Sunday's Internet Edition, July 20, 2008.
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| Grandparents honored.... These are but a few of the nearly 40 grandparents that were honored for Grandparent’s Day by kiddos in Eagle Elementary’s pre-K classes Monday afternoon. |
- Culberson County Commissioners, in their meeting Monday morning, had two main things uppermost in their minds to get done.
First, they had to approve the county’s fiscal year budget for the fiscal year which starts on October 1st. Commissioners unanimously approved a budget which envisions revenues and expenditures which amount to $3,057,170.90.
Following budget approval, commissioners had to approve a tax rate which will fund the approved budget. Over the period of the last three weeks, commissioners held two hearings on the budget and the proposed tax rate. It should be noted here that no one appeared at the hearings to speak for or against the budget document or the proposed tax rate.
The proposed tax rate will raise more money for the county this year and that is why it is considered a tax increase. The actual rate, in terms of dollars and cents to the taxpayer, is less than last year’s rate.
After all discussion was concluded, commissioners approved a tax rate at .78655 cents per $100 of taxable value. That rate was further broken down as follows: General Fund - .68067 cents; Road & Bridge Fund - .05265 cents; and FM & Lateral Roads - .05323 cents.
With regard to other agenda matters considered by commissioners, the following actions were taken:
* Learned that no bids were received for Phase II of the Youth Activities Center Project. All previous bid prospects were way over the allotted funds to do the project. The court will consider what actions to take at a later meeting.
* The court approved, subject to approval by the city council, paving of Monroe and Kirby Streets as a part of the Border Colonias project. The city will pay the county for the estimated $33,348 to do that double penetration paving work on these streets.
* Commissioners approved of the concept of holding a joint election with the school district on November 6th. The county is holding a Constitutional amendments election on that date and the school district wants to hold their tax rollback election on the same date and ballot.
* Commissioners approved another 5 year contract renewal with the law firm that collects delinquent taxes for the county. That firm is a large statewide firm with offices in El Paso.
* Commissioners also approved Tax Assessor/Collector Molly Hernandez’s annual report.
* Following a behind closed doors session, commissioners approved having the clerk draft a proposal and present it to the parties involved in a cemetery plot dispute with the county.
* Commissioners also approved sheriff and constable fees for the new fiscal year. Some fees remain the same and some will be increased because of the time and paperwork it takes.
* Commissioners opted to solicit bids for computer maintenance services rather than accept the renewal contract presented by PC Net Services, Inc.
* Commissioners opted to renew the agreement with Telstar Communications to provide the county with internet services for another year. Rodney Amonett, of Telstar, was on hand to answer questions and to report on how they are working to continually improve on the service. Amonett also advised that the fees have gone done as new technologies have enabled Telstar to subscribe to fewer lines from Windstream.
* Commissioners decided to send 7 guys from the shop to a Ranch Road seminar being put on by the state next week. They also decided to send Manuel Carrillo and Mingo Corralez to a Snow & Ice Conference next week as well.
* They approved budget amendments as presented by Interim Auditor Mark Cabezuela.
* Under county projects, commissioners approved spending $11,250 to resurface the courthouse parking lots; they accepted the resignation of the County Extension Agent effective September 14th; They approved the contract with the Texas Department of Transportation for the Automatic Weather Observation System at the airport. It is expected to be operational before year’s end; They talked about acquiring new software that will track all county equipment and it’s fuel usage, roads worked on, etc. The software will cost about $4000. Commissioner John Jones will bring full details to the next meeting; and they approved hiring a part-time assistant for the treasurer’s office.
* After approving the submitted monthly reports, commissioner approved monthly bills and salaries in the amount of $163,361.44.
Rural public transit coming to Van Horn
Richard Jones , of West Texas Opportunities in Odessa/Midland, appeared before county commissioners Monday to report that Big Bend Community Action Agency has been selected to represent the Rural Transit District in our part of West Texas.
Jones told commissioners that this part of West Texas was the last to have a Rural Transit District. The Rural Transit District is designed to provide public transportation to the sparsely populated regions of the state.
The Rural Transit District, in our four county area, is a grant funded program which will be administered by West Texas Opportunities but the day-to-day operation of the District will be run by the agency with headquarters in Marfa and offices here in Van Horn.
The plan is to offer public transportation to El Paso, Marfa, Alpine and Pecos to folks of all ages here. The fares will be minimal according to Jones. Roughly $1 for up to five miles, and $8 to $13 for trips to El Paso and Alpine. Fares are one-way and to ride back, folks should expect to pay the return fare as well.
Jones told commissioners that the service will be on demand here and no regular schedules will be established until the need for them exists.
Jones indicated that Big Bend Community Action Agency plans to put one transportation vehicle here in Van Horn and they would attempt to hire the driver locally.
The four counties to be serviced initially include Culberson, Jeff Davis, Hudspeth and Presidio.
It is expected that this new service will be available to commence transportation by shortly after the first of the year.
Folks with additional questions may contact Emma Alvarado at the Big Bend Community Action Agency office in Marfa.