Kudos to City Employees

Letter to the Editor - July 8, 2020

Greetings fellow Marlinites,

“When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident.” (Psalm 27:1)

I write this letter to recognize the many individuals who serve you within our City Hall.  I want to acknowledge their hard work and diligence in caring for the city of Marlin.  In all my years of living in this city, I have never known anyone to personally and publicly attack our city workers and leadership as I have witnessed in recent weeks.  I know that for all who work for the City of Marlin at this time, you have felt under attack for doing your best to make Marlin better.  You have shown your commitment to ensuring that city operations are conducted in the right way and for that you are being criticized and demeaned by some.  I want you to know that God is faithful, and your faith is being tested during this time.  I want to let you know that we, the citizens of Marlin, see and applaud all that you are doing to ensure that Marlin prospers and grows and that you are operating with a right spirit within you.  

To our Public Works Dept:  I want to personally thank you all for the work that you are doing to repair and repave streets, clean ditches, repair sewer and water leaks, and do so with pride in your work.  While few in number, you are making a huge impact on our community through your diligence and dedication to getting the job done.  We know that you hardly receive the thanks that you deserve for working out in the hot sun to correct years of neglected infrastructure.  Many of you told me when I was elected that you have always wanted to do your jobs but were hindered from doing so.  You told me that you knew how to repair the streets and just needed to be allowed to do them.   You have kept your word and you’re doing exactly what you said you could do if just given the space to do so.  We want to thank for all you are doing. 

To our Water Plant, Wastewater, and Water Depts:  I know that you all take a lot of criticism as well.  I want to personally thank you all for staying the course, accepting and responding to the criticism, and working daily to ensure that Marlinites have the best water and wastewater services that the city can provide at this time.  As you continue to work with engineers to make your departments better, I want you to know how very proud we are that you are continually looking for ways to improve Marlins’ water in spite of things that are out of your control such as the dilapidated and aged pipes throughout our city.  Grant monies secured to upgrade our water plant and repair the electrical grid at the Brazos, and grant monies that are being sought for our wastewater plant, will go a long way in ensuring that Marlin has the resources within our community to sustain us for many years to come.  Thank you for your work in regard to these grant awards and those yet to be fulfilled.   I want to applaud all of you in the water dept for your compliance in ensuring, that as we changed to a cashless system, you were patient but steadfast in ensuring that this transition was smooth for all.  We are pleased with the revenue numbers being reported that will help with so many needs here in Marlin.  I want to thank you for working with our citizens to pay any past due amounts as they endure hardships during this pandemic. The water in Marlin has been a source of contention for many years and will, no doubt, continue to be so until our entire city infrastructure is upgraded.  However, I want you all to know that we appreciate your hard work and diligence in working with the citizens of Marlin during this difficult time.

To our Police Dept:  I want to thank you all for your willingness to come into a department that has been widely criticized in our recent past.  All of you were willing to work with a department that lacked the needed tools for you to adequately do the job until we are able to get what is needed.  While it may be a slow process, we will get there.  Thanks to the recent grant that was awarded to upgrade our dispatch office and other grants that have been applied for, we are looking forward to having a fully functional police department again.  I want to thank all the officers who have chosen to work for the City of Marlin.  We have been told by many that no officers wanted to come to Marlin because of past issues, but you all did come. You are doing a great job of protecting and serving the citizens of Marlin.  Thank you all again for being here and we are pleased that you chose Marlin. 

To our city office personnel: I would like to thank our Financial Director for being willing to take over and restructure our financial records for the city.  We know that what you walked into was unrecognizable even to auditors in terms of a functioning system that worked. But you took it to task, and you have done a fabulous job.  We know that there is a long way to go in making sure that city financial records are established in such a way that future auditing will be so much easier. Thank you for staying the course despite the obstacles that you have had to endure along the way.  Keep up the good work.  I would also like to thank our Interim City Secretary.  You are a walking wealth of knowledge. We know that you have endured your share of criticism, but you continue to smile every day and never fail to work hard at what you do. We are grateful for your knowledge, skills, and abilities regarding just about everything.  Thank you for all you do to help the citizens of Marlin with any and all questions and concerns that arise on an almost constant basis.  We would also like to thank our Municipal Court for their dedication and hard work in ensuring court operations are smooth and functional.  We are grateful for your input and insight into ways to make operations better.  

To our City Manager:  You have endured an unjust amount of criticism in recent months.  I would like to personally thank the previous administration for hiring you in a unanimous vote on the night of my swearing in. Despite the fact that you had never been a City Manager before, they may not have known it then, but God was truly in control.  I don’t think many of the citizens of Marlin can tell you who previous City Managers have been in this town and I can bet that most probably never had their city cell number either.  From the moment you arrived, you explored Marlin to see what you could do to improve it and you have worked diligently on that mission since.  I am grateful for your leadership with city employees and your dedication to the task of improving Marlin.  You have applied for many grants without having to hire someone else to do so.  City employees respect your leadership and insight and enjoy working with you.  You are knowledgeable of city operations and you are a valuable resource for this community.  We are grateful to have you in Marlin and want to encourage you to keep up the great work.  

To our Fire Dept:  You all have had to work in a building that is substandard at best.  You all have been steadfast in your commitment to your roles and never complain when you don’t have adequate equipment to work with.  We appreciate having a functional fire dept within the city of Marlin and we are grateful for all of you.  We are continually looking for ways to upgrade and improve your working conditions as this is a hugely recognized need. 

To the Marlin City Council:  Thank you for working to ensure that operations are done the right way for the right reasons.  Until recently, we have been perfectly in sync, in total agreement on issues, and seemingly moving in the same direction.  I know that evil has been present and has caused division among us.  I want to thank all of you for staying the course and working to get back to what’s truly important, making Marlin better.  I enjoy working with each of you, hearing your views and insights into issues, and ultimately making the right decisions for Marlin.  Thank you all for serving in a thankless job that has great rewards when great things are being done.  I am looking forward to many months ahead working to ensure that great things happen in Marlin. 

I want to personally say, “Thank You” and that you all are appreciated for all that you are doing and will do to improve Marlin.  Keep up the good work and do not allow evil to deter you from the good that you do every day.  God knows your heart and sees what you do, and you will be rewarded for your steadfast dedication to your job in due time.  As we continue to work together to ensure that Marlin progresses forward and that upgrades are made in every aspect of city operations, I want you all to know that we are constantly tested for faithfulness and commitment to the task ahead.  We agreed that it would not be easy, but we were all up for the task.  Keep that commitment and know that the enemy can do nothing that God does not allow.  At the end of the day, it’s all a test of faith.  God brought us all here for a reason and through Him we will stand strong and complete the mission that He has set us on.  Nothing and no one can stop what God has for us here in Marlin. Thank you all again and it is a pleasure to work with each of you.  

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

Hon. Carolyn Lofton, Mayor

City of Marlin

07/05/2020

The Marlin Democrat

251 Live Oak St
Marlin, TX 76661
Phone: (254) 883-2554
Fax:(254) 883-6553