Wednesday's Internet Edition, September 08, 2010.
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Christmas tree planted.... These kids planted the Rotary Club Christmas Tree for the town at Okey Lucas Park last week. They are: JC Clark, Giselle Hernandez, Francis Baca, Cyrenne Tarango, Jadein Tarango, Samantha Soto, Lina Rodriguez, Mariah Morales, Annika Corrales, Beatriz Marta and Lupe Baeza. The Christmas tree will be decorated and the lighting service will be at 7 PM on Saturday December 5. (Photo courtesy of John Clark)
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- Van Horn City Council members met Tuesday evening and right off heard some good news from their auditor, J. Shaw Skinner of Alpine.
Skinner appeared to report on the results of their audit of city operations for the fiscal year which ended on March 31, 2009.
Skinner, after going over the audit, reported that the city is in “good health” and “in good shape.” He added, “The next audit report will be even better now that we’ve got the bugs worked out. Changing the method of accounting helped immensely and will make it a lot easier next year.”
In conclusion, Skinner noted that “it is a clean audit report and will be even better down the road.”
Following Skinner, Sheriff’s Deputy Olivia Lagaretta appeared before council to request that the city consider the adoption of some sort of Registered Sex Offender ordinance.
She reported that she now has 1 registered sex offender living here who is subject to probation, and 5 registered sex offenders who are unrestricted or unsupervised.
Council looked at a proposed ordinance which stated that registered sex offenders could not live within 1,000’ of schools.
Deputy Lagaretta reported that she had spoken to the school district. They have a policy regarding registered sex offenders but they recommended she come to the city since the city has ordinance making power.
Council will assemble some sample ordinances, review them, and act on an ordinance at next month’s meeting.
Other matters considered by council and actions taken are as follows:
* They approved payment of bills amounting to $117,049.
* Council members learned that the Sanchez Water Well is down. The motor and pump have been pulled and are in El Paso for repair estimates. If both are bad, the projected cost will be around $11,000 plus the cost of pulling and installing the pumps.
The last time this well had the motor and pump replaced was in March of 2005.
The well pumps about 250 to 300 gallons of water per minute.
* Council also learned that the cart paths are done at the golf course and thanked those involved in making it happen.
* And, Director of Municipal Services Israel Borrego reported that the dog catcher truck the city got from El Paso a couple of years ago is now up and running.
* Council members voted to add Option 3 to the city’s health insurance for employees. The insurance is provided by the Texas Municipal League. No mention was made concerning what this option will cost the city.
* Council formally agreed to waive water and gas deposits for the non-profit American Legion Post’s new facility.
* And, council opted to table action on the renewal or extension of a city street repair note in the principal amount of $64,411.72. It currently is at a 6% interest rate. They will decide what to do at their regular December meeting.
* Council learned that the current Scada System, set to be replaced under a new city grant, may not make it until the grant moneys are received. Israel Borrego reported that it could cost the city $25,000 before the grant comes in.
Council instructed City Administrator Fran Malafronte to call GrantWorks on Wednesday to see if the grant process can be speeded up.
* Council cast their votes for directors of the Appraisal District by evenly splitting up their 250 votes.
*After revising a resolution on the HOME Program grant, council members learned that El Paso Electric had been down looking at the Convention Center about the possibility of installing the generator requested by Mayor Flanagan.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
November 19th - Members of the Van Horn Volunteer Fire Department are slated to meet this evening at 7 p.m. at the Firehouse.
November 20th - The Van Horn Eagle basketball teams (boys & girls, varsity & JV) are slated to play Kermit today in Kermit beginning at 5 p.m.
November 21st - Nothing scheduled at press time.
November 22nd - Attend the church of your choice today.
November 23rd - The Van Horn Eagle basketball teams (boys & girls, varsity & JV) are scheduled to play Presidio today in Presidio beginning at 5 p.m. Members of the Van Horn Lions Club are slated to meet tonight at 7 p.m. at Mijas Restaurant.
November 24th - The Van Horn Rotary Club will meet today at noon at Chuy’s Restaurant.
November 25th - Nothing scheduled at press time.