Letter to the Editor - October 28

Greetings fellow Marlinites,
Once again, we find ourselves dispelling erroneous information when this time would be better spent addressing true issues. However, we are committed to addressing any issues that concern our citizens. Outright false and negative information has been reported regarding city operations. It has been reported that the City used RoundUp or some form of chemical to clear the cattails at the new city lake. As a result of this alleged use of chemicals, the city water has been contaminated. These lies will be negated using FACTS. NO CHEMICALS HAVE BEEN SPRAYED AT THE NEW CITY LAKE, OLD CITY LAKE, PARK LAKE, OR ANY LAKE within the jurisdictional control of the City of Marlin. In fact, the cattails are still at the lake and have not been removed. If you would look and listen to the City Council meeting video on the City's Facebook page from October 13, 2020, you will note the Public Works Director, Scott Fornash, stated the city would be “USING MACHINERY TO PULL THE CATTAILS OUT BY THE ROOTS and he would be LOOKING INTO FINDING AN AQUA HERBICIDE that would keep them from coming back. ” I Repeat, the cattails are still there and will be removed using machinery prior to the fly in. We have four planes that will land on the lake and we need to have the cattails cleared prior to November 7. The City workers HAVE NOT used Round Up or any other chemical to control the cattails out at the new city lake. Most of us who work for the City live here as well and use this water and it just makes NO SENSE for us to do that. If anything were to be used at the new city lake, the citizens of Marlin can rest assured it would meet EPA and TCEQ approval. I want to again encourage each of you to attend or view the live council meetings that are streamed to Facebook the 2 nd Tuesday of every month and any scheduled special meetings. These meetings are saved on the City’s Facebook page for referencing. Please review these meetings when certain individuals present false information. Generally, when individuals spread erroneous information, it is because they have intentionally, or accidentally, misconstrued what they heard from the meeting. Reasonable minded individuals can view and  hear the same information and know and understand the facts of what was said. Considering that the information presented by this individual has been 100% false, I encourage you to seek your information elsewhere. IF, after reviewing the meeting recordings, you still have questions, please feel free to reach out to us for clarification. Most of the information you seek will probably be in the recording. If not, we will gladly provide you with the information you seek. The City of Marlin is committed to doing the RIGHT thing for the citizens here and we are  striving daily to turn around years and years of neglect. ALL DECISIONS made have been, and will be, made with the best interest of MARLIN AND MARLIN CITIZENS at the forefront.

We continue to appreciate all of you for your support, encouragement, and dedication to seeing Marlin change for the better for ALL of us. Thank you to all who helped with the City-Wide Clean up this past Saturday including all who cleaned their own yards. I am looking forward to seeing each of you at the airport on November 7 from 8am to 3pm for the fly-in. We are expecting 40 planes that will take 30-40 youths age 8-17 on plane rides. Please register your youths in advance at https://youngeaglesday.org/?1575. Great things are accomplished when we lift each other up and not pull each other down.

Peace and blessings,
Hon. Carolyn Lofton, Mayor
City of Marlin