Friday's Internet Edition, July 04, 2008.
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| What a blow.... Last Sundays brief hail and wind event produced some damage not noticed until workers opened the MountainView Golf Course back up Tuesday. Here Raul Rodriguez, golf course manager, stands beside an uprooted tree along hole #6. The tree, according to Raul, was planted over 14 years ago and now it is completely uprooted. About 6 other trees around the golf course were also uprooted during the brief hail and wind event. |
- The monthly meeting of Culberson County commissioners got underway Monday morning and finding money to fix the county jail and the Child Protective Service building was uppermost on the agenda.
Sheriff Oscar Carrillo told commissioners that his jail was over 40 years old and the plumbing needs some immediate attention. Carrillo noted that while his department was preparing for an upcoming inspection, they found the leaking pipes that now require fast action.
Carrillo reported that he had a quote from Jessie’s Plumbing to repair the leaky situation for $1,300.
At the same time, Carrillo reported that while preparing for the upcoming inspection, his department also found evidence of mold throughout the 40+ year old facility. He asked that commissioners authorize him to at least paint the brick in question while they seek a more long term solution to the mold problem.
When all was said and done, commissioners approved spending up to $5,000 to fix the plumbing and mold problem. Sheriff Carrillo reported that Jessie’s Plumbing is expected to begin the work this week.
At last months meeting, Commissioner Duane Corrales asked about needed repairs and maintenance at the Child Protective Services building. At Mondays meeting, he presented an idea.
That idea being that the county allocate money for the roof and tiling and county employees would do the work. The metal roofing and tiles are expected to cost about $12,500.
Corrales noted that by having the county employees do the work, it will save the county probably $8,000 to $10,000.
After discussion, commissioners allocated the $12,500 to perform this work as well.
Commissioners also approved the purchase of a new police package vehicle from Dick Poe Dodge in El Paso. Sheriff Carrillo recommended that they go with Dick Poe because it was the better vehicle and the bid was lower.
The county will pay for the vehicle with $10,500 from an insurance settlement on a previous wrecked sheriff’s car and they will finance the balance of the $23,000 for the new vehicle.
Commissioners took the following action on other agenda items which were considered at Mondays meeting:
* Heard Eddie Peters, of Pre-Paid Legal Services make a presentation on identity theft and what the county’s responsibility is as far as letting their employees know about this significant problem. He did gain access to county employees to explain the alternatives.
* Heard Lyle Harrower report that a new Alcoholics Anonymous group was organizing here and that it would be meeting every Monday. They hoped to meet in the City-County Library but if that facility is not available, they will meet in the Methodist Church Fellowship Hall.
* Heard a report from Kay Carson on how she is doing with the Welcome Wagon project here. Thus far, she has given out 58 boxes and has a serious need for more boxes.
* Adopted a Fair Housing Month proclamation for April since the county accepts federal and state grant money and it is a requirement.
* Extended the bid deadlines for the Youth Club and Border Colonia projects, and scheduled a special meeting for March 26th to act on any bids received.
* Commissioners also authorized the advertisement for bids for materials in relation to the Border Colonias street project.
* And, commissioners learned that the 2007 CDBG application for Phase III of the Youth Club have been scored by the Regional Review Committee and will now go to the state for final review.
* Commissioners authorized the purchase of a new copier in the amount of $1,295 to be paid for from her Records Preservation account.
* Commissioners also learned that the governor had called a special election for May 12th and they approved a resolution to hold the election jointly with the city and school elections on the same date.
* Commissioners, at the request of Sheriff Carrillo also approved 4 memorandums for understanding with Brewster, Presidio, Jeff Davis and Hudspeth counties.
* Following an executive session on pending legal action, commissioners agreed to enter into an agreement with the Whiteheads.
* They heard County Tax Assessor-Collector Molly Hernandez ask for another full time employee for her office. After discussion, commissioners agreed to consider her request when they work on the budget in August.
* Heard County Judge Manuel Molinar report that the Volunteer Fire Department needs another pumper truck to replace one that was wrecked. Commissioners approved looking for grant funds to finance the truck.
* Accepted the resignation of Mario Sanchez as County Fire Marshal effective March 31st since he has been paid through then.
* Agreed to let the Appraisal District proceed with the sale of the former Rodarte Laundramat property in Rivas addition to get the property back on the tax role.
* Agreed to cap the Community Center utility bills at $250. The Community Center Association will pay for any overages.
* Approved budget amendments as recommended by County Judge, County Commissioners and the County Auditor.
* After approving the submitted monthly reports, commissioners approved payment of monthly bills and salaries amounting to $215,109.86. Of that amount, payroll and related expense was $110,513.12 and monthly bills were $104,596.74.
Candidate lineup is set for May 12th elections
The filing deadline to run as a candidate in the May 12th City Officer and School Trustee elections concluded at 5 p.m. on Monday, March 12th.
With the passing of the deadline, the slate of candidates is now set. It should be noted that candidate filings got pretty intense on the last day of filing as 12 folks have now filed to run in the two elections. At press time last week, only one person had filed.
The candidate lineup shapes up like this. In the City Officer election, five candidates are seeking 3 seats on the city council. The seats up for election are currently held by Mingo Corralez, and Nuny Morriss. The third seat up for grabs was held by Susie Hinojos who resigned to take the county treasurer’s position.
Candidates vying for the seats include: incumbent Domingo Corralez, incumbent Nuny Morriss and Elsa Carmona Vorheis, Dennis McBride, and Matthew B. Molinar.
Over in the School Trustee election, three seats are up for grabs on the school board. They are currently held by Kyle Brookshier, Andy Maldonado, and Omar Ortega.
The candidates in the election are as follows: incumbent Kyle Brookshier, incumbent Omar Ortega, and Andrea Ramirez, Raquel Mendez, Moises Badillo, Angie Gonzales, and Eddie Navarrette, Jr.
Early voting in these elections begins in April, with the actual election day being Saturday, May 12th.
Sales tax receipts are up here in Van Horn
Texas Comptroller Susan Combs today announced state sales tax revenue in February totaled $1.65 billion, up 7.0 percent compared to February 2006.
“Post-holiday sales indicate the Texas economy and our sales tax collections continue to grow, though not at the rapid pace we experienced a year ago,” Combs said. “We will continue to closely monitor our state’s economic indicators such as oil and gas, the Texas housing market and consumer spending.”
Combs delivered $396.8 million in March sales tax payments to Texas cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose taxing districts, a 5.6 percent increase compared to March 2006. So far this calendar year, local sales tax allocations are up 5.5 percent compared to the first three months of 2006.
State sales tax revenue for February, and March payments made to local governments today, represents sales that occurred in January.
Comptroller Combs sent March sales tax payments of $268.6 million to Texas cities, up 5.1 percent compared to March 2006. Calendar year-to-date, city sales tax allocations are running 6.5 percent higher than last year. Texas counties received sales tax payments of $24.2 million, up 5.9 percent compared to one year ago. Calendar year-to-date, county sales tax allocations are 7.6 percent higher than last year.
Here in Van Horn, we received a check for $30,832.49 which represents an increase of 1.47% over the payment received last March. For the year-to-date, Van Horn’s receipts total $109,141.73. That figure is up some 18.14% over last year at the same time.
Other area communities reflect the following sales tax gains and/or losses on the year: Alpine - gain of 26.62%; Odessa - increase of 18.35%; El Paso - gain of 7.51%; Midland - increase of 10.72%; Fort Stockton - gain of 9.74%; Marfa - gain of 3.94%; Presidio - increase of 3.74%; Pecos - gain of 10.65%; and Monahans - gain of 20.65%.
The 115 special purpose taxing districts around the state received $11.8 million in sales tax revenue, up 9.3 percent compared to last March. Ten local transit systems received $92 million, up 6.4 percent.
For details of March sales tax payments to individual cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose districts, locate the Monthly Sales and Use Tax Allocation Comparison Summary Reports on the Comptroller’s Web site at www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/allocsum/compsum.html. The Comptroller’s next sales tax allocation will be made on Friday, April 13.