The city of Graham was awarded matching grant funding from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Thursday after a decision was approved by the commission for the department.
The city of Graham will soon be sending letters to Graham Lake leaseholders regarding potential plans moving forward where leaseholders can purchase the properties they currently lease. The letter will be sent with a survey to the over 380 leaseholders on the lake asking questions regarding the city project.
The move from the city comes on the trail of the Young Central Appraisal District last year placing a taxable value of $35,000 an acre on leaseholders on Lake Graham. YCAD met with landowners in July 2020 and said the number came from vacant land sales made on the lake along with other aspects which are a part of the appraisal process. Graham City Manager Brandon Anderson said that he believes those leaseholders should be able to own the property if they are being taxed for it.
The Graham City Council last Thursday approved the use of $10,000 from the Special Park Fund to clear the banks of Salt Creek along the proposed trail area for the planned Salt Creek Park project. Graham Parks and Recreation Board President Lee Boyd said during the meeting he got a quote from the company Pierce Land Clearing, of Blum, to proceed with the project this week.
The city of Graham received $1.3 million from the Brazos River Authority for park improvement projects in June 2018. Graham City Manager Brandon Anderson said last Thursday that the city has $1.2 million of the seed money available, with some spent in the past to get a tractor and shredder to take care of the area and additional expenses for engineering fees. He said the idea for the clearing project came from Boyd who found a company who could perform the task.