Oakwood considers abandoned houses

When the City of Oakwood called its regularly scheduled meeting to order, they did not intend on it being such a long night. It turned out to be one though.

What took up a major portion of this late night was what to do about several abandoned properties throughout Oakwood. Several are not fit to live in due to lack of maintenance and age. Others were the result of house fires. The Council voted to consult their attorney, Charley Johnson, about the legalities of have such properties condemned and demolished. The Council feels this is necessary for both the beautification of the city as well as the safety of the community.

Mirenda Harris from Kerbow & Associates came by to discuss the new 2011- 2012 Texas Community Development Block Grant. At this time, steps need to be taken to prepare for the application deadline of September 30, 2010. This grant has been used in the past for water and sewer repairs, among other things. The city has yet to discuss what the grant will cover this time.

The Council renewed its membership with the Texas Municipal League for the upcoming year. The renewal fee is $487.00. This renewal will insure current coverage does not elapse. No changes were necessary.

Judge Byron Ryder and David Ferguson also attended the meeting. The two spoke about the new Leon County Expo Center. They explained that much of the money to do this reconstruction came through donations and grants. Ryder and Ferguson extended an invitation to the City of Oakwood to have a member join the Expo committee. Although the council was grateful for the offer, they declined.

Another item discussed was the upcoming Dunbar Alumni Parade and Reunion Trail Ride. It has been scheduled for June 26, 2010.