Saturday's Internet Edition, May 17, 2008.
City to "get tough" on loose dogs
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And the winner.... In this year's Residential Christmas Decoratons Contest is the home of Sharon Behnke.
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- Van Horn City Council members met Tuesday evening and vowed to “get tough” on Van Horn’s stray/lose dog situation.
Council members Dennis McBride and Matthew Molinar reported that each had been approached by numerous local folks urging the city to do something about lose dogs running freely all over town. In fact, McBride said that he had been told “we’re sitting in our yards with pellet guns to ward off the dogs.”
The city ordinance which addresses this situation calls for dog owners to keep their dogs fenced up or on a leash. Allowing one’s dog to run free is a direct violation of the city ordinance.
Council vows to maximize its efforts to pick up lose or stray dogs. At the same time, council agreed to look at hiring a full-time animal control officer in the next budget year.
What council did was put dog owners on notice. Either keep your dogs fenced up or on a leash or we’ll make every effort to pick them up and impound them.
The renewed effort is to commence at once.
Council learned that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has levied a $2,320 fine against the town for failing to meet permitted outflow requirements back in January, February and March of this year.
Council members agreed to accept the fine and to pay the money to local agencies, such as Keep Texas Beautiful, approved by the state to do projects within the county.
Council talked about other items and took the following actions during the Tuesday meeting:
* Approved funds for equipment maintenance at the golf course and agreed to consider the addition of another holding pond at the golf course. Such a pond would help solve the city’s outflow problems at the sewage facility.
* Heard that the Boys and Girls Clubs of Rural West Texas had been approved for another $7,000 grant to be used to initiate new youth programs at the Center. Two new programs are going to get underway after the first of the year, as well as the addition of a Girl Scout troop at the Club.
* Council learned that the utilities department has spent the last week cleaning up at the old landfill and has made some good progress. They also learned that the water department needed some new chlorinators. The purchase was approved.
* After holding a hearing on items which the Texas legislature exempted from taxation during the last session, council then opted to take no action at this time.
* Council members approved the 2008 holiday schedule for city employees.
* Council voted to pay city employees actual overtime pay if they are called out for emergency management duty while they would normally be off. This matter was brought up as a result of city employees being called out during the last snow which occurred on the weekend.
* Named the Van Horn State Bank, a branch of MyLubbock Bank, as the depository of city funds.
* Council members approved the town’s continued participation with the Texas Historical Commission’s Main Street program.
* Council approved a resolution to seek yet another Solid Waste Grant Application. And, they also approved a resolution to refinance the town’s existing loans with the Van Horn State Bank which will defer 3 quarterly payments so that the money can be used to help with the city’s water project from the airport to town.
* Council members also approved the transfer of $10,000 form the youth activities side of the old High Desert Health Consortium, which is now defunct, to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Rural West Texas. The money can be used to finance various youth activities.
* Council learned that the Union Pacific railroad plans to proceed with the construction of a new communications tower here. It is expected to be 160’ tall.
* City Administrator Becky Brewster presented council with a sample letter detailing the condemnation process which is to be mailed to citizens as a part of the education process before the city launches into the project full steam.
* After they approved payment of bills amounting to $150,111, council went behind closed doors for an executive session.
City names winners of Residential Decorating Contest
The Town of Van Horn, again this year, held a Residential Christmas Decorations Contest and the final judging was done Monday evening of this week.
Judges Mario Villanueva and Andre Sekanovich, visited every residence that was entered and the competition was tough. Entries this year increased to 13, up from 8 last year.
When the judging was complete, and the score sheets were tallied, the winners were announced.
This year’s 1st place winner of $200 donated by the Town of Van Horn was Sharon Behnke.
The 2nd place winner , and recipient of $150 donated by the Town, was Carmen Garibay.
The 3rd place winner this year, and recipient of $100 donated by the Town, was Lonnie and Linda Hillin.
And, the 4th place winner this year, and recipient of a $50 cash prize donated by the Town, was Yolanda Urias.
The Convention Center staff, Brenda Hinojos and Patricia Golden, thanked everyone that enter the contest and urge even more people to consider entering the contest next year.
If you have time during this festive season, drive around and look at all the homes that are decorated. It’ll warm your heart!
Van Horn Advocate will not publish next week
The
Van Horn Advocate will not publish an issue on December 27th. This issue bears two datelines, December 20th and 27th. Our next issue will be on January 3rd, 2008. Thanks for your understanding.