The Whitney City Council approved hiring a new police officer and discussed grants the fire department received for new trucks during a special meeting Thursday, June 4.
At the recommendation of Police Chief Joshua Scholes, the council voted to hire Joshua Presley, who previously worked as an officer in Maypearl and Red Oak. Prior to his career as a police officer, he was a jailer in Ellis County.
Scholes said that he will make a conditional offer of employment to Presley, contingent upon successful completion of pre-employment screenings.
Council member Amy Teal abstained from the vote, citing salary and taxation reasons.
The council expressed a desire to move forward with the fire department’s plan to obtain grant funding from the Texas Forest Service. The agency has awarded two grants to Whitney.
Whitney Fire Chief Wayland Price said that the department was awarded a $265,000 grant for a large brush truck. It has also been selected to receive $45,000 for a complete skid unit for a new truck that the department plans to purchase in the amount of $63,000. There is also a requirement that the department provide 5% matching funds.
Because the grant works as a reimbursement, and the department must get an initial loan for the new equipment, Price asked for the city’s permission to put an older fire engine up for collateral for a period not to exceed 180 days until the grant money and new trucks are received.
After all of the grant money is received, the department will have new equipment that is largely grant funded and a remaining bank loan in the amount of $74,390 using the two new trucks as collateral.
The council expressed a desire to move forward with the plan, pending legal review.
In other action, the council approved a special event permit for WWFL to host an adult softball tournament at the city park July 11 and 12, and approved a lien release on a property at 226 South Pecos Street.
The council’s next regularly scheduled meeting is set for 6 p.m. Thursday, June 18, at the Lake Whitney Public Library.
The Lakelander 