City Council receives request from Yoakum Garden Club

The City of Yoakum heard a request from the Yoakum Garden Club about potentially having a community garden within city limits at the Jan. 14 meeting.

“We would like to establish a community garden within the city limits on city property,” Yoakum Garden Club representative Cynthia Mucala said. “The garden would potentially be at Railroad Park.”

A representative from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension spoke more on the matter about having a plan for establishing community gardens.

“With AgriLife Extension, we have a program about growing and nurturing healthy communities,” AgriLife Extension representative Denise Goebel said.

“I have a small amount of funding to start the bedding for this garden, but it takes volunteers. This could be something that can be very beneficial to the community. The idea is to teach people how to grow gardens, how to compost, how to manage pests in their garden and how to be comfortable with cooking and eating healthier through the produce that they grow from the garden. Yorktown has done this, and they ended up building more gardens. This garden will be for the community to utilize, and anyone is welcome to come.”

Council tabled any action on this item.

Other items on the agenda include:

• Council adopted a resolution authorizing the City of Yoakum General Election to be held May 3.

• Council authorized the City Manager to enter into a lease agreement with Lavaca County for HAVA compliant election equipment.

• Council tabled approving a revised City of Yoakum Job Description Manual.

• Council awarded a contract to Thomas Construction Plus LLC in the amount of $340,000 for brush and lumber grinding services.

• A request was made from the Yoakum Independent School District for funding assistance with a drainage project along Tozik Street.

This is near the baseball and softball fields.

They want to get drainage in one area. Council tabled this item.

• Council received a report regarding the Yoakum Golf Course traffic, attendance, and revenue during Monday holiday openings.

The report showed attendance during summer holidays is when there’s the most traffic on the golf course.

This includes Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day. They are considering staying open on those holidays, but one every other holiday, they aim to be closed.

• Council received a report regarding the City of Yoakum Wastewater Treatment Plant capacity and function.

• It was reported the Yoakum Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet will be Jan. 23.

• Staff member Steven Nobles is expected to retire Jan. 31.