Lufkin Mayor Bob Brown shared the State of the City address at the Angelina County Chamber of Commerce First Friday Luncheon held at Crown Colony Country Club on Friday, Jan. 13.
The Mayor’s address thanked members of the City Council, the Commissioners Court and the Angelina College Board of Directors for their service and dedication in working together to improve the infrastructure and the economy of the city.
“We’ve had a wonderful year, if you look at the right things,” Mayor Brown said.
He began by applauding the donations from T.L.L. Temple Foundation that has provided for body cameras for every police officer on the force in Lufkin. He also had praise for law enforcement personnel. “It’s heartwarming to know what they do and they do it everyday,” Mayor Brown said. “We’ve had a very trying year and they’ve handled it well.”
Part of that success, for Mayor Brown, goes to the Chaplain and Police Association for their partnerships that have graduated three classes.
“The chaplains and churches have joined together and its one of the greatest messenger streams that we’ve had of explaining what these gentlemen and ladies go through each and every day as they are challenged with their blue uniforms on,” Mayor Brown said.
Mayor Brown added that the Fire Department Lufkin responded to 13,190 requests in 2016, averaging 36 calls a day.
“One of the great things we did this last year is secure a company to help us with a hopefully 20-year plan, for long-range planning in the city of Lufkin,” Mayor Brown said. “We all look forward to their input and bringing us forward.”
The Commissioners Court also received praise from Mayor Brown. “What we are trying to do is create jobs in this community,” he said. “They are the decision makers in awarding tax abatements in the community, and I want them to know we consider them partners with us.”
Mayor Brown also called attention to Holmes Smokehouse and the expansion of Atkinson Candy for their efforts in adding jobs in Lufkin.
Angelina College was also recognized for their efforts to retrain a workforce.
“What we are trying to do is create jobs in this community,” he said. “I credit Angelina College for retraining the welders and the papermakers that were unemployed at the paper mills and at the foundries with getting in the health business and Angelina College creating classes for them to change careers and become viable in our county and in our community.”
Other community leaders acknowledged by Mayor Brown include Rep. Trent Ashby, Trey Henderson, Mike Windsor of Dauphin, 4BJ, and Ellen Temple for their community service and dedication to grow the area.
