Lometa council members sworn in
By CHERI JAY-WIENECKE Special Correspondent

After the swearing-in of newly elected members Mario Maldonado, Betty Poe and Chuck Lymber, as well as incumbent Cynthia Kirby, Lometa City Council addressed a brief agenda last week.

A resolution was approved designating Lometa Mayor David Ivey, Mayor Pro Tem Doug Brister and City Secretary Michelle Schueneman as signators for an LCRA grant in progress.

The item updated a previous resolution that listed the late mayor Mike McGarry as a signator.

After moving briefly into executive session to discuss an item referred to as "real estate," the council returned to open session and tabled the matter.

In department head reports, Police Chief Gary Farley offered an assessment of the recent motorcycle rally at Lometa Regional Park. Farley, who had opposed the rally when it came before the council for approval, has since changed his perspective.

"Everyone knows that there was no one more against the rally than me," he said. "However, there were no problems, and no one was arrested."

Farley added that the only complaint raised during the event came from a local resident who had too much to drink and was expelled from the rally.

"I am pleased to eat the words I said in here. I'm big enough to admit when I was wrong," the police chief said. "I think it went off well. I just wanted the council and everyone to know that I was pleased with how it went down."

The rally, which was attended by approximately 100 people, did not host the attendance numbers projected for the event because of similar rallies at other sites.

In response to a question by Mrs. Kirby regarding the influx of funds from the event, Ivey informed the council that the city's part of the entrance fees accounted for "very little."