The City of Streetman is not going to fade quietly into the sunset, instead residents there are taking steps to revitalize the community.

“Streetman is fixing to grow,” Mayor Johnny Robinson declares.

To pursue growth, the city commission is working on a handful of improvement projects to attract business and to cope with increased activities.

First order of business is to run a water line to the closed National Petroleum building on the west side of I-45, on the opposite side of the interstate from the town.

Robinson reports that he has been contacted by a real estate agent representing a company in Pennsylvania that is looking for a Texas location.

The facility consists of a large workshop area, office space and 12 acres of land with east access to the interstate.

The Streetman mayor says that the business wanted information on the labor force and pay scales.

Although the facility is outside the city limits of Streetman, town commissioners have agreed to provide water. Currently water lines are being extended along Loop 114 in the area of the National Petroleum building.

“We are helping them any way we can,” Robinson says.

In addition, the city plans to drill a new water well, bring the number serving the community to three, and erect a 60,000 above ground water storage tank.

The mayor says that the new well and storage tank will enable the city to supply water to 600 meters—- currently the city provides service to 170 meters.

Second order of business is to work with Mitsui Corporation, which has announced plans to build a gas-fired electric generating plant on FM 416 several miles east of Streetman.

Robinson points out that construction will require 300-500 workers and he expects that to triple traffic through Streetman. FM 416 is narrow and has several sharp curves, which could result in traffic snarls.

“We are thinking about hiring a city marshall to help with traffic control,” the mayor says.

He points out that the increased traffic should help business in the community, possibly encouraging small businesses to open there.

Along with working with area industry to stimulate growth in town, Robinson reports that efforts are underway to secure some small buildings for use as city government facilities.

The deal in the works is to get a donation from Home Depot in Corsicana of display buildings they have erected on their store parking lot.

Robinson explains that Home Depot replaces the display buildings every few years and they have to go somewhere.

The buildings could be used as a city hall, police station, community center and for storage of city equipment.

An ongoing project by Streetman Historical Society is preservation of the old Presbyterian Church, which was deeded to the city when it closed, then deeded by the city to the historical organization.

Freestone county commissioners gave the historical group $20,000 in funding to replace the roof on the church and the city is getting actively involved in the project.

Once preservation is completed, the old church could serve a number of community functions.

“I’m trying to keep the town from drying up and blowing away,” Robinson says of the efforts throughout the community.