Sanger Sentinel Q2, 2024

SENTINEL

HIGHLIGHTS CITY MANAGER

Dear Residents of Sanger,

I hope that everyone is having a great start to spring as we transition into this vibrant season of renewal and growth. It's been a busy quarter filled with exciting events and developments, and I am thrilled to share some highlights with you.

First, we just wrapped up Easter Egg-Apalooza, our annual Easter Egg Hunt, which was a tremendous success. We witnessed the joy and excitement on the faces of our community members, and we invite you to relive those moments by checking out the video from the event A link to download and view the video is posted on our City of Sanger Facebook Page

In terms of infrastructure updates, during the last quarter, we initiated our Water Meter Replacement Program, and we're pleased to report that we're approximately 50% complete Aquametrics is diligently working to finalize all replacements within the next few weeks

Our streets department has also been hard at work with road maintenance. For a complete list of streets impacted by this maintenance, please visit our City website at www.sangertexas.org under the news section. Furthermore, temporary work is being conducted on Belz Road while we continue to prepare for the major reconstruction. Marion Road will also be receiving maintenance as we continue to work with the County on their bond projects. Additionally, the FM 455 project is still underway. We urge residents to exercise caution when traveling through the construction areas.

Exciting programming awaits you at the library over the next few months Save the date for Monday, April 8th, when we'll host a Total Eclipse Party to witness a once-in-a-lifetime event Eclipse glasses will be provided for those in attendance, while supplies last Additionally, our City-wide art contest is back in full swing Residents can submit their artwork to the library until April 17th, and on Thursday, April 25th, we'll host our first Art Exhibition, where winners will be announced amidst light refreshments

I want to express my sincere gratitude to everyone for staying involved and contributing to the continued growth and prosperity of our City. Wishing you all a happy and rejuvenating spring season.

Warm regards,

John Noblitt, City Manager

CONNECT WITH US

City Hall Address

502 Elm Street

Sanger, TX 76266

Hours: 7:30 AM - 5:00 PM M-TH 7:30 AM - 11:00 AM F

Phone: 940-458-7930

Online: Sangertexasorg

Facebook: @SangerTexas

STAY CONNECTED

Did you know that Sanger has many ways to stay connected to what is happening in the City? Below, we feature all the ways to keep you connected.

Websites

Sangertexasorg (City Government Site)

DiscoverSanger.com (City Tourism Site)

Sangertxedcorg (Sanger Economic Development)

The City of Sanger launched the official podcast of Sanger, TX, The 266 Express

Listen Here!

UTILITY SERVICES

Customer Service

Contact Number: 940-458-7930

EMAIL: utilitybilling@sangertexasorg

Start/Stop Utility Service

Click Here

Click Here for on line utility payments

To report a water issue after hours, call: 940-299-5358

Sanger Utilities

The City of Sanger provides water service to City residents. The City also provides electric services to some areas of the community Please contact our Utility Customer Service to confirm your provider

Trash and Recycling services are provided through Republic Services. To start or stop service, please contact the City of Sanger Utility Billing Department or visit us on line at SangerTexas.org for more information.

Trash & Recycling

Trash and recycling services in Sanger are provided by Republic Services and are billed by the City of Sanger monthly on your utility bills

For missed collections or service issues, contact Republic Services at 972-316-0789

For billing questions, contact Sanger Customer Service in City Hall at:940-909-9061 or email utilitybilling@sangertexas.org.

For more information, CLICK HERE.

For a list of frequently asked questions visit this site.

SANGER CITY COUNCIL

Meetings

THE SANGER CITY COUNCIL MEETS THE FIRST AND THIRD MONDAY OF EACH MONTH.

LOCATION:

SANGER HISTORICAL CHURCH

403 N 7TH STREET

TIME: 7:00 PM

WATCH THE MOST RECENT COUNCIL RECAP HERE.

The City of Sanger is accepting applications for Board and Commission members.

Parks & Recreation / Keep Sanger Beautiful Board

Library Board

Planning & Zoning Commission Board of Adjustment

Economic Development Boards

Type A – Sanger Industrial Development Corporation

Type B – Sanger Texas Development Corporation

Members may serve up to three (3) consecutive two (2) year terms. When the term limit is reached, a member can be appointed to another board immediately and may apply for appointment on the same board after a one (1) year absence

Qualifications

Members of all boards and commissions must be:

Residents of the City of Sanger for at least six (6) months preceding the date of appointment

Qualified voter; and

Not be an officer of the City nor any person who holds a compensated position with the City.

NOTE: 4A and 4B Board residency requirements and terms are specific to each board

Applications and additional information can be found on the City’s website:

Additional information regarding the Economic Development Corporation can be found on the EDC’s website: https://sangertxedc.org/

If you are interested in serving the community, complete an application and email it to the City Secretary’s Office at citysecretary@sangertexas.org. Applications will be accepted until June 3, 2024.

Saturday, June 29th | 5 - 10 PM

Join us for an unforgettable celebration at the City of Sanger's 2024 Freedom Fest! As one of the largest and finest 4th of July events in North Texas, this year's festivities promise an incredible experience for the whole family. Picture a vibrant atmosphere with food and merchandise vendors, mega water slides, carnival rides for all ages, and a delightful petting zoo. The highlight of the evening? A spectacular 25-minute fireworks show synchronized to music that will light up the sky But that's not all – we're thrilled to announce that the renowned Bellamy Brothers will be headlining this year's event, ensuring an evening filled with fantastic music and entertainment Mark your calendars for June 29th, from 5 to 10 PM, and join us at the enchanting Porter Park for a celebration of freedom and community spirit! #FreedomFest2024

2024 HEADLINER - THE BELLAMY BROTHERS

The Love Still Flows...

The Bellamy Brothers are an American pop and country music duo consisting of brothers David Milton Bellamy and Homer Howard Bellamy] The duo had considerable musical success in the 1970s and 1980s, starting with the release of their crossover hit "Let Your Love Flow" in 1976, a number one single on the Billboard Hot 100

Starting in the late 1970s, the Bellamy Brothers found success in country music as well, charting 20 numberone singles, 25 top 10, and more than 50 hits overall on the country charts.

Free FreeEvent Event

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

4:30 PM Shuttles begin service

5:00 PM Event opens

5:30 - 7:00 PM Jordan Sheppard Band

6:00 PM Petting Zoo Opens

7:30 - 9:00 PM Bellamy Brothers

8:00 PM Petting Zoo Closes

9:00 PM Rides & Slides Close

9:30 PM Fireworks

10:00 PM Event Ends

NEW NEW NEW

Jordan Sheppard & the Cypress Knees

S A N G E R

The Sanger EDC mission is to expand the local tax base, creating a diversified, vibrant, and sustainable economy and enhancing the quality of life for residents and the business community. Our primary focus is on business attraction, business retention, and marketing/tourism for the City of Sanger. We love to help businesses achieve their goals. To learn more about how we serve the community, drop by our office or schedule an introductory meeting

Please contact sbardshaw@sangertexasorg for more information or to schedule a meeting

SANGER EDC Local Business Programs

Property Enhancement

Incentive Program

All businesses in the City of Sanger are eligible.

This program provides grants in the form of reimbursement for up to $10,000 for eligible improvements to business facades

Participants are eligible for up to one grant in a twelve-month period from completion of the previous grant.

Applications are available online at www.sangertxedc.org

Business Spotlight Videos

All business owners and entrepreneurs in the City of Sanger are eligible to participate

The Sanger EDC will produce one free video within a twelve-month timeframe.

Videos are shared with the business owner and posted on the EDC social pages

Business owners are encouraged to use them to promote their business.

To have your business featured, send an email to sbradshaw@sangertexas.org.

Talent Tuesday

Are you struggling to find employees? Let the EDC help.

All Sanger businesses are eligible to participate

The Sanger EDC will create and post an ad for your open positions These openings will be advertised across Facebook to all of Sanger plus twenty-five miles.

Ads run for 7 days

For more information or to participate, send an email to sbradshaw@sangertexas.org.

Economic Development Newsletter

Subscribe to our EDC Quarterly Newsletter

Integrity Urgent Care

Coming Summer 2024

Corner of Church and Stemmons

Uptown Rail Brewery

Coming Summer 2024

Scooter’s Coffee

455 and I-35

Received approval for the site.

Sanger Economic Development Corporation Recognized byTEDC for Economic Excellence

The Texas Economic Development Council (TEDC) announced the recipients of its annual Economic Excellence Recognition program for 2023. The awards were presented on Friday, February 23rd, during the TEDC’s 2024 Winter Conference in San Antonio, Texas.

The Economic Excellence Recognition program provides recognition to economic development organizations that meet a desired threshold of professionalism. Recipients qualify for recognition based on training taken by their governing board/council as well as the economic development director and professional staff. Certifications, professional memberships and activities, and organizational effectiveness of the economic development staff also contribute to the standards for qualification.

Sanger Economic Development is proud to be one of only 72 ED organizations to receive the award in 2023.

DEVELOPMENT SERVICES UPDATE

BELZRetailAddition

Exciting news for our community! We are thrilled to announce that the BELZ Retail Addition project is advancing with great momentum The grocery store, a cornerstone of this development, is now in the plating phase Full plans for the project have been submitted, showcasing the detailing that has gone into crafting this development As we look ahead, developers are gearing up to break ground on Phase 1 this summer Stage 1 includes the development of multi-family housing and the grocery store Stay tuned for moreupdates

PlansareunderwayforanewconveniencestoreatSableAve andFM455

VillaGrandewillbelocatedat114NStemmons,nexttoRomas Theyhavebeguntheremodelingprocess

EVENTS

On Sunday, March 24th, we held Easter Egg-Apalooza. This is our annual Easter Egg Hunt. View the video for a recap of the fun.

Saturday, April 20th, is our annual City-Wide garage sale. All residents who would like to participate, please contact City Hall to register your sale. Permit fees are waived for this event.

City Hall (940) 458-7930

Saturday, June 29th, join us for Freedom Fest, our annual 4th of July celebration. Visit: www.discoversanger.com for complete details.

PUBLIC WORKS UPDATE

We are excited to bring you an update on some ongoing projects from the Public Works Department

Water Meter Replacement by Aquametrics: We are pleased to announce that Aquametrics has completed the installation of approximately half of the new water meters throughout the city. We anticipate that all meters will be replaced within the next 4-5 weeks, bringing enhanced accuracy and efficiency to our water management system

Completion of Elevated Water Tank Painting: The painting of the elevated water tank located on Acker St. is now finished, ensuring its continued structural integrity and aesthetic appeal

Installation of Water Level Indicators: New water level indicators have been successfully installed at each of our elevated storage tanks This enhancement allows us to closely monitor our water supplies, ensuring optimal management and distribution.

Water/Drought Contingency Plan: Our Water Department is diligently working on finalizing the water/drought contingency plan, scheduled to be completed by April 14th We invite you to participate in the public hearing scheduled for May 1st to provide your valuable input and feedback on this critical aspect of water resource management

Annual Water Quality Report: The Annual Water Quality Report is currently being finalized and will soon be available for viewing on our website. We anticipate it to be posted by the middle of June, providing transparent insights into the quality of our water supply

PUBLIC WORKS UPDATE CONTINUED

Installation of Backup Generators: We are in the final stages of installing backup generators across key City facilities. The police department's generator installation is complete, with City Hall and Well 6 also having been installed Testing for these installations is currently underway. Additionally, the generator installation at the Fire Department is currently in progress

Street Utility Maintenance Program: As part of our Street Utility Maintenance Program, residents will notice temporary improvements along Belz Road These are interim measures until our project with the County can begin. Additionally, you will see some work begin on some of our streets. For a complete list of all the streets undergoing repair this year, visit our website sangertexas org and look under the news section.

We appreciate your patience and cooperation as we work to make all of these improvements. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to the Public Works Department at 940-458-2571

Texas Historic Landmark Presbyterian Church Building

Church before raising from the ground. S A N G E R H I S T O R

The Sanger community has been rewarded for many years with the beautiful Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The church was organized by the Reverend Goodson on August 30, 1896. Sanger was a fairly new community as a result of the Gulf, Colorado, and Santa Fe Railway being extended through the community in 1887

In 1901, the 66 members of their church decided to build a house of worship and a local Baptist gentleman donated the land for the church. He was the grandfather of an early Sanger historian, Eunice Sullivan Gray. The building was completed in 1902 and was the first church in the community that was not a squared building and was the only auditorium for the next 10 years.

Local carpenters, possibly led by Mr. Kay and Mr. W.L. Meek, who was assisted by his son Dick, built this historic building. Mr. Meek was the father of Mrs Lou LeGear, who was the wife of Murphy LeGear Jasper Wells, a prominent citizen of Sanger, donated a bell that was cherished by the townspeople for its sweetness of tone and was installed in the tower. Later generations of the Wells family produced Alonzo Jamison, the grandson of Jasper, who served in the Texas Legislature and was also a professor of government at Texas Woman's University. B y S a n g e r A r e a H i s t o r i c a l S o c i e t y a n d M u s e u m

This historic church building was a frequent gathering place for the community Its auditorium boasted the largest seating capacity of any building in town at the time. The school was and still is located across from this building, and many school activities were held within the church's walls. Additionally, a music teacher used this building to teach students, who only needed to cross the street from the school building for their lessons

The church was the site of the first formal wedding in Sanger, which took place in 1903 between Miss Myra Martin (daughter of the minister Reverend J Monroe Martin) and Will Jones.

The Presbyterians shared a minister with the congregation of Valley View, 6 miles north The Methodist congregation had a similar arrangement with their pastor and needed a minister on the days their pastor was not available, so they joined with the congregation of the Presbyterians and held worship together

One unique feature of the church was the designated seating area for courting couples in the center of the auditorium, an idea proposed by Reverend Hardin Mallard, a young minister who graduated from Trinity University in Waxahachie

The history of this church, with its original setting, changed on August 22, 1971, with the last service held. A new church building was built on land donated by the Bill Switzer family This new church building is now the Sanger Community Center, located on Freese Drive. Chet Switzer, son of Bill Switzer, has memories of being a small child and was the bell-ringer for the church, but someone had to hold him up to the rope and pull him up and down to ring the bell The historic bell was saved by the City during refurbishment but was not put back in the steeple. Plans are to place the bell in the yard of the building for all to enjoy.

Note: The above was taken from writings held in the Sanger Area Historical Society Museum written from notes of Alma Lain Chambers, Una Burkholder Burks, and Eunice Sullivan Gray

The original church building was used as the Sanger Public Library until a new, modern building for the library was built at 5th and Bolivar Streets.

Church prior to the refurbishment project

Numerous attempts were made to renovate the church, and one of them involved raising the building from the ground with a grant from the State. During this renovation, some walls were taken down, and a large photograph was discovered inside one of them The photograph was given to the SAHS to research, but it was folded and damaged A student from UNT was employed to restore the photo and produce a digitized version. The original photo did not show the man in the middle, but the student recreated him using features from all the other men. The contractor who was carrying out the renovation work said that finding photographs in walls was common in old churches, and they usually depicted men who had played a role in building the church Upon closer inspection, the SAHS group realized that one of the men in the photograph was Dr Samuel Alexander Gotcher Dr Gotcher was a deeply religious man who lived in Sanger and began practicing medicine in 1897 after receiving his degree in St. Louis in 1895. He was often seen wearing a long black overcoat with a Bible in the inside pocket. Dr. Gotcher became an ordained minister, moved to Chicago, and worked as a minister until his death in 1922. His home in Sanger still stands at the northwest corner of Fifth and Plum Streets, just south of the strip center containing Lone Oak Café

This beautiful and peaceful church building has been a State of Texas Historical Commission Historic Landmark site since 1972 and still stands proudly today. The property was donated to the City of Sanger in 1987. Around 2014, the Denton Courthouse-on-the-Square organization expressed interest in moving the building to their historic park However, this would result in the loss of the Historic Landmark designation from the State of Texas The building was deteriorating and becoming an eyesore, so a focus group meeting was held for the citizens of Sanger to discuss the possibility of losing a part of Sanger's history. After considering the options, it was decided not to lose the history. The Sanger Area Historical Society (SAHS) led a fundraising drive to refurbish the church, raising approximately $270,000, while the City of Sanger provided the remaining funds The church was unveiled to the public on November 17, 2016, and was a hit!

The SAHS group took photographs throughout the refurbishment. Most notably this building had floors, walls, and ceilings with the same wood from its original days. During refurbishment, the flooring had to be replaced with new flooring, and the walls were sheet-rocked The ceiling was saved with the original wood, as well as portions of the walls at the west and east interior The front room was named in memory of Eulalia Steedman Araoz, the wife of Dr. Carlos Araoz, whose contributions to the refurbishment were notable.

Current day finds the historic landmark building has been used for the Sanger Tour of Homes for Christmas, City Council meetings, weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, receptions, school dances, and yes; even for a few funerals The SAHS organization provides holiday decorating for the building for the Christmas season. The first wedding held in the refurbished church building was Eli Springer and Hayley Brey on December 10, 2016 which christened the newly refurbished historic building.

Sanger has had many churches over the years since its beginning in 1886 and still has many places of worship that had early beginnings and new beginnings.

The Sanger Area Historical Society is always pleased with Sanger citizens’ participation in efforts to save Sanger’s history This church refurbishment was truly an amazing project that citizens got behind, and now everyone can enjoy the historic landmark in many different ways, perhaps just a drive-by to enjoy a part of Sanger’s history.

Dr. Samuel Alexander Gotcher

Dr. Gotcher’s home - still standing at the NW corner of 5th and Plum.

Photograph found in wall of Presbyterian Church building. The image of the man in the middle was severely damaged in the photo. The top row, second from right, is Dr. Gotcher. Because nothing is known about this photograph, it is thought since Dr. Gotcher was also an ordained minister, he placed the picture in the wall and probably was instrumental in the building of the church.