WOODVILLE – Allan Shivers Library and Museum Director Kay Timme and Museum Manager LaLa Babin were present at Monday evenings council meeting when council approved reimbursing the facility 5K from the Tourism Contingency allocation.
Timme spoke before council in November 2025 about the cut in the funding. The 5K was cut by the city, all other entities funding remained unchanged.
Council then considered a 5K sponsorship for the Second Saturday on the Square event. The money would also come from the Tourism Contingency allocation. Mayor Amy Bythewood commented that “ Second Saturday is something that brings in tourism dollars and those funds can be used on specific items and certain things. In the last budget we cut things that we were assisting that didn’t meet those guidelines”. She added that the money would go to the event, not a particular person.
Alderman Lee Mann asked, “ who is getting the money, this $5K, this is kind of a blanket request. My concern is this-they have done a fabulous job with what they have done for the community, for downtown, my concern is where is the beginning and where is the end, this is a wonderful project, wonderful people, I am all for promoting downtown. But we have this event, that event, where does it end”.
Alderwoman Kelly Dillard commented, “we have taken away money from events over the years, some wonderful events, but yet we are wanting to allocate $5K sponsorship for a new event.”
After much discussion, council voted to table this item, pending further information and specifics from event organizers.
Jacob Tieman was on hand to give a further update on the progress on Timberland and Dogwood street. Tieman said, “west Timberland road has been mixed and stabilized, the culverts are in, and it may be a little dirty and messy getting in and out, but they are working on getting it paved as soon as possible. On Dogwood street, the pulver is mixed from 190 to Nellius Street; the asphalt crew will be moving their equipment in this week. Work is estimated 70% complete, and we are aiming for the end of this month, if not the end of March for project completion; they are pretty aggressive with plans to be done by this date”.
In other business, council approved a resolution adopting an Investment Policy and Strategy, and a resolution regarding a contract for the purpose of financing a Water and Gas Meter Project and refinancing of 2012 Meter Project.
In other business, Mayor Bythewood issued a proclamation designating February as Black History Month. All minutes and financials for January were approved, as well as the quarterly investment report were approved in short order.
