February 2021 Monthly Newsletter

Distributed at the beginning of each month, this monthly newsletter provides updates on events and relevant city & community activity.

City Council updates are sent separately after monthly meetings.

Thank you for reading!

City Council and Board & Commission Meetings

Jacksonville City Hall, 315 S. Ragsdale St. (unless noted)

Jacksonville Public Library Board Meeting
Tuesday, February 2nd @ 5:15pm

at City Hall

City Council Agenda Workshop
Thursday, February 4th @ 12pm

at City Hall

Regular City Council Meeting
Tuesday, February 9th @ 6pm
Vanishing Texana Museum Board Meeting
Monday, February 15th @ 5:15pm

at Vanishing Texana Museum, 302 S. Bolton St.

Keep Jacksonville Beautiful Board Meeting
Tuesday, February 16th @ 8:30am

at City Hall

JACKSONVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY

DEMO IS COMPLETE!

Demo has been completed and renovations are beginning on the new Jacksonville Public Library, which will be located inside the Norman Center on Commerce Street.

Public & Community Service crews were able to start and complete the demo process once the roof and ceiling had been cleared of all inspections.

Stay tuned for exciting changes as this building is transformed into our new downtown Library for all of our citizens to enjoy for many years to come!

Project completion date: April/May 2021

JACKSONVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT

Chief Reece Daniel

Former Jacksonville Chief of Police Reece Daniel passed away on Friday,

January 29, 2021 following a brief illness.

Daniel served as the city's top law enforcement official for 10 years (2006-2016).

His law enforcement career spanned four decades and he worked as a police chief for 15 years. Daniel's service to the local community also included a stint as an Adjunct Professor of Law Enforcement at Jacksonville College.

Per family, there will be a private burial only.

JACKSONVILE ANIMAL SHELTER

SIX PUPPIES WERE BORN!

The shelter staff were on hand to witness the birth of six puppies to a dog that has been in our shelter since mid December. Jada and her puppies are doing well and receiving a lot of love and attention.

Puppies and mom will be available for adoption in approximately six weeks.

We had several animals adopted during the month of January! Thank you to the community for choosing to adopt from our shelter. Here are just a few of the happy animals who found their

"fur-ever" homes!

To see a listing off all of the animals we currently have available for adoption, please visit our website by

clicking on the button below!

Visit Our Website

JACKSONVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT

Obstacle Course Safety Training

City of Jacksonville Fire Fighters place the value of training to remain safe at the highest priority. Rookies took part in a special obstacle safety course recently. Several simulations were set up for firefighters to navigate through an obstacle course while essentially blindfolded. They were tasked with following a fire hose through multiple obstacles meant to simulate possible mayday situations.

This type of training helps firefighters feel more comfortable in an odd and stressful environment, which leads to safer decisions during actual fire events.

SPOTLIGHT EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHTS OF THE WEEK

AROUND TOWN

Snow over Jacksonville - January 10, 2021

Mayoral Proclamation

Mayor Randy Gorham presented a

Mayoral Proclamation

to Natalie Duncan

thanking her for

her 35 years of

outstanding service and dedication

to Christus Francis Hospital as well as

contributions to our City.

Leading By Example!

City leaders rolled up their sleeves to get their first

Covid Moderna vaccine injection.

Love's Lookout

Visitor's Center

Volunteers

The volunteers at Love's Lookout Visitor's Center want to invite everyone to come by and see our new logo on our tomato welcoming travelers to our City!

The Visitor's Center has breathtaking views, clean restrooms and the most knowledgeable volunteers who can assist visitors with travel tips to get the most out of their time in our City and surrounding areas.

Volunteers pictured (left to right):

Dale McCorkle, Sue Adams and Melissa Dement.

PUBLIC SAFETY COMPLEX CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

Work is continuing to take place at the new Public Safety Complex located on Bolton Street. This state of the art building will house the City of Jacksonville Fire and Police Departments and serve as our Emergency Communications Headquarters.

Estimated project completion date: July 2021

(Drone photo credit: Jon Hargett)