‘Great things happening.’ This Fort Worth suburb could be an All-American City
The city of Saginaw, with a population of just over 25,000, is accomplishing big things.
For a second consecutive year Saginaw has been named among the 20 finalists for the All-America City Award presented by the National Civic League. The award recognizes cities that leverage civic engagement, collaboration, inclusiveness and innovation to successfully address local issues.
“The recognition as a finalist for two years in a row — and, hopefully, as a winner this year — will demonstrate to current and future residents and the business community that Saginaw is indeed ‘The City on the Right Track,’” Saginaw City Manager Gabe Reaume said.
This year’s 10 winners will be announced at an event in Denver June 7-9 celebrating the 75th anniversary of the award. Among last year’s winners were Dallas and San Antonio.
In fact, San Antonio leads the nation with the most honors since the award was started in 1949 with nine. Fort Worth has won the award three times, in 1964, 1993 and 2011, with DeSoto winning in 2006, Grand Prairie winning in 1975 and Dallas also winning in 1970.
El Paso has won the award five times, tied for fourth most nationwide.
“Being a finalist for the All American City Award once again is a reflection of all the great things happening in Saginaw,” Mayor Todd Flippo said. “We are getting more and more citizens , including young people, involved in local government. We have opened our doors to a broad cross-section of the populace and they have thrived.
“Saginaw is a small, close-knit community and people enjoy being involved and knowledgeable about how our city functions.”
How Saginaw qualified
This year’s theme for the award is “Strengthening Democracy through Local Action and Innovation.”
To qualify, Saginaw officials presented three community-driven projects shown to benefit the city: Adult education, Garage Gab (neighborhood town Halls) and a collaboration between the city and the Eagle Mountain Saginaw school district.
“There are several programs in our city that demonstrate innovative ways that engage our community to be more involved in civic activities,” said Saginaw City Council Member Nick Lawson, who is very involved in the All-America City program.
“We are very proud of the Saginaw Public Library Adult Education Program, which has received recognition by Literacy Texas. Mastering the English language and acquiring US citizenship strengthens our community with engaged and productive citizens.
“Our city manager introduced an innovative program, Garage Gab. Unlike a town hall that dictates a time and place, the Garage Gab is requested by a citizen and held at their location at a time convenient to them. This informal setting has successfully encouraged open communication between citizens and city leaders, providing residents an opportunity to voice their concerns and learn about issues affecting the city.
“Also, EMS ISD and the City of Saginaw collaborate to encourage youth civic education and engagement. I am extremely proud to call Saginaw my home - a city on the right track.”
Adult education
The John Ed Keeter Public Library offers programs for adults which includes GED preparation classes, English as a second language instruction, and US citizenship test preparation.
“We are excited to be building a brand-new library that voters approved in 2021, which will triple the size of the existing facility and allow for more adult learners to succeed in the future,” Reaume said. “What’s great about the program is that it is staffed entirely by our own library personnel in partnership with community volunteers, many of whom are retired educators.”
Flippo called the library one of the city’s biggest symbols of success and diversity. It hosts an annual cultural dinner, where patrons share dishes from their home countries.
“People come from many different backgrounds to enjoy the benefits of our library,” Flippo said. “At the most recent event, I sat at a table with several people from Venezuela. One person was a professor of mechanical engineering, another was a small business owner. All had fled an oppressive situation and were seeking a better life in America.
“Through our library, they were learning English and working to obtain US citizenship. Their stories were inspirational and highlighted the vital role that public libraries play in our democracy.”
Garage Gab
The city introduced an innovative, neighborhood-based Town Hall meeting in 2021. These are informal visits by the mayor, city council members, the city manager and department heads. Residents are free to ask questions, provide feedback, and even submit complaints. The meetings are designed to be fun, friendly, and informative and Reaume said they have helped to combat misinformation that is prevalent on social media.
The Garage Gabs have also received statewide recognition, earning Saginaw a Texas Municipal League Excellence Award in 2022.
“Sometimes, a city regulation doesn’t fully make sense to someone. But, if we have several departments there to explain why the regulation was put into place, it can help to foster understanding between homeowners and the city,” said Benjamin Guttery, who, along with his husband, Ruben Bermejo, has hosted a couple of Garage Gabs.
“There really is no substitute for being able to offer a smile, shake someone’s hand, share contact information, and put a face with a name,” Reaume said.
Collaboration with school district
The Eagle Mountain-Saginaw school district collaborates with the city administration on initiatives such as the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council, which allows students to participate in civic affairs and community projects, and the Student Apprenticeship Program, providing summer apprenticeship employment for students to learn about local government jobs.
The collaboration extends to the Saginaw Library, where EMS-ISD’s annual cultural events highlight students’ cultural heritage and diversity. Additionally, EMS-ISD facilitates collaboration with retired faculty, who contribute valuable knowledge and resources to support academic programs and initiatives.
Many retired educators volunteer in Saginaw Library’s Adult Education GED classes. Additionally, EMS ISD serves as the host for the city’s annual Train & Grain Festival, which is held in October at Saginaw High School.
“EMS-ISD recognizes the importance of planning not only educational goals but also infrastructure. Specifically, the Long-Range Facilities Planning Committee evaluates strategies and priorities to meet Saginaw’s growing population needs,” Reaume said.
“By engaging stakeholders through meetings, surveys, and forums, the committee promotes transparency and community ownership, recently recommending a $659.1 million multi-proposition school bond election for November that focuses on safety, growth, facility maintenance, and equitable learning environments.”
Looking ahead
While city officials — and residents — hope to be one of the award winners this year, regardless of the outcome, Reaume said the plan is to continually move forward in making Saginaw a desired destination for visitors and newcomers to the area.
Other projects that could keep them in the running for this award and others going forward include:
▪ Working on a “grown-up” version of the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council program to educate and inform adults about how the council-manager form of government works and how public services are provided each and every day.
▪ With additional space, the Saginaw Public Library will be able to expand program offerings once the new facility opens next year.
▪ The city’s popular farmer’s market and food truck park, The Saginaw Switchyard, is currently undergoing an expansion. Reaume said they hope to host their first night market in the summer.
“Public service is a true team sport,” Reaume said. “It requires the vision and leadership of our elected officials along with the expertise and commitment of career public servants to best serve our residents, business community, and visitors.”
The finalists
Boulder, Colorado
Danville, Virginia
Edinburg, Texas
Henderson, Kentucky
High Point, North Carolina
Jacksonville, North Carolina
La Marque, Texas
Lakewood, Colorado
Lexington, Kentucky
Monroe County, Indiana
Monrovia, California
New Orleans, Louisiana
Newport News, Virginia
Oakland, California
Punta Gorda, Florida
Roanoke, Virginia
Saginaw, Texas
Seattle, Washington
Watkinsville, Georgia
Wilton Manors, Florida
This story was originally published May 31, 2024 at 10:33 AM.