LIBERTY — The worship pastor from Thompson Baptist Church told aldermen he’d like to hold a “God and country” celebration in town on the evening of Sunday, July 3.
The Rev. Curtis Brewer said the church choir could hold a 45-minute outdoor concert with a tribute to the Armed Forces. The church could also provide hot dogs, plus a fireworks show to follow at Ethel Vance Natural Area.
Brewer said he’d like to see vendors set up along with participation from town churches and businesses.
He said he held similar events when he was worship pastor in Odessa, Texas, with music, food and children’s activities.
“I just want to join hands to do something of this nature,” he said.
Board attorney Sara Hemphill suggested the event be held at the town Heritage Days festival the first weekend in May, but Brewer said he will be out of town then.
“I think it’s a great idea,” Mayor Pat Talbert said of Brewer’s plans. “Just work out the details.”
Hemphill suggested Brewer work with the Liberty Area Chamber of Commerce, of which she is a board member, and he agreed.
Later in the meeting Hemphill suggested the entire event be held at Vance park rather than just the fireworks show.
In other business, aldermen:
• Authorized Neel-Schaffer to handle engineering services on the Community Development Block Grant sewer repair project.
• Learned that someone ran over and destroyed a sewer lift station on Meadville Road. Mayor Talbert said repairs could take months and in the meantime the station must be bypassed or pumped out periodically. Since the low bid to install a bypass was $5,400, the board voted to pump it out as needed for $400 to $500 each time.
• Released Scott Reeves from the police department.
• Designated Gary Sterling as water operator due to delays in town employee James Isaac getting his recertification.
• Accepted a proposal from National Corrosion Service to handle annual natural gas reports for $989.
• Approved a mileage reimbursement rate of 58.5 cents for private vehicles and 18 cents for town vehicles in accordance with state and federal requirements.
• At Hemphill’s advice, rejected a request from Fannie Mae (Federal National Mortgage Association) to waive a gas start-up deposit at 346 Pecan St.
• Authorized Liberty Little League to use the Jaycee ballfields for practice through June at no charge.
• Accepted a $3,000 proposal from Koretsky Nunnery to power- wash town hall and paint the trim.
• Accepted a $1,600 quote from Sanford and Sons Tree Service to remove a hollow oak tree at the southwest corner of Monument Yard.
• Agreed to provide handicapped bathrooms for Heritage Days as well as let town employees help with the set-up.
