The Dublin City Council heard from community partners and considered a fast draw event during St. Patrick’s Day.
Among the guests were Julie Crouch Smith speaking on the Texas Health Resources Texas Health Community Impact (THCI) Program and Kristy Allen, executive director with Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) who partners with the initiative through Community Connection Cohorts.
Smith said the THCI focuses on “strengthening well-being by supporting strategic partnerships and local data-driven solutions that meet real needs.”
Smith reported that 80% of a person’s health isn’t determined in a doctor’s office but by the quality of food, education, transportation, housing and overall economic situation.
To ensure better health for as many as possible in the region, they compiled data and spoke to nearly 650 residents, partners and leaders to determine what is needed most.
From 2019 to 2024, THCI invested $18.2 million in grants to support 49 community program and nearly 90,000 people including $250,000 invested in Erath County.
Allen took over to introduce CCC as a collection of nonprofits, ministers, coaches and local leaders who listen to the community and work alongside partners like THCI to fulfill needs.
They also host events like the Family Fun Day at Morning Star Ranch, where organizations provided information and resources while attendees got free tacos, helped paint a mural, took family photos, went on nature walks and more. They are also hosting a free soccer camp for pre-k through 8th grade on March 21 at Dublin Memorial Stadium. The event will be held from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. and include a free lunch.
There will also be on-site support at the soccer camp including the Bridges to Resilience Pathway Program which can help enrolling families with practical support like gas, food and clothing vouchers and personalized car from a WIN social worker.
Allen said who they invite is just as important and encouraged local leaders concerned about the community to join their meeting the first Monday of the month at 9 a.m. in the Dublin Public Library, which has been a partner and host for the group.
The council also heard from Vickie Amos and Utona Grundy on behalf of Keep Dublin Beautiful. Amos said she is the new social media director of the group and briefed the room on KDB, which hosts four trash-off events through the year, manages the downtown potted plants and dontates raised funds to projects like the historic grist mill and the Little Church on Grafton. Grundy is the new director of Dublin Market Days and is hoping to increase exposure for the market of homemade and homegrown goods traditionally held the third Saturday of the month and managed by KDB. The duo (with support from other members in the audience) were asking for support and collaboration with the city and Chamber of Commerce so they can work together. They asked if some space in-town would be available on St.
Patrick’s Day to add in for the event.
Chamber President and councilmember Nancy Williams said she had already spoken to KDB President Pam Simon, but offered that 60 paid vendors are expected for the event, meaning that space is limited and they want to be fair to the vendors who filed with them.
Also speaking about St. Patrick’s were Jennifer and Richard Young with Dublin Renegades, a local XFDA fast draw group which hosted a well attended competition at Ranch Viejo last year. The couple were present to speak once again on the safety of the sport (which has been hosted in other cities), showing the difference between an actual bullet and a wax cartridge which has to be manually inspected and loaded prior to every shot. They offered that if not properly loaded, the wax can fall out and then it won’t fire.
They requested authorization to host a live demonstration behind the Dublin Rodeo Heritage Museum saying their ballistic netting and the museum’s stone wall would offer a safe backdrop while they monitor the event and provide all supplies.
Mayor David Leatherwood said Dublin Police Chief Cameron Ray (who wasn’t present) had previous security concerns in earlier meeting so he would need to speak and evaluate. Jennifer reported that they have insurance for events they would provide while councilmembers Jacob McCullough, Sammy Moore and Williams reported that the sports seemed fun and it was a good fit for the Rodeo museum’s plans for St. Patrick’s Day. They asked to put it on for next month but were generally in favor if no big concerns emerged.
The full council also voted to authorize a principal forgiveness agreement with the Texas Water Development Board in relation to a previous grant discussions. City Secretary said the previous special council vote didn’t qualify because a ‘super quorum’ was required.
The council also unanimously requested financial assistance from TWDB to help in the pursuit of a fully funded $1.675 million grant that will pay for shovel ready projects in the city. Public works director Cory James said the vote and pursuit of the grant didn’t require any commitment from the city of taking it.
“Even if we do get it, you can opt out,” he said of the grant requiring no fund matching from the city. “I don’t know why you would.”