With recent local developments with respect to the COVID-19 pandemic, the city of Killeen has shifted its focus.
âThe City of Killeen has turned its efforts to vaccinations now that testing is more widely available at places like Walgreens and CVS as well as hospitals and clinics,â city Spokesperson Hilary Shine said by email on Monday after the Herald asked if the city was still facilitating free coronavirus testing as it had in recent months.
The city was doing free drive-thru testing every Monday and Tuesday at the Killeen Special Events Center as recently as Feb. 8 and 9, but that is no longer the case.
The City has established three water filling locations for residents in need of water. The following locations will be open today from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.:
There could be a new Killeen member on the board of directors for the Tax Appraisal District of Bell County in the coming weeks.
Dick Young, the former Killeen city councilman and a former member of the board for the Water Control and Improvement District No. 1, was nominated by the Killeen City Council Tuesday to take the city of Killeen spot on the tax board.
Young said Friday he had been looking to find a way to serve the community since stepping down from the water board last year. Young, who became a housing developer last year, had to step down from the water board because state law prohibits developers from serving on water boards.
In the context of recently approved funding for a renovation of a community center to accommodate senior citizens on Killeenâs north side, the issue of funding for youth programs has received renewed attention.
On Jan. 26 the Killeen City Council voted, at a cost not to exceed $543,825, to approve a professional services agreement with Randall Scott Architects, Inc., for the renovation of the Rosa Hereford Community Center, adding a senior center. This would be to replace the now-defunct Bob Gilmore Senior Center, located nearby.
The vote was 5-1, with Councilmember Mellisa Brown casting the sole vote against the agreement.
Prior to the vote at the Jan. 26 meeting, and in fact after it at the councilâs workshop this past Tuesday, concerns about sufficient funding for youth programs were raised, as well as concerns about combining a renovated senior facility with one which also has programs for youth.