Dear editor, I want to thank everyone who attended the special evening of Eastside Conversation last Thursday at Moon Brew Coffee Co. Special thanks go to Val and Rita Gameiro, and Maggie Goggins for opening their business to the city for this time together.
While any resident is welcome to these events, and while all of City Council believe that we serve everyone in the city, I feel a special bond and commitment to the East Ward. Downtown is a part of the East Ward, and I appreciate opportunities to highlight venues and businesses on the east side. This business venue is also home to art exhibitions, open mic nights, poetry readings, etc. These are all events that are relatively new to our community and are attracting people from other communities as well. I am thankful for these efforts.
Before introducing Interim Mayor Roddam, I was pleased to introduce my fellow council members Esmeralda Olivares and Scott Starnes, as well as our fine City Manager Tim Kelty.
A few matters of importance: • One way to have an impact in our community is to make sure that you are a registered voter. The right and privilege to vote is a cornerstone in our nation. I hope everyone who is eligible to vote is registered.
• We have an election coming up this May. From time to time, I see unflattering social media comments made about our current city council, as well as a few people who think they can do a better job than the current crop. With that in mind, I hope those individuals will choose to consider running, and file for their candidacy, and make their case to the voters of Rockdale. We will be electing one East Ward Council member, one West Ward Council member, and one Mayor-at-large. The last day to file is Feb. 14 at 4:30 p.m. at City Hall. Election Day is Saturday, May 3.
• We shared a document explaining a Parks Improvement initiative which was begun last year by Rockdale Earth Day. That initiative is an effort to right an historical oversight, and to create the Hooper-Williams Fireman’s Memorial Park. As a Council member I frequently see and hear the comments that express a concern that that there is not enough to do in our town. As a resident, I value community history and support the Vision Historic Preservation Foundation, the Kay Theater, and the Train Depot. Two young volunteer firefighters, ages 25 and 34, lost their lives in a tragic fire in our community on September 3, 1935. They left behind mourning family and loved ones. We cannot allow 90 years to numb us to their loss, their sacrifi ce.
Pickleball has been the fastest growing sport in the nation for the past three years. Rockdale residents are traveling to Cameron, College Station, Taylor, Waco, and beyond to play in tournaments— eat at local restaurants in those communities, visit other businesses, etc. The only way this will happen in the current environment is if we bring monetary resources to the table. Mr. Rey Mata, along with a handful of concerned citizens are leading an effort to raise money to make this happen. Just recently, we received a very generous donation of $25,000, to add to a growing pool of funding generously given by local businesses, citizens and organizations.
As part of our due diligence for this project, we went door to door in that neighborhood, providing this document, sharing our hopes and listening to the neighbor’s concerns about that park and their neighborhood.
With those announcements, I was pleased to introduce Ward Roddam, and his wife, Kathryne. I shared some of Ward’s history and background, including 12 years as Fire Chief, and as President of the newly formed Rockdale ISD Education Foundation. As Mayor Roddam spoke, he shared much more, providing a background of great depth and breadth, which will serve our community well moving into the future should he be elected this May.
Thank you to the citizens of the East Ward, for the honor of serving.
#berockdaleproud Sincerely, Dave Melton East Ward Council member
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