News

The Cameron City Council once again heard from several citizens concerned about the proposed zoning ordinance during a public hearing on April 1.

Seven Cameron residents were on hand to voice their concerns over the ordinance. Concerns ranged from the use of the term “contractor’s yard” to questions about livestock use and proposed zoning areas.

Resident Stephen Fuchs voiced concerns over recent changes the definition of contractor’s yard and to a possible zoning allowance for contractor’s yards in the Commercial II zone.

Starting Thursday, April 4, the railroad crossings on Rusk Street and College (FM1600) will be closed until late Friday, April 5, possibly longer.

Several new road projects are on the horizon in Milam County.

Last week Milam County Judge Steve Young said he met with Texas Department of Transportation District Engineer of the Bryan District Lance Simmons for an update on upcoming projects.

Young said the projects have an estimated cost of around $78 million and they are all needed projects that will help transportation in the county.

There are plans to widen the road where the BNSF overpass goes over Highway 36 on the far eastern side of the county. TxDOT will widen the overpass from two lanes to four lanes at a cost of around $14 million. This project will start in 2019.

Cameron City Council will meet tonight at 5:30 p.m. in council chambers at City Hall. On the agenda will be a public hearing for proposed changes to the zoning ordinances. After the public hearing the first reading of the ordinance will be held.

This will be the last public hearing for the proposed changes. There will be one more reading at the next meeting before the changes happen.

Lots of work was going on this week to spruce up several locations downtown. Construction crews work to finish the steeple on the All Saints Episcopal Church in Cameron. The project will rehabilitate the historic church’s roof to its original splendor. Cameron City Hall is also getting a fresh coat of paint. City Manager Rhett Parker said EBCO resealed the outside windows that were leaking into the interior and the inside that was damaged was repainted to match the prior wallpaper.  On the second floor a wall and security door was built.  This will hold in AC/Heat on the second floor from being lost into the atrium.  It will also allow the second floor offices to be more secure.

Cameron students will soon have the opportunity to learn and work alongside the Cameron Police Department as part of a new Explorer program.

Cameron Police Officer Amanda Duncan was on hand to explain the program to Cameron City Council members during a meeting on March 18.

“We are interested in taking the Explorer program to the Cameron area,” Duncan said. “We really want to give kids something to do, to get them involved in the community. It will be beneficial to us and the community.”

The Explorer program is open to children ages 15 to 21.

“This is a really great program,” she said. “Classroom education is a requirement for this program. It teaches them all the aspects of what we do as peace officers. Introducing this to children helps with community policing. We really need that. Our kids talk to us so much.”

After months of work behind the scenes, the 2019 Milam County Junior Livestock Show will kick off next week.

Hundreds of FFA and 4-H Club youth are participating in the show at the Youth Exposition Building off downtown Cameron.

Events get under way March 28 with the new commercial heifer show and the baked goods show.

This year’s baking events will be held in the dining room at the Youth Expo building. Check in begins at 7:30 a.m. with judging beginning at 8:30 a.m. Awards will be handed out at 4:30 p.m. that afternoon.

The new commercial heifer show will kick off with judging at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 28. Commercial heifers must be in the barn by 8 p.m. on March 27.

The Cameron Chamber of Commerce named Budget Host its Business of the Month for March. They have been in business in Cameron since 2007, and have been a huge part of the community over the years. Each December, they play a vital role in the Chamber Christmas Classic Basketball tournament. During this past year’s event, they hosted teams from Australia and made sure that they were fed and taken care of, and helped with the welcoming meal. In February they also loaned chairs for the Chamber Banquet. They hosted the 44 Farms Spring Sale buyers, and provided them a meeting space. They also host the Lions Club Zone meetings, Republican Women meetings, and 4-H Plant ID practices free of charge! The Budget Host has been a behind the scenes business helping the community of Cameron. Neal and Yamini Bhakta are the owners of Budget Host.

The Yoe High Band marches down Main Street at Walt Disney World on Tuesday. The award-winning band had the opportunity during a trip to Florida this week over Spring Break. The band hosted its yearly Concert and Sightreading Competition on March 6 and 7. Twenty-six bands from around the area participated. YHS had two bands participating. Both bands received straight 1’s from the judges. The band would like to thank the community for all of its support throughout the year.

In a recent move, the Cameron City Council adopted resolutions which makes businesses and nonprofit property owners in Cameron eligible to participate in a 100 percent financing program for property improvements which address energy efficiencies. 

In 2013, Texas passed legislation giving property owners access to a new form of financing for building energy and water upgrades. Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (TX-PACE) is a new public/private partnership program that allows Texas building owners to finance energy and water efficiency upgrades. 

TX-PACE allows property owners to access financing to undertake qualifying energy and water efficiency and clean energy improvements on their buildings and repay the investment through an assessment on their property. Like a sidewalk or sewer assessment, capital provided under TX-PACE financing is secured by a lien on the owner’s property and paid back over time.