City manager gives annual State of the City address
By LYNETTE SOWELL
The City of Copperas Cove marked its 137th birthday on Wednesday, and the city welcomed all to attend the annual State of the City address at the Copperas Cove Civic Center.
This year the event was held as a catered luncheon, with city manager Andrea Gardner giving the address. Gardner called 2015 a “defining year” for the city, and that although the city has experienced some very difficult financial times, it was proud to report that the overall state of the city is outstanding. She also addressed the financial impact of the 100 percent disabled veteran property tax exemption and how the impact to the city has been remedied.
“During the 2015 session of the Texas Legislature, Senator Fraser and Representative J.D. Sheffield sponsored and introduced legislation that provided relief to the communities in the state. As a result of the legislation, Copperas Cove is expected to receive $470,000 from the State’s Surplus funds,” Gardner said.
In addition to a look back, Gardner’s address included a look ahead at future planned projects for the city. These include the three-phase Avenue D sidewalk improvements, the construction of a new facility for the Information Systems department, the completion of the Southwest Water Improvements project, Mountain Top Water project Phase II, Northwest Wastewater Treatment project Phase II, FM 116 Road Widening project which is currently udner way and the completion of the east and west end monument signs.
In the area of sustainability, the city is also looking ahead to the opportunity to work with Fort Hood’s Department of Public Works on a Memorandum of Agreement for Fort Hood to begin accepting the recyclables collected by the city, in ated of the recyclables being transported to Taylor, Texas.
At the conclusion of the presentation, mayor Frank Seffrood read a proclamation naming March 23 as Elwood Shemwell day.
Elwood “Woody” Shemwell, a longtime Covite and retired colonel, was presented with a framed photo and certificate of the honor. He was honored due to his service, not only in the military, but his choice to stay in Copperas Cove where he raised his family. Shemwell continues his community involvement by his membership in Rotary International and serves as a trustee of Central Texas College.
He said he was surprised by the honor given on Wednesday, and noted that he was happy a number of his children could be there to witness the presentation.
“As I look back on when we retired from the military, we settled here for one reason: the good friends that we met, the military affairs people, in the backyard of Ed Rhode years and years ago,” Shemwell said. “This is, in my opinion, a great place to live and work, and I would like to thank each of you for being here today.”
Also present was Ret. Gen. Shoemaker, in his 90s, whom Seffrood called his former boss and mentor.
The conclusion of the State of the City gathering included the presentation of a massive birthday cake for the City of the Copperas Cove, which is 137 years old. A soldier from the First Cavalry presented a ceremonial saber to Seffrood, who made the first cut of the birthday cake as city council members James Pierce Jr., Marty Smith, David Morris and Matthew Russell looked on.
The State of the City address was sponsored by BSP Engineers, L.A.N. Engineering, Mitchell & Associates, HEB Plus, Jimmy Clark Homes, The Daisy, Waste Management, WB Development, Wes Atkinson Homes, Espey Consultants, Jones-Heroy & Associates, River City Engineering, Donlie McMullin Realty, and Lil-Tex Restaurant.