Saturday's Internet Edition, May 17, 2008.
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- Van Horn City Council members met Tuesday evening and approved a land exchange swap that will have the Van Horn State Bank relocating to the west end of town.
Previously, the city had advertised the desire to exchange land at 1800 West Broadway (just east of the Okey Lucas Park) and the Van Horn State Bank took them up on the offer. In exchange for the land at 1800 West Broadway, the bank gave the city the land and improvements located at 100 West Broadway (the downtown parking lot).
The Van Horn Economic Development Corporation had leased the parking lot from the bank and with the bank’s help has improved it in conjunction with the Van Horn Main Street effort. The lease on the parking lot expires in June of this year.
What the bank proposed is they give the parking lot downtown to the city in return for the city giving them the land at 1800 West Broadway. In addition, the bank will pay all the legal and other costs associated with the transaction and will pay the city $8,500 to replace the metal building that currently sits on the property.
The bank then intends to relocate to the property. Steve Mitchell told council members that the bank hoped to be relocated to the new site by sometime in July or early August.
He further told council that the bank intends to put in a prefabricated/modular bank facility with a facade to match buildings in the area. It will have adequate space for customer parking as well as state-of-the-art drive thru facilities to serve local customers.
Mitchell concluded his remarks by stating, “The bank believes that this is a win-win situation for the city. You get control of property in the Main Street District, you get another taxpayer in the purchaser of the EL Capitan Hotel and you get the bank paying taxes at the new site.”
Other matters considered by council during the Tuesday meeting, and actions taken included:
* Heard Van Horn Junior High Principal John Fabela express his appreciation, on behalf of the school district, for the efforts of Lisa Garcia and the Boys and Girls Club of Rural West Texas. Garcia and the Club are assisting the Junior High with after school tutoring and it is sincerely appreciated.
* Council members approved a contract with Mike Ward of Fort Davis, to act as the city/county emergency management coordinator on an interim basis. Ward will work to get plans and compliance issues up to spend within the county so that we do not lose out on any future grant opportunities. The city will pay Ward $125 a month and the county will also pay him $125 a month. When a new emergency management coordinator comes on board down the road, Ward will assist in training the individual.
* Council members approved the renewal of an agreement with TALX Employer Services to provide unemployment assistance to the town. The renewal fee was $600. City Administrator Becky Brewster told council, “We don’t have anyone on staff with expertise in unemployment matters.”
* They also approved an agreement whereby the city pays a portion on the administrative costs of the Far West Texas Water Planning Group. The City of EL Paso pay the lions share of these costs (85%). The town is a member of the Far West Texas Water Planning Group.
* Council members approved an agreement with Pitney Bowes for the city’s mailing system. Along with the renewal, Brewster reported that the system will be upgraded to a digital one. Cost is estimated at $912 per year.
* They adopted a city uniform policy whereby city employees will have uniforms to ware, including caps.
* They heard Efrain Hinojos, chief of the Van Horn Volunteer Fire Department report on some needs of the department. Among these are new tires, a new truck (ours are getting old), and maintenance (i.e. alternator repair @ $1,000 and engine repair @ $4,000). Council agreed to pay 1/2 of the repair costs if the county would pay 1/2.
* Heard Gas Supervisor Edward Torres report that things were going good as the gas operation prepares to perform a system wide leak survey.
* Heard Director of Municipal Services Israel Borrego report on his activities thus far.
* They authorized Boys and Girls Club director Lisa Garcia to make a trip to El Paso to purchase cleaning supplies and snacks for the Clubs.
* Heard Golf Course Manager Raul Rodriguez detail some water opportunities the course is experiencing, before authorizing him to pump the water by converting an engine from electric to diesel/gas if necessary.
* And they approved payment of monthly bills totaling $118,860.95.