City of Strawn

P.O. BOX 581 – 118 East Housley St.

STRAWN, TEXAS 76475

254-672-5311 – FAX 254-672-5250

e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dear Residents, Neighbors & Friends,

We are contacting you today concerning the condition of Mount Marion Cemetery.

Mount Marion Cemetery is a city owned property that, for the past 60-70 years, Strawn has been blessed with a volunteer organization that manages and maintains this sizable piece of land, the upkeep of which, is very difficult.

The Mount Marion Cemetery Association has made numerous improvements to the property over the last decade including new fencing, a new entrance, signage, trees, the cultivation of the now famous bluebonnets, as well as repairing hundreds of old, deteriorating headstones. They have been able to do this by effectively soliciting donations year after year.   This has saved the City of Strawn hundreds of thousands of dollars and countless man hours as the City does not spend any money for the upkeep of the cemetery grounds.

Unfortunately, as these improvements were made and the cemetery became a nicer property, more individuals were compelled to visit and leave many trinkets, mementos, solar lights and misplaced plastic flowers, directly on the graves. While these actions were meant as thoughtful and sentimental, they are in clear violation of city ordinances, create unnecessary work for the mowing crews and leave the cemetery grounds desecrated with blown trash, broken plastic, shattered glass & trinkets.

This cemetery is a very difficult property to maintain but with literally thousands of obstacles in the way, it has become IMPOSSIBLE to mow and we are at risk of facing higher prices and losing contractors.

Therefore, beginning June 1^st, 2023, the City of Strawn & Mount Marion Cemetery Association respectfully request that all items that are placed on graves or around headstones be voluntarily removed without delay. The city will allow for 30 days, until July 1, 2023, for these items to be removed.   After that date, all items will be removed and disposed. Moving forward, only flowers will be allowed in ONLY granite or concrete vases/urns that are placed directly and permanently on the main grave monument itself.   These can be purchased from any area monument companies such as Sterling Monuments, Brady Monuments, Butler Memorials, Moore Monuments or Rawlins Monuments.

In every Warranty Deed that was issued upon the purchase of cemetery plots, the purchaser agrees to the following “purchaser, assigns or successor, agrees to be bound by the rules and regulations adopted by the City of Strawn, or its successors“.

Everyone is required to respect these laws, ordinances and rules. No exceptions will be allowed.

We have provided a copy of the City of Strawn Ordinances (Ordinance No. 06-95, Section L, Paragraphs 1 & 2) in this letter.   We have also provided you with a copy of the Cemetery Rules that have been posted at the cemetery for the last decade.

Please share this information with your family, friends or anyone else that has family interred at Mount Marion.

Respectfully,

Danny Miller-City Administrator

City of Strawn

Ordinance No. 06-95, Section L, Paragraphs 1 & 2

1. Decorations of Plots

• Certain Ornaments Prohibited

The placing of boxes, cans, shells, toys, metal designs, ornaments, signs, cards, ads, chairs, settees, vases, glass, wood or iron cases, concrete urns, concrete benches, pictures, artificial flowers and similar articles or any articles other than the approved family memorial upon plots shall not be permitted and it so placed, the Cemetery Association reserves the right to remove same without notice to the plot owner.

• Floral Regulations

No flower receptacles may be placed on any plot, unless of metal or stone of approved size and design and in the case of burial plots, set wholly beneath the level of the lawn. The Cemetery Association shall have authority to remove all floral designs, flowers, weeds, trees, shrubs, plants, or herbage or any kind, from the Cemetery as soon as, in the judgement of the caretaker they become unsightly, dangerous, detrimental, or diseased, or when they do not conform to the standards maintained. The Cemetery Association shall not be liable for floral pieces, baskets, or frames in which or to which such floral pieces are attached, beyond the acceptance of such floral pieces for funeral services held in the Cemetery. The Cemetery Association or City of Strawn shall not n liable for lost, misplaced or broken flower vases. The Cemetery association or City of Strawn shall not be responsible for plants, herbage of any kind, or plantings damaged by the elements, thieves, vandals, or by other causes beyond its control. The Cemetery Association reserves the right to prevent the plants, or herbage of any kind.

MOUNT MARION CEMETERY RULES

(Posted throughout Cemetery since 2012)

The following rules are in place to assist in the upkeep of the grounds of the cemetery:

• Nothing may be placed on or near a grave that obstructs mowing or weed eating.
• No curbs or gravel.
• No ornaments, statues, pets, vases, fencing, edging, candles, battery or solar light sticks or devices on the ground
• No mounded graves or grave covers
• No glass containers
• No cactus may be planted
• Foot stones must be at ground level
• Grave markers must be made of metal, concrete or natural stones
• Fresh flowers left on grave must be removed after two weeks
• Flowers blow from graves will be disposed
• Please dispose of all trash or flowers in bins provided

         The upkeep of Mount Marion depends on the generosity of those who have loved ones interred here.

City of Strawn

P.O. BOX 581 – 118 East Housley St.

STRAWN, TEXAS 76475

254-672-5311 – FAX 254-672-5250

e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

City of Strawn is seeking a dual certified Animal Control Officer/Code Enforcement Officer. Strawn is a small city seeking a motivated individual that is willing to step up and take on multiple rolls. The employee could expect to spend 25% of their time on animal control duties, 25% of their time on code enforcement duties and 50% of their time on various other duties required to operate a small city.

Animal Control Officer duties:

Patrols for stray, vicious or inured animals and responds to citizen complaints, and emergency calls, such as cruelty to animal complaints, control of poisonous or dangerous animals, and takes appropriate action.

Collects license fees.

Safely and humanely captures and transports animals including those that are sick, injured or potentially dangerous.

Properly clean and maintain assigned city equipment and department vehicles in working condition.

Document field notes from investigation of pet/property owner and maintains accurate, thorough Daily Activity Log.

Writes reports accurately and thoroughly regarding any violations or incidents.

Assists with events and programs related to animal services.

Issues citations for violations of Animal Control Laws ensuring complete and accurate information is documented and testifies in court as required.

Regular and prompt attendance is an essential function of this position.

Code Enforcement duties:

Frequently contacts and corresponds with federal, state and local officials, public agencies, community and civic groups.

Prepares and presents information to City Council, civic groups and community members about code enforcement programs.

Conducts proactive property inspections; issues notices to inform citizens of violations and how to reach compliance; responds to citizen inquiries regarding violations and investigates complaints.

Ascertains property ownership information using county appraisal district websites, compiles data for monthly and annual reports.

Issues City Code citations for non-compliance as needed; tracks all violation; prepares court case files; appears and testifies in court when summoned.

Receives and investigates reports, observes any alleged violations of State and Local code and Ordinances; discusses matters with complainants, contacts the property owner; makes on-site inspections.

When not actively engaged in Animal Control duties or Code Enforcement duties, employee will work with city staff in other areas such as park maintenance, road maintenance, water line repairs or any other such duties as public works director deem necessary.

Requirements:

Knowledge of animal control equipment operations, animal care and behavior, city ordinances and state laws related to animal control and record preparation methods, practices and equipment used to maintain facilities, cleaning methods and procedures.

Tasks involved include bending, lifting, walking and carrying or using a force equal to lifting 50 pounds or heavier. Must be able to work outdoors in extreme working conditions.

Knowledge of City Health and Safety ordinances, State Health and Safety Code.

Employee must possess a valid Texas Driver’s License.

Employee must be able to attain a Basic Animal Control Officer certification from Texas Department of Health Services within 1 year of employment.

Employee must be able to attain Texas State Code Enforcement Officer Certification within 1 year of employment.

Preference given to those with experience in either animal control or code enforcement.

Pay Dependent on Experience: $15.00 to $19.00 per hour with some opportunities for overtime. City of Strawn is an equal opportunity employer. The city participates in TMRS retirement plan 6% 2-1 match. Employee will be eligible for health insurance after 30 days.

Applications may be picked up at the above address between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday-Friday. They may be returned via email or in person at the above address. You may also send in a resume to the above email address.

City of Strawn will hold a week long city wide cleanup at the end of April 2023.  This will involve up to 20 roll off trash dumpsters and a tire disposal trailer.  City personnel will be onsite to help with unloading.  These dumpsters will be located at our transfer station at 524 Palo Pinto Avenue adjacent to our waste water treatement plant.  We will accept all household garbage, construction materials and tires.  You must be a Strawn resident to participate in this event.  Please bring a copy of your water bill.  This is a Texas Commission on Environmental Quality mandated Supplemental Environmental Project funded by City of Strawn in lieu of fines.

PUBLIC NOTICE

The City of Strawn, Texas will hold a Planning Workshop to discuss its Texas Community Development Program Contract #7220154 with the Office of Rural Affairs, Texas Department of Agriculture in which funds were used to develop a comprehensive plan for the city. The planning activities included mapping and text along with goals and objectives in the areas of financial analysis, housing, population, land use, street system, water system, wastewater system, storm drainage system, subdivision regulations and zoning. The purpose of this meeting is to allow citizens an opportunity to discuss the City’s plan

The Planning Workshop will be held as follows:

Date & Time:      Monday, February 6th, 2023 @ 6:00 PM

Place:                  The Lexington, 512 Grant Avenue, Strawn, Texas, 76475

City of Strawn Request for Proposal

P.O Box 581 Strawn, TX 76475

(254) 646-3345

Proposal Due Date: January 9^th, 2023

Time: 3:00 p.m.

The City of Strawn is requesting proposals for solid waste services provided for residential and commercial services inside the City Limits of Strawn and customers currently served by City of Strawn located on Highway 16, Highway 108 and Davidson Cemetery Road. The company that is awarded the franchise service agreement will be required to provide weekly residential service and bi-weekly commercial service. Please include a description of your services (type of containers used, City clean up services, days of collection, etc.) in your proposal. The company chosen will be awarded a 5 year exclusive contract for all services for the City of Strawn.

Scope of Work:

1. Residential Service 95 gallon Poly Cart $ __________
2. Extra Cart Rate per Extra Cart                 $ __________
3. Commercial Weekly and Bi-Weekly Services:

                                    95 gallon cart $ __________

                                    2 yard weekly $ __________   bi-weekly $ __________

                                    3 yard weekly $ __________   bi-weekly $ __________

                                    4 yard weekly $ __________   bi-weekly $ __________

City Clean Up: Provide the method of City wide clean up and how many roll off containers and how often the cleanup is provided or any alternative services offered.

Franchise Fee:

Please indicate the franchise fee percentage and the estimated dollar amount paid to the City of Strawn in consideration for the franchise service agreement.

Qualifications:

1. List of references of services provided to cities, business and residential customers in the surrounding area of Strawn.
2. Proof of insurance coverage sufficient for the scope of work provided.
3. Provide an overview of your company and the areas you service.

SEALED PROPOSAL BIDS WILL BE ACCEPTED UNTIL 3:00 P.M., MONDAY, January 9^th, 2023 then opened and read aloud at the City Council meeting at 6:00 P.M at 118 E. Housley Street, Strawn, TX. Council will review, discuss, and award the contract to the best qualified candidate.

BIDS MUST BE SUBMITTED IN SEALED ENVELOPES MARKED AS FOLLOWS: PROPOSAL FOR WASTE COLLECTION SERVICES.

            To be considered, your proposal must be signed. The City of Strawn appreciates your submission for the proposal. However, proposals received after the deadline WILL NOT be considered for award. Further, the City of Strawn reserves the right to accept or reject any and/or all proposals and to waive informalities or defects in the proposal responses as it shall deem to be in the best interest of the City.

Company Name: ______________________________________________________________________

Company Address: ___________________________________________________________________

Company Contact Information: ______________________________________________________

Authorized Signature: ________________________________________________________________