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The Dublin City Council accepted the resignation of Judge Latrelle Cain, who announced her retirement after 25 years with the city. A reception is being planned to honor her retirement. Paul Gaudette | Citizen archive photo
The Dublin City Council accepted the retirement of Judge Latrelle Cain, determined how to spend grant funds, increased city pool fees and heard reports during a busy regular meeting Monday night.
Cain has been the Municipal Court Judge for 25 years as of Oct. 1.
“I think I’ve been here since some of you were kids,” joked Cain. “It’s been my pleasure working with the people here. I loved every minute of it.”
Cain also said that she still planned to visit from time to time and wished everyone “all the blessings” they deserve. A celebration is being planned in honor of Cain’s retirement, tentatively set for 6 p.m. to 8 p..m. on Oct. 21 with venue being finalized.
The Council unanimously (minus the absent Lee Jones) accepted Cain’s resignation.
The council also unanimously voted to use American Rescue Plan Act funds to cover pay roll for first responders.
This followed Dublin City Manager Bobby Mendez and EMS Director John Tadlock reporting it was one of the few ways expressly defined in ARPA documentation. Tadlock and Mendez said there is some concern about using the funds in a wrong way, especially since there is no one in the state office currently to properly direct what ways the funds can be used.
The City of Dublin has through the calendar year of 2024 to use the funds, leading council member Lynn Tidwell to wonder if the city were “jumping the gun.”
Mendez and Tadlock reported that once ARPA funds were used to reimburse payroll expenses, the city funds earmarked for those could be used to handle other needs of the city with greater freedom.
Council members asked if they could seek public input on how the funds should be used. They were told they could.
Mendez and Tadlock said one of the biggest needs of the city is a new EMS building, which has been delayed for several years now through various complications.
The pair requested that they could move forward with planning on the building (although an official location was not determined), saying having a building plan would make other parts of the process possible. The council voted to allow Dublin EMS to seek an engineering plan for a new building.
The council also voted for Librarian Adina Dunn to pursue the Texas State Library and Archives Commission Digital Navigator’s Grant. The grant is unique in that it creates and funds a temporary worker to assist the community with digital needs/outreach. The grant provides up to $70,000 for the person’s salary and technological items related to the work. Dunn said the position would be full time, but as of now, not be recurring.
Mendez also requested to raise the cost of pool fees for next summer to help cover the cost of lifeguards. With most pools charging around $5 for entry, Mendez asked to raise the rate of Dublin’s pool from $1 to $3 per person. Mayor David Leatherwood also asked to look into a season pass rate for frequent pool visitors.
The council approved the rate increase as well as raising the cost of pool parties for city employees to $40 per 2 hour party and $80 per 4 hour party.
The council also heard about a long-term transitional housing program being created for Erath from Deborah Swanson, Dana Worrell and David Bearden of Homelessness H.E.L.P. Swanson said the program was founded in cooperation of the Graham Street Church of Christ in Stephenville and seeks to offer a ‘hand up and not a hand out.’
She said that the group has been meeting with groups around Erath to seek assistance. Swanson said the main thing the group needs is help in planning from anyone with ideas or experience. Anyone interested can email admin@homlessnesshelp. org.)
Jeff Slaton of Diamond Cross Rodeo reported a successful rodeo at the City Park Arena on Sept. 11 and thanked the community for its support and assistance. The event drew more than 400 participants with many of the people involved telling Slaton they’d like to come back for another event. Slaton said Diamond Cross would like to put on an event the weekend after St. Patrick’s Day, but that will largely depend on whether a WRCA rodeo (being considered by Arena organizer Cody McClinton) happens the week before.)
The Council also voted to:
■ Approve the nominations of Tom Gordon, Paul Bradberry and Jeff Weaver to the Dublin EDC for 2-year terms
■ Continue COBRA coverage for 18 months for any city employee that leaves on good terms