Photo by Bobby Vasquez.

At Tuesday's meeting, City Council and the Deer Park Police Department thanked police volunteers for their service.

"It's my pleasure to do this every year, to talk about our volunteers and honor them and their contribution to our city," said Greg Grigg, DPPD chief.

Grigg said the department receives assistance from 52 volunteers from the Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association and Volunteers in Policing.

In 2012, they logged 2,210 hours through warrant calls, traffic control, assisting in handicap parking enforcement, victims assistance, police officers memorial and other tasks.

Those hours represent $48,941 worth of time, which is up about 600 hours from last year, he said.

Officer Tina Taylor, Grigg and DPPD volunteers presented Mayor Wayne Riddle a check representing the total funds saved by the department through its volunteers.

Photo by Bobby Vasquez.

During its meeting Tuesday night, City Council honored the city's water and sewer distribution crews for their around-the-clock commitment to the service of residents.

"They are the unsung heroes," said City Manager Jay Stokes, who made the presentation. "They are there for you when you need them. If your sewer line doesn't flush at two in the morning, you call these guys who will come out and fix it."

In the summer of 2011, the drought conditions caused hundreds of line breaks, which put many of these employees into 20-hour shifts so they could complete the repairs, Stokes said. The department has had a recent rash of letters complimenting them on their service and professionalism, he said.

They were greeted with a standing ovation by the council audience.

City council unanimously approved parking and striping along P Street near the Deer Park Elementary campus at its Tuesday meeting.

Council adopted an ordinance which prohibits parking on the north side of P Street from Center Street to the east for 1,280 feet and from Luella Avenue to the west for 700 feet. This would allow parking on the north side of P Street near the soccer fields. Parking would continue to be disallowed entirely on the south side of P Street from Center to Luella.

City memos state staff recommends striping on P Street between Luella Avenue and Center Street remain as it is. Installing markings which designate two eastbound lanes of traffic and two westbound lanes of traffic on P Street would disrupt the present workable system of traffic flow.

This plan came after Deer Park ISD completed reconstruction of the parking and driveway areas of campus last year.

Council also unanimously agreed on a resolution for the city to join the TexSTAR project. Also, council approved on an amendment to the Fire Control Prevention Emergency Medical Services District budget. That vote passed 6-0 with Councilman Sam Pipkin abstaining. Pipkin sits on that district board.

Cheryl Westmoreland and Rusty Groos (right) were honored as the 2013 Laypersons of the Year at the annual Mayor's Prayer Luncheon. The event marks the final prayer luncheon for Wayne Riddle (center) as mayor. Photo by Bobby Vasquez.

For their acts of selflessness, charity and love toward the people and world around them, Cheryl Westmoreland and Rusty Groos were honored by the Deer Park Chamber of Commerce as the Laypersons of the Year at the Mayor's Prayer Luncheon Thursday.

Westmoreland, the school nurse at Deer Park Junior High, is described as having a genuine and giving heart with a sweet spirit. She gives unselfishly without recognition to those who need it the most. She's always there for persons in need even though most people have no idea how she found out, said Ken Donnell, the award's presenter.

Westmoreland, who attends St. Hyacinth Catholic Church, makes sure that people know they are important to her by sending them little notes and what she calls "happys."

"There's not a moment in the day when she does not live for God. God just shines through her," he said. "She seizes everyday by saying what could she do to help someone today."

The Deer Park ISD Board of Trustees unanimously but reluctantly voted to approve a federal mandate that would raise school lunch prices by 5 cents.

The mandate, known as the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act, was signed into law in December of 2010. One of the provisions of this act was to establish equity in school lunch pricing. Federal funds intended for free and reduced price lunches are being used to fill the gap between what the lunch costs and what the school received for it.

Effective for the 2013-14 school year elementary lunches will rise from $2 to $2.05; junior high from $2.25 to $2.30 and high school from $2.30 to $2.35.

According to Deer Park ISD memos concerning the matter, "children across all income levels are negatively affected by limiting the funds available to provide nutritious meals."

Board member Ryan Taylor questioned why the district must go through with approving the hike if the rate will be implemented by federal mandate.

The mandate requires school districts, including Deer Park ISD, to annually review its paid lunch revenue to assure compliance with the equity requirement. The average lunch price must increase by a factor of 2 percent plus the annual inflation rate.