Friday's Internet Edition, July 04, 2008.
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The event is being offered as an opportunity for local citizens to get rid of old tires that are lying around their house and/or property. Normally, disposal of old tires requires a fee, but for this event, city and county money is being combined with grant funding from the Rio Grande Council of Governments and the Chihuahuan Desert RC&D to allow city and county residents to get rid of their old tires for free.
Jones stated that city and county ordinances and resolutions will be passed in the next couple of months that will require the removal of all old tires from the town. “With this in mind,” said Jones, “all citizens should get rid of their tires while they have the opportunity to do so without risk of cost or penalty.”
The event will take place on this Friday and Saturday, June 22nd and 23rd. Tires can be brought to the County Barn at 1110 West Broadway from 8:00 am until 5:00 pm on Friday, or from 8 am until noon on Saturday.
Private property owners, non-tire business owners, and citizens of the town and county will be allowed to deposit their tires for free. Local tire businesses who have a collection of old tires are invited to participate, but will have to pay a straight-cost-only fee for the disposal of each tire. Disposal cost varies by the size of the tire as outlined below:
Passenger tires up to 16" – $2
LT Tires 17.5 to 19.5" - $4
20 to 24" Truck Tires - $7
Super Singles - $10.50
Pass. Tires with rims - $4
Truck Tires w/rims - $20
Jones wanted the community to know that the reason behind the collection event is a health reason related to the harboring of mosquitoes and the risk of someone being infected with West Nile Virus as a result of being bitten by an infected mosquito. “Throughout the six county region of Far West Texas, communities are concentrating on the elimination of old tires because those old tires provide a perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes. We don’t want to wait for the death of one of our local children before we begin addressing the situation of all these old tires lying around. This event provides the perfect time for local citizens to get rid of this health risk.”
Following the tire collection event, city and county officials will be considering new policies to control the stockpiling and appropriate disposal of old tires. “We’re relying on the local citizens and the tire dealers to cooperate as we establish new policies to keep this tire situation under control. The new program will include both tighter enforcement related to tires with numerous steps to make disposal easier and hopefully even cheaper for both private citizens and the tire dealers.”
City co-sponsors tire clean-up, thanks Youth Association workers
Van Horn City Councilmen met Tuesday evening and learned that the City, along with the County, will be sponsoring a tire cleanup drive this Saturday.
The event, which is aimed at getting rid of tires in town and on trailer houses, is expected to bring in lots of tires. And the benefits, other than making the town look better, will be that mosquito borne disease opportunities should be lessened as well.
The tire event will accept truck tires and tires from commercial tire folks provided they pay the disposal fee which they collect on each tire already.
For more information about this event, contact Jeff McCoy or Commissioner John Jones.
Councilmen also heard from Michael Baeza and Chello Gonzales of the Van Horn Youth Association. The first question council asked was “How many folks are there working in the Association?” Baeza and Gonzales replied, “Two! And, we need help!”
Council had hoped that more parents and adults were actively involved and seemed shocked to learn that Baeza and Gonzales were doing nearly all the work.
Council members encouraged Baeza and Gonzales and urged them to make every effort to enlist more folks to do the work besides the few coaches they have.
The City provides the Youth Association with $5,000 annually to fund purchases and they do help out whenever possible with watering the Little League field. However, the city does not have the finances or staff to have someone keep the Little League field up continually.
Council thanked Baeza and Gonzales for their efforts on behalf of the youth of Van Horn.
With regard to other items considered by council during the meeting, the following actions were taken:
* Approved a Sheriff’s office request to designate an area at the airport as the fireworks area. And, council approved having members of the Volunteer Fire Department on hand for enforcement assistance.
* Approved spending $1,200 to have a video of the court house well made to see what can be done to get it back on line.
Learned that with the hot weather upon us, the city water wells are at capacity trying to keep up with the demand.
Council urged the public to be aware of water restrictions and times to water lawns.
* Approved the funds to repair one of the city vehicles that is currently down.
* Learned that the swimming pool is going to give swimming lessons beginning July 1st.
* Learned that the Van Horn Economic Development Corporation is going to have a special Project 7 Room opening event on July 7, 2007 called 777. The event will highlight all the efforts of Van Horn’s Economic Development Initiative in a visible way.
* Approved renting 8 golf carts for the annual golf tournament to be held in mid-August. While on the golf course, they also approved the purchase of 30 gallons of iron for use on the course.
* Approved a request by Arnold Acosta to sell him a small portion of city land which is situated west of Bell Street and is an extension of 3rd Street. Acosta must provide the city with a meets and bounds description of the property in question.
* Approved a renewal contract with a firm to provide the city with Drug and Alcohol testing services.
* Approved offering McVay Courts and Rocky Navarrette garbage service for their property without having to have water and sewer services.
* Heard various reports from City Administrator Becky Brewster and approved payment of monthly bills.
* And before adjourning, council went behind closed doors for an executive session.