City of Commerce

Texas A&M University-Commerce associate professor of counseling and Commerce school board member Dr. LaVelle Hendricks discusses a campaign involving the University, the city of Commerce, and the Commerce ISD to encourage University faculty, staff, students and others to shop in Commerce, October 5-11.

Commerce Mayor Dr. John Ballotti says the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is considering what is needed to prevent the South Sulphur River from causing floods in southeast Commerce.  The mayor says a new restaurant will open soon in the former Mi Casita location.  And he says, despite delays, the current street construction project is on target to be completed on schedule.

Commerce Mayor Dr. John Ballotti says the Farmers Market on Bonham Alley returns Saturday morning, May 24.  Also, murals will be painted on some of the blank walls in downtown Commerce this summer, and the city has received a grant to demolish and rebuild two local homes.

Commerce Mayor Dr. John Ballotti says the city has received a grant to make repairs to the runway at the Commerce Municipal Airport north of town, and has hopes of extending the airline in the near future so that jets could land there.  And the city and A&M-Commerce will cooperate so that Commerce citizens can swim at the Morris Recreation Center pool this summer.  Also, the mayor says Phase 2 of the street improvement project is on schedule.

Commerce Mayor John Ballotti says, even though the emergency pick up period for limbs from last December's ice storm is over, the remaining limbs are being picked up as part of the city's regular series of curbside refuse pickups.  And the mayor says he's appointed a committee to bring back the Farmers' Market on Bonham Alley in downtown Commerce.

Commerce Mayor Dr. John Ballotti reports that progress is being made on starting the feasibility study for a U.S. Department of Agriculture-funded regional hospital in Commerce, and on the Tipitina's music facility that would be located in the old A.L. Day Elementary School building.

City of Commerce tourism and event coordinator Sherry Johnson is promoting naming rights for three baseball/softball fields at the Eddie Moore Sports Complex.  The city is hoping to raise $7,500-10,000 to support youth sports programs in Commerce.

Commerce Mayor John Ballotti says the city will soon be able to complete the paving of Monroe Street between Live Oak and Bonham.  The mayor says work is expected to begin any day on the demolition of the old Lone Star Pizza building on Live Oak, and the construction of a new Schlotzky's restaurant.  And Wal-Mart will soon install gas pumps, the mayor says.

Commerce Mayor Dr. John Ballotti announces that Schlotzsky's sandwich shop will construct a new building on the old Lone Star Pizza lot on Live Oak Street.  And the mayor says some remedial work will be done on Monroe Street, with more street work soon to follow.

A&M-Commerce president Dr. Dan Jones and Commerce mayor Dr. John Ballotti say the university and the city are doing a feasibility study of applying for a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant to attract a regional medical center to Commerce.  This would be in addition to the new Hunt Memorial Hospital District facility that will be built here this year.

Commerce Mayor Dr. John Ballotti says a blue-ribbon committee of Commerce citizens -- Sue Davis, Jack Gray, Jim Bob Latham,  Carolyn Trezevant and Wyman Williams --  is now developing several tourism projects for the city.

Commerce Mayor Dr. John Ballotti says the new Hibbett Sports will open Saturday, Nov. 2, and the Dollar Tree store soon after in shopping center where Braum's is located.  And Mayor Ballotti says the papers have been signed to officially bring the Tipitina's music venue to the old A.L. Day Elementary School building on the east side of Commerce.

Commerce Mayor Dr. John Ballotti discusses a mini-housing boom in Commerce, and plans for new music-oriented enterprise that will be located in the old A.L. Day Elementary School building on the east side of Commerce.  Information here on Tipitina's.