Justice Division Grant for new in-car video/audio systems; and,
• A resolution requesting financial assistance from the Texas Water Development Board for wastewater system improvements.

Interim City Manager Heather Robertson-Caraway talks to the Breckenridge City Commission during their recent meeting. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

Cutline, top photo:  Breckenridge City Commissioners David Wimberley, left, and Tom Cyprian, center, along with Mayor Bob Sims, listen as Public Services Director Stacy Harrison gives his report to the commission. Wimberley and Cyprian chose not to run for re-election and will be replaced by Vince Moore and Gary Mercer, who were unopposed after filing to run for the positions. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

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