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Alto council votes to create Parks and Recreation department to access near-term grants
Summary
Council members approved creating a Parks and Recreation department so the city can apply for four near-term grants, three due in January 2025 and one in February 2025; Councilman Luke Johnson abstained from the final vote.
The Alto City Council voted to create a Parks and Recreation department as a vehicle to apply for multiple grants tied to parks, sidewalks and youth recreation. Councilman Luke Johnson described four grants he is pursuing — All Kids Play (youth & sports), an AARP grant for park improvements, a TxDOT sidewalk grant and a Parks & Recreation grant — noting three have January 2025 deadlines and one is due in February 2025. He said the city itself cannot apply and would need an entity such as a Parks & Recreation department; he offered to serve as a non-paid liaison if necessary.
Councilman Carey Palmer moved to create the department and Elpressely Thacker seconded. The motion passed with three yeas and no nays; Councilman Luke Johnson recorded an abstention. Robert Haberle of Schaumburg & Polk, Inc. told the council that the grants Johnson is pursuing were appropriate for the proposed projects and that his firm could assist with the grant process. The minutes record no enacted budget or timeline for establishing the new department; next steps will require staff follow-up to define the entity and eligibility for each grant.
