PHOTO BY CHERI JAY-WIENECKE Lometa Mayor Cynthia Kirby presents the keys to the city's first new patrol car to Police Chief John Harris as councilmembers Mario Maldonado, Kyle Walton, Betty Poe, Donnie Bell and City Secretary Michelle Schueneman look on. While one major aspiration for the city of Lometa may be hitting a snag, another has come to fruition.

The Lometa City Council unveiled its newest vehicle addition recently, a 2009 Dodge Charger -- the local police department’s firstever new patrol car.

“I would like to thank the council, mayor and City Secretary Michelle Schueneman for the work you put in to get the city’s first new car,” said Chief of Police John Harris. “I promise we will take good care of it.”

Mayor Cynthia Kirby was in agreement with Harris on the significance of the vehicle as a sign of growth and fiscal optimism.

“This is a big first for Lometa, and we are very proud of this accomplishment,” she said. “We know it will serve the residents of Lometa well.”

In other business, council members addressed a request from Lometa reserve officer Mike Lock that his $200 per month pay be reallocated for other law enforcement needs. The council opted to establish a new account to be used at the discretion of the police department for crime prevention programs.

Additional new business included approval of the donation of the Lometa Volunteer Fire Department’s old air packs to the Adamsville Volunteer Fire Department. The council also agreed to sell a 1995 patrol car and authorized the trade of a 1993 pickup for Lometa welcome signs.

Council members discussed a grant that would help renovate the historic Santa Fe Depot for use as a community center and computer library. The U.S. Department of Agriculture grant, applied for on behalf of the city of Lometa by 281 Com- munications of Marble Falls, totals $601,736 with 15 percent of inkind funding. It is to be used for the construction of towers and implementation of high-speed Internet to the rural community.

While the city did receive the grant, 281 Communications representative Tim Moczygemba said its allotment came with changes.

“The grant came back differently from the way it was submitted,” he said. “The most significant change regards the train depot.”

The building’s value, submitted at $60,000 with matching funds from 281 Communications, was decreased to $50,000.

“The issue right now is the buiding requires so much to make it ready to house computer systems, and we don’t feel the government allowed us enough to accomplish that,” Moczygemba said. “We’re still committed to this project and spending the money to make this work.”

With 100 of the allotted 120 days for plan finalization remaining, the council agreed to table the matter in order to research the city’s options in the project. The item will be discussed again at a later date after information is gathered regarding construction and financial options.