LULA — Though the Lula City Council considered numerous business items during its meeting Monday night, it was non-agenda items that got city residents involved.
Pastor Eric Stewart, who delivered the invocation at the meeting, addressed Mayor Jim Grier and the council during the public comment portion, asking that they consider a basketball goal that can be used by youth at the Lula Wellness Park.
Stewart said there is a playground to occupy young children while parents walk, but he noted a basketball goal would be beneficial to entertain tweens and teens.
Similarly, Tim and Amanda Browning said they’d like to see more events, such as farmers' markets, car shows and more festivals, to bring people to Lula and keep families in Lula.
Grier said he is excited to hear from residents about what they’d like to see in Lula.
“They were very energetic,” Grier told AccessWDUN following the meeting. “And we’re liking what we see. We feel like our council is energetic and ready to move forward, and this gives us the affirmation that our citizens are ready to move forward as well — and even impatient a little bit. So we want to help meet those needs that they suggested and move forward soon.”
Grier said some improvements already have taken place at Lula Wellness Park, an area hit hard by Hurricane Irma. Cleanup of downed trees and damaged vegetation has taken place, getting the park ready for the season.
“We’re working to make that a place people use more and more as a focus of our activity in the city,” Grier said.
Upcoming city events highlighted at Monday night’s meeting include:
- May 1 — Lula Belton Historical Society meeting;
- May 12 — Railroad Days Festival and Parade, with parade lineup at 9 a.m., parade at 10 a.m. and a full day of entertainment, food and arts and crafts;
- May 28 — Memorial Day observance at 10 a.m. at Lula Veterans Park; and
- Oct. 13 — Lula Fall Festival from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. featuring folk art, pottery, handcrafted items, children’s activities, food and entertainment.
“Events are the heartbeat of a community,” Grier said. “And gatherings — people just want to get together and talk and enjoy each other — are very important. Of course, celebrations like our Veterans Day and Memorial Day celebrations have been a mainstay of the city as our calendar goes through the year. And we hope to have more events like that to fill in and celebrate and enjoy each other.”
One such new gathering that will begin soon is the ladies luncheon, already expanded to include a ladies’ dinner. That covered-dish event will be Thursday, April 26, at Lula City Hall, 6055 Main St. Ladies of Lula can bring a dish and attend either the luncheon gathering from noon to 1:30 p.m., or the dinner from 6:30 to 8 p.m. The purpose of the event is for fellowship and fun, and there will be no committees and no fundraising.
“We appreciate our citizens showing up and being willing to speak out,” Grier said. “We try to offer a comment time at the beginning and at the end of the meetings, and that seems to be working very well.”
