WOODVILLE – The Woodville City Council began its regular monthly meeting on Monday, April 14, with a big shout-out to a real hometown hero.
Woodville mayor Amy Bythewood read from a proclamation honoring graduating Woodville High School senior Tayvion Hunter. Hunter, who was part of the Woodville Eagles’ successful 2024 season, which culminated in a state runner-up title, was recently named the Willie Ray Smith Defensive Player of the Year, and Bythewood mentioned that honor, along with several others Hunter has earned through his high school career.
Bythewood mentioned his transformation from an offensive player to defense, and how it all began for him as a youth football player in Woodville. She referred to him as “phenomenal,” and “a very special young man.”
After presenting Hunter with the proclamation, Bythewood recognized a couple of others to be acknowledged in the City of Woodville this month.
Bythewood recognized Fair Housing Month in Woodville. That designation is set to promote the rights of everyone to have access to housing, free from discrimination, and commemorates the passage of the Fair Housing Act, which passed April 11, 1968.
Another matter, which is close to Bythewood’s heart, is the recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month. Bythewood, who has served as a longtime advocate for child welfare, through her work as an attorney, along with Woodville Chief of Police Mike McCulley, who has served as a longtime board member of the county’s Child Welfare Board, both spoke of the effects of abuse and neglect on children. Bythewood said that in 2024, 99 children in Texas died as a result of abuse and neglect. She encouraged everyone to wear blue on Sunday, April 27 to show support for the cause.
Bid recommendation approved
Jacob Tiemann with Goodwin Lasiter Strong (GLS), which is handling the engineering aspects of a flood mitigation project, funded by a GLO Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), provided an overview of the project and the bid recommendation.
Tiemann said the project will affect a lot of the city, with West Timberland Drive, from North Nellius to the end of the roadway; North Beech from US 287 to US 190; South Beech from 190 to Cobb Mill Road; West Dogwood from North Beech to Magnolia and Carlow Hill Road from US 69 to the Turkey Creek bridge.
Tiemann said GLS received and opened five bids, with three being “pretty competitive” for the $2.7 million construction budget to reconstruct those roadways.
The low bid came from the Louisiana-based Apeck Construction, which Tiemann said his firm has had good experiences working with before.
Tiemann recommended the firm to the council, which approved the recommendation.
Beech Street concerns raised
During the public forum portion of Monday’s meeting, several residents who live along North Beech Street spoke, and raised concerns about motorists not abiding the posted 30 mph speed limit, and possible outcomes if it should continue.
Most suggested that added police patrol might help remedy the situation.
