The Blooming Grove City Council met on Monday night July 7, 2008 first in Executive Session to discuss the appointment of a reserve police officer, as well as, consult the City Attorney about possible litigation. 

All council members were present for both sessions. (Council members: Mayor Smith, Jo Mckee, Jeanette Wisdom, Ricki Crenshaw, Bubba Fitzgerald, and Gary Patterson) Also present were Police Chief Phillip Story, City Clerk Deena Smith, and Code Enforcement Officer Jeff Harbuck. Water Superintendent Rory Evans did not attend. 

During the open portion of the forum, Betty Lloyd asked if Blooming Grove had a watering ban and also remarked that a extremely deep pothole had opened up on Kerr Street. The Council made it clear that the city has a sprinkler watering ban between the hours of 10am and 9pm, but that watering can be done either by hand or soaker hose during those hours. The city’s crew is in the process of filling potholes and the hole on Kerr Street was on the schedule.

Gordon Griffin expressed his appreciation for the Council and the fine job it was doing to take care of Blooming Grove. He also invited the members to attend the meeting of the Blooming Grove Historical Society that meets the first Tuesday of every month.

Russell Hudson, Navarro County Tax Assessor reported that 93.3 percent of the outstanding taxes have been received.

Police Chief Story reported that in the month of June, there were 40 Traffic Citations, 13 City Ordinance Citations, two Arrests, one Suspicious Person call, two Assists To Other Agencies, four Criminal Trespass Warnings, one Death Call, one Burglary, two-911 Response Calls, three Civil Matters, four Court Summons and one Felony Child Abuse.

The City Water Department purchased a new mower and was actively mowing at different spots around the city.

Although the Code Advisory Enforcement Committee did not meet in the month of June, committee liaison Jean Hinkle announced that the town is showing improvement. She also thanked the city for fixing the bulletin board, and added that a stop sign was needed at 3^rd and Hinckley

Streets.

Councilman Crenshaw was asked if the "outdoor burn policy" was finished. On Monday, July 7, Navarro County implemented a burn ban. Currently, there is no outside burning in the city limits without a permit, and Blooming Grove will issue no permits for 30 days until Council rules. But, there is no outside burning allowed in Navarro County until dry conditions change.

In other business, the Council voted to accept the resignation of Marcus Reed as Fire Marshall.They also voted to approve Resolution 701—"Authorizing intervention in the PUC proceeding involving the request to increase electric rates of ONCOR ELECTRIC; authorizing participation in "ATOC" Coalition."

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