Become a city volunteer or honor your favorite

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Volunteers are a big focus in cities this summer.

In Cottonwood Shores and Granite Shoals nominations are sought for outstanding citizens and cities are about to appoint new members to committees, boards, commissions and advisory groups.

Wednesday, July 19, is the deadline for nominations for the Outstanding Citizen of the Year in Cottonwood Shores to be presented at the Aug. 3 meeting of the city council. Carlos Naumann was honored last year for continued efforts to keep the city beautiful.

Nominations for 2017, with an explanation of why the citizen is being nominated, are to be submitted to City Administrator Sheila Moore at city hall, 3808 Cottonwood Drive, or by email, city.admin@cottonwoodshores.org. For more information, call Moore at 830-693-3830.

In Granite Shoals you can nominate a community volunteer for the 2018 John Rinehart Memorial Award until Sept. 30.

Any person or persons that volunteer their talents, donate their time, give generously of themselves in the spirit of the late John Rinehart are eligible, not just official city government volunteers.

“This is a 'Spirit of Service' award and nominees come from the citizens,” said City Secretary Elaine Simpson. “City staff and council members are not eligible.

The John Rinehart Memorial Award is customarily awarded during the Veterans Celebration the Saturday before Veterans Day. Last year's recipient was former city council member Merilyn Nations, but her work for the city extended far beyond that of an elected official.

“Questions about the award or the nomination process can be directed to Simpson at 830.598.2424 or citysecretary@graniteshoals.org.

Nominations for the Marble Falls Community Pride Award for residential and commercial properties have closed and the awards are soon to be presented.

City secretaries are the clearing house for appointments to committees, boards, commissions and advisory groups.

In Granite Shoals Tuesday night, Robin Deboard was appointed to the new ad hoc Road Bond Education Committee. Simpson, accepts applications for appointments, told the council that another position is open on the bond education committee and an opening is expected on the on the Streets & Water Advisory Group (SWAG) that plans street repair and water system improvements.

Volunteers man the Granite Shoals Planning & Zoning Commission (P&Z) that works on zoning and land use; the Parks Committee that plans for the 19 public parks and events in Granite Shoals; the Airport Advisory Committee (AAC) that helps maintain and plan for Granite Shoals Bob Sylvester Airpark; the Beautification Advisory Group (BAG), responsible for landscape planning and Christmas by the Highway, and the Wildlife Advisory Committee.

“We are always looking for volunteers, mainly to help the Parks Committee and their work with the parks,” said Moore. “Anyone interested can contact me at city hall.”

“We keep all volunteer applications for two years,” said Marble Falls City Secretary Christina McDonald. “We have a description of all the places a person could serve and an application on the city website, www.marblefallstx.gov. Or, a person can contact me at city hall, 800 Third Street, 830-798-7060 or cmcdonald@marblefallstx.gov.

“We are always looking for volunteers, too,” said City Secretary Kerri Craig.

As seats become open, the city fills the P&Z Commission, and advisory committees on broadband, the Fuchs House and Broadband Advisory Committee, Fuchs House, Parks and Capital Improvements. Contact Craig about any of them at city hall, 1 Community Drive, kcraig@horseshoe-bay-tx.gov, 830-598-9943.

Horseshoe Bay City Manager Stan Farmer summed up the experience of volunteering in any city:

“City council and city staff rely on citizens to tell us what they want for Horseshoe Bay, so we can build and design programs that are responsive. Volunteering on a city board, commission, or committee provides a greater opportunity for citizens to participate in their local government and help shape the future of the city.”