ELLINGER, Texas – An $18,300 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority and Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative will help the newly incorporated City of Ellinger establish its first city hall.
The Community Development Partnership grant, paired with matching funds of $4,575, will allow the Fayette County community of about 200 residents to purchase a portable building to house city records and act as a hub for city-related business. The grant also will cover the costs of creating a gravel pad for the building, establishing electrical service to it and making the site accessible to disabled visitors.
“We can’t keep city records effectively in our own houses,” said City Commissioner Joseph Lamer, who was elected in November when voters approved incorporating Ellinger as a Type C municipality governed by a mayor and two commissioners. “We’ve got to keep the paperwork somewhere and have a place where people can come in and access the information. This building will function as a meeting place and a source of information for our residents. I think it gives the city a home.”
Lamer said the new city hall will include desks for him – he’s also the city secretary – and fellow commissioner Kenneth Stojanik, who also serves as the city treasurer.
“Believe me, if it wasn’t for this grant, we wouldn’t even be talking about a building,” Lamer said. “This is something that’s going to be city hall for 20 or 30 years at least. If we aren’t in there in six months, I’ll be disappointed.”
The community grant is one of 25 grants awarded recently through LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program, which helps volunteer fire departments, local governments, emergency responders and nonprofit organizations fund capital improvement projects in LCRA’s wholesale electric, water and transmission service areas. The program is part of LCRA’s effort to give back to the communities it serves. Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative is one of LCRA’s wholesale electric customers and is a partner in the grant program.
Applications for the next round of grants will be accepted in July. More information is available at lcra.org/cdpp.
About LCRA
The Lower Colorado River Authority serves customers and communities throughout Texas by managing the lower Colorado River; generating and transmitting electric power; providing a clean, reliable water supply; and offering outdoor adventures at more than 40 parks along the Colorado River from the Texas Hill Country to the Gulf Coast. LCRA and its employees are committed to fulfilling our mission to enhance the quality of life of the Texans we serve through water stewardship, energy and community service. LCRA was created by the Texas Legislature in 1934 and receives no state appropriations. For more information, visit lcra.org.
About Bluebonnet
Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative is one of the largest electric cooperatives in Texas and has been serving its members since 1939. Bluebonnet serves more than 111,000 meters and owns and maintains 12,000 miles of power lines, located across more than 3,800 square miles within 14 Central Texas counties. Bluebonnet’s service area stretches from Travis County to Washington County, and from Milam County to Gonzales County. For more information about Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative, go to bluebonnet.coop and follow the co-op on Facebook and Twitter.
Media contacts:
LCRA: Clara Tuma 512-578-3292
clara.tuma@lcra.org
Bluebonnet: Will Holford 512-332-7955
will.holford@bluebonnet.coop
