Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
Residents and organizations tout VFW fundraiser, volunteer events and urge community policing
Loading...
Summary
Community members at the City of Orange meeting highlighted a Nov. 16 VFW fundraiser, presented donations, praised recent public works repairs and urged the council to explore community policing/advisory commissions to address perceptions of crime.
A series of public commenters at the City Council of the City of Orange, Texas, used the meeting's citizen comment period to promote local events, report community volunteer activity and urge the council to consider measures to improve police‑community communications.
Candice Gilbo, who identified herself as event coordinator for the VFW in Orange, said the organization will host a fundraiser Nov. 16 and expected strong attendance: “Our third one is November 16 at the VFW in Orange... We're gonna be serving gumbo, chili, burgers, all kinds of good stuff,” she said, and thanked the city’s media staff for promotion. Council members received flyers and the announcement was presented as an invitation to the public.
Casey Tuohy proposed the council consider forming a committee to explore creating a municipal golf course modeled on Liberty, Texas. Tuohy framed the suggestion as an idea for study rather than an immediate action item.
Melinda Smith of Trey Mart & Associates said her firm, marking its 50th anniversary, has been encouraging community service and presented a $500 donation to the volunteer fire department and a $500 donation to the Orange animal shelter as part of recent drawings.
Bob Manning, a resident, said he frequently encounters negative perceptions of Orange among people who ask where he lives and urged the council to examine community policing programs or a community advisory commission as a communication vehicle between law enforcement and residents: “When I say Orange, Texas, they go, ‘oh, Orange’... Like, it's a bad thing,” he said.
Other speakers noted First Baptist Church's 'Love Our Community Week,' praised recent railing repairs, acknowledged Boy Scout volunteer work, and a city representative reported that the Fire Department open house had 580 verified attendees.
The presiding official and council acknowledged the speakers and moved on to the consent agenda; the comments did not produce immediate formal action in the meeting record.
