March 2021 Monthly Newsletter
Distributed at the beginning of each month, this monthly newsletter provides updates on events and relevant city & community activity.
City Council updates are sent separately after monthly meetings.
Thank you for reading!
City Council and Board & Commission Meetings
Jacksonville City Hall, 315 S. Ragsdale St. (unless noted)
  • Jacksonville Public Library Board Meeting
  • Tuesday, March 2nd @ 5:15pm
at City Hall
  • City Council Agenda Workshop
  • Thursday, March 4th @ 12pm
at City Hall
  • Regular City Council Meeting
  • Tuesday, March 9th @ 6pm
  • Vanishing Texana Museum Board Meeting
  • Monday, March 15th @ 5:15pm
at Vanishing Texana Museum, 302 S. Bolton St.
  • Keep Jacksonville Beautiful Board Meeting
  • Tuesday, March 16th @ 8:30am
at City Hall
JACKSONVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
LIBRARY CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS
Painting has begun on the inside of the Library as well as the start of other carpentry, sheetrock and flooring work! Five new windows are being installed to bring in as much natural light as possible.

Unfortunately, there have been a few set-backs which affect timeline:
  • Asbestos was found in the floors and had to be removed.
  • The winter storm last week also set the project back and is continuing to create delays for plumbing completion. Plumbing contractors are still working to repair pipe damage to residential and commercial customers all over our town.

Grand Opening for the Library is set for May 2021.
JACKSONVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
Jacksonville Police Work to Ensure Safety on Icy Roads
During the February winter storm, Jacksonville Police responded to many calls for stranded and wrecked vehicles. This storm brought snow and then ice which caused dangerous road conditions.

These officers braved the elements to ensure the safety of our citizens. We are grateful for their service during this unprecedented storm.
JACKSONVILE ANIMAL SHELTER
We had several animals adopted during the month of February! Thank you to the community for choosing to adopt from our shelter. Here are just a few of the happy animals who found their "fur-ever" homes!
JACKSONVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT
City of Jacksonville Fire and EMS responded to multiple calls during our winter storm event for service, including wrecks

The Fire Department was instrumental in helping our City water supply stay up and running by being proactive and helping to control fire suppression system line breaks.

These men and women worked around the clock and showed tremendous pride in our City.

Thank you for your dedication!
Extraction Training
Firefighters participated in a training exercise involving extraction tools. This training focused on firefighters using tools without brute force.

Taking the time to perform extraction and know the level of force required is a skill that our JFD Team stays on top of.

Popping doors, and removing roofs from vehicles on an accident scene allows much better access to the patients and minimizes the dangers of causing secondary injuries during removal from the wreck.
PUBLIC & COMMUNITY SERVICES
WATER & ROADS
DURING A WINTER STORM
Crews with the Public & Community Services Department worked night and day during the winter storm to repair water main breaks as well as clear roads and sidewalks.

These City staff members braved the frigid weather to ensure our water supply, roads, parks and more were taken care of.

Thank you to these workers for their dedication to the City of Jacksonville and it's residents and businesses.
LAKE JACKSONVILLE
Winter on Lake Jacksonville
Mother Nature covered the trees and ground around Lake Jacksonville in February and made for some breathtaking views.
Due to the icy road conditions, some lake residents used their boats to travel from home to home. Brrr! Chilly ride!

Drone Photos Credit: Jon Hargett
SPOTLIGHT EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHTS OF THE WEEK
AROUND TOWN
Public & Community Services Employee Retires after 20 Years of Service
Congratulations to Glenn Freeny on his retirement from the City of Jacksonville!
Glenn was celebrated with a reception at City Hall on February 12, 2021 that included co-workers, family and friends.

Thank you for 20 years of service to our City, Glenn!
Work is really coming along now on the Public Safety Complex which will house our Fire, Police and Emergency Communications Staff!
Scheduled date for Grand Opening: Late Summer 2021
BOTTLED WATER DISTRIBUTION
During the winter storm, we had an area of town that was put under a boil water notice for approximately 24 hours.

City crews set up a distribution point for those residents to pick up a free case of bottled water.

Staff also delivered cases of water to a nursing home that was in the affected area.
Central Baptist Church opened their doors for anyone who had lost power to their home and could not stay warm.
Thank you to their members as well as our Parks Department employees and PD for assisting the set-up and organization of that shelter.
Jacksonville and surrounding areas were covered with a blanket of snow and later in the week, a layer of ice.
Citizens, City Staff, TXDOT, lineman and countless others worked together to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone.
LOVE WAS IN THE AIR AT LOVE'S LOOKOUT!
Love's Lookout brings out the romantic side in our visitors. From proposals to weddings and vow renewals, there is something magical about this gem of a destination right here in Jacksonville!
Cameron proposed to Kyra this past month with family
and friends looking on from a distance.
Congratulations to Kyra and Cameron!
UPCOMING EVENTS
KEEP JACKSONVILLE BEAUTIFUL
To learn more about the Keep Jacksonville Beautiful Committee,
or to donate, please email KJB at the below link.
Please include your name and phone number.
City of Jacksonville, Texas
Communications
communications@jacksonvilletx.org
Thanks for Reading!