City approves new EMS positions, supports statue proposal

March 26--The Corsicana City Council approved budget amendments Monday that will add nine positions to the Corsicana Fire Department, and fund the replacement of two ambulance chassis.

City Manager Connie Standridge said the move will replace the six positions left vacant in the budget while the city and county worked out a deal for city ambulance crews to continue to service the county, and adds three new positions to help staffing concerns within the department.

Council members also cancelled the May 9 election because all five positions up for a vote were unopposed. Mayor Chuck McClanahan, council members John McClung and Don Denbow, City Attorney Kerri Donica and Municipal Judge Mike Russell all filed for re-election, but drew no opposition. Council action Monday declared them elected to another term.

Changes to the city's ordinance on public events were approved at the request of the Derrick Days Committee. Changes approved include banning the use of items like bicycles, scooters, golf carts and skate boards; prohibiting animals, including dogs and snakes; make moving a city-placed barricade against the law; and bans the use of glass beverage containers.

Fran Townes, Derrick Days chairman, said the changes were needed due to the growing popularity of the downtown event and referenced a dog bite incident that occurred at the Kerens Cotton Harvest Festival last year. The new law will allow only service animals within the festival area. Residents of the downtown area will be allowed to walk their dogs, and will be provided with a special identifier.

Council members also approved plans for a Tax Increment Financing Zone, which will set aside some tax dollars to pay for infrastructure improvements to a new development near Highway 31 and 45th Street.

In a workshop prior to Monday's meeting, council also heard ideas for additional projects to add to the current budget, including more street work, improvements to park storage facilities, and repairs and remodeling of the city's fire stations.

A concept drawing of a proposed new park at the South Business 45/Highway 287 split was reviewed. The project, called Heritage Park, would include an oil derrick, along with additional features including a train car, cotton trailer, a tractor, and possibly a water feature. Some funding is already in hand for the new park, and additional fundraisers are being considered.

The council also saw a mockup of a proposed bronze statue paying tribute to a Corsicana-born treat -- Wolf Brand Chili.

A committee working on the project said ConAgra Foods, the owner of the Wolf Brand product line, has expressed an interest in participating in the promotion of the bronze creation.

Artist John Guest said the statue would be approximately six feet tall, and placed at the corner of Fifth Street and Beaton in front of Jimmy Hale's Across the Street diner.

Those involved in the planning of the project include Tom Adams, Jerry Steely, Leah Blackard, Cindy Erwin, Fran Townes, Malinda Veldman and Joe Brooks.

Brooks asked the council to provide a letter of support for the project.

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Bob Belcher may be reached by email at bbelcher@corsicanadailysun.com

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