Thursday's Internet Edition, September 09, 2010.
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| Oil & Gas activity still looking up.... This load of well casing pipe arrived here Monday. It is being stored here until it is ready for use in a well in neighboring Hudspeth County. Seems liek Oil and Gas activity here is still moving forward. |
- Culberson County Commissioners met Monday morning with Commissioners Garibay and Corrales absent. The meeting, with only three members present was shortened to less than an hour.
Commissioners heard Manuel Carrillo, shop manager, request that the county spend some $5,300 for a motorized lift at the barn.
Carrillo told commissioners that since the barn is now doing oil changes for all county vehicles, it would sure help to be able to lift the vehicles up when working under them.
Commissioner Lyndon McDonald reported that he had seen one such lift and that it would, in fact, help. Additionally, he noted that a concrete pad under the work area would also help.
Following discussion, commissioners approved purchasing the motorized lift as well as the money for pur the concrete slab under it.
And, while discussing county barn matters, Manuel Carrillo also reported that the new motor grader purchased from the state in Dallas, runs great and will be a useful tool for county operations. There is one problem, Carrillo noted. It needs tires and they run $670 each.
Commissioners also approved getting 4 tires for the motor grader.
Mingo Corralez, county solid waste disposal coordinator told commissioners that a Solid Waste Tire Disposal Service has been planned for March 16th through March 21st. Citizens will be encouraged to bring old tires to the county anytime during this period. There will be no charge for this service.
Corralez did, however, state that this tire disposal operation was not for dealers to dump their tires or for tires for which a disposal fee has already been collected. An advertisement will be placed in the newspaper this week.
With regard to other matters considered by commissioners, the following actions were taken:
* Heard the monthly report from Elaine Koch, County Extension Agent. Koch reported on a Range Management Seminar being held here on March 18th and urged the commissioners to attend.
* Approved a bond, as presented by the County Tax Assessor/Collector, for the Motor Vehicle Division collections.
* Approved of the purchase of a computer for the County Clerk’s office for elections use. County Clerk Linda McDonald reported that her office will be reimbursed for the computer by the state.
* Commissioners accepted certificates of continuing education and training from Commissioner Lyndon McDonald. At the same time, they accepted his appointment to the El Paso Community Justice Service Council.
And, they heard Commissioner McDonald report on the status of watershed control dam sites within the county and work which was needed to them. McDonald reported that some $7,500 has been budgeted for watershed dam work and that he was going to start using that money.
* Commissioners were requested to pay a Volunteer Fire Department bill in the amount of $329. After approving the bill for payment, commissioners noted that they needed to establish a line item in the budget next year for this work.
* County Judge Manuel Molinar reported that Culberson County Day in Austin will be observed on March 31st and that Representative Pete Gallego would like some folks from Van Horn to attend.
* After reviewing the submitted monthly reports, commissioners accepted those submitted reports.
* And, commissioners approved payment of bills and salaries amounting to $268,959.44. Of that number, $149,800 was for payroll and related expense while bills amounted to $119,157.44.
Ballots for the May 9th local elections are set
May 9th is almost 2 months away, however, the election ballots in the City Officer and School Trustee elections on that date are now set.
The filing deadline for political hopefuls officially ended on Monday, March 9th at the close of the business day.
In the City Officer Election, voters will be called upon to elect three council members to serve full two year terms on the Van Horn City Council.
In that race, six candidates are vying for the three seats on council up for grabs. The six candidates are: incumbents Dennis McBride, Manuel Molinar, and Nuny Morriss. Joining them are candidates Harvey Corralez, Marcial Gonzalez, and Ruben Mendez.
In the School Trustee Election set for the same day, voters will be called upon to elect two full term (3 year) trustees. Running as candidates in the school race are: incumbents Lisa Cottrell and Joe Morales. Joining them in the race are Rosie Humphries, Robert Morales, and David Onate.
Candidates will have until Saturday, May 9th to tell voters why they should be elected to the city council and the school board of trustees.
Unemployment rate for County is lowest in Region
The Texas Workforce Commission, last week, released the latest labor market information for the Upper Rio Grande Region, of which Culberson County is a part.
According to the numbers released, the Culberson County unemployment rate stands at 3.9%, well below the national average of 8.5%.
The Texas Workforce Commission release showed that other counties within the Upper Rio Grande Region had the following unemployment rates: Brewster County - 4.8%; El Paso County - 8.3%; Hudspeth County - 4.9%; Jeff Davis County - 4.5%; and Presidio County - 15%.
The same release revealed that the Texas unemployment rate stood at 6.8% for the period ending in January of 2009.