Sunday's Internet Edition, July 20, 2008.
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| New faces at CCAISD.... At the High School are (L to R) David Beatty (Math), Ruben Evaro (Counselor), Elton McWilliams (Math), Michael Owen (Art), Sammie McWhorter (History), Domingo Vento (World Geography), Rachel Salinas (BCIS), Joe Salinas (Math), Danny Villanueva (AEP/IPT), and Raul Tucker (Health/P.E). Not pictured are Jeanette Rangel (Spanish), Michelle Barrandey (English/Speech), and Irma Ojeda (English). |
- Culberson County Commissioners have met twice in the space of the last week to fulfill the requirement of holding public hearings on the proposed tax increase for the county.
The first session was last Thursday morning and the second one was held Monday morning.
In both session, commissioners offered a proposed county fiscal year budget amounting to nearly $3.1 million. In order to meet those projected budget expenditures, commissioners will have to have the proposed 7.99% tax increase to fund the document.
At both hearings, no one appeared before commissioners to speak about the budget or the proposed tax rate increase.
It should be pointed out that even with the tax increase, the actual rate will be less than last year’s tax rate. County taxable valuations have increased significantly and that is why the tax rate, in terms of dollars and cents is less than last year. It is a tax increase because the county wants money than it collected last year.
Whether your individual taxes will go up or not depends on the taxable value assigned to your property. If it went up, your tax bill will be higher, even with the rate being less than last year.
Commissioners, after seeing that no one was present to speak for or against either the proposed budget or the tax increase, will formally vote on budget adoption and the tax rate to fund it at their September 10th meeting.
Commissioners discussed insurance proposals which had been received at the session. One of the vendors came in with a reduced proposal, and another vendor appeared to say they did not submit a proposal in time because they were simply offering to renew.
At Monday’s meeting, after conferring with County Attorney Steve Mitchell, commissioners voted to award the county’s liability coverage to Rogers and Belding, of El Paso, and their Workman’s Comp coverage to the Texas Association of Counties.
The present insurance carrier, West Texas Rural Counties Association, was not considered because they did not submit a proposal in a timely manner.
Commissioners, Monday morning, did agree to award a construction contract for the TxDOT Border Colonias street project to C & C Construction of El Paso. That project will finish the double penetration paving of connecting streets in town that connect Broadway to the freeway frontage road.
In addition, commissioners opted to include in the contract, two alternatives for further street work and authorized the purchase of materials for the alternatives.
Work is expected to begin in the very near future.
In connection with construction bids for Phase II of the Youth Activities Center, grant administrator Becky Brewster told commissioners that they still were having difficulty in getting bids in line with the available funding. Commissioners opted to wait until their September 10th meeting to consider bids on that project.
County Attorney Steve Mitchell reported that he, County Judge Manuel Molinar and Commissioner John Jones had met with Hudspeth County commissioners and their judge last week to talk about the interlocal agreement approved at the regular meeting on August 13th.
Mitchell reported that Hudspeth County would not agree to the 85%/15% split of the proposed $70,000 budget asked for by the District Attorney’s office in El Paso. They want it at 75%/25% even though they got nearly $1 million in federal assistance for handling the larger case loads in court.
Mitchell told commissioners that if they do not reach an agreement, then the District Attorney will determine the split. Since Culberson has already agreed on the 15% and entered into the agreement, Mitchell recommended the court take no further action at this time.
With regard to other matters considered by commissioners during the sessions, the following actions were taken:
* Talked about the revenues from the Nutrition Center. Judge Manuel Molinar presented some figures from the Area Agency on the Aging (AAA) which reflected that the Center has been receiving more money each year and that last year, the county received over $150,000.
Commissioners asked Center manager Tencha Sanchez to look at every possible way to get more people approved to the AAA list so that the county can get more money to operate the Nutrition Center.
* Discussed the county’s internet service and opted to take proposals from vendors to see if a change is warranted or not. The two vendors being considered are Telstar1, the current vendor, and Windstream.
* And, commissioners voted to send a bill to a vendor who had performed work for the county and has been paid and now the county has been billed for supplies he purchased and charged to the county.
Column One
By Dawn Simpson
Our thanks to Nell Haynes for the story on her Veteran husband, H.O. “Hock” Haynes. We were not aware that he was a WWII Veteran, and even if we had known, it would have been impossible to visit with him since he is not able to communicate since having a stroke. We appreciate Nell for getting his story out so that he can have the recognition that he deserves. Thank you, Hock, for your service to our country. Your’s is truly “the greatest generation”, to which we owe such a debt of gratitude.
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Are you ready for some football? The Eagles have their first game this Friday, which is also a home game. It starts at 7:30 at Eagle Field. It would be great if we filled the stands and let them know we are behind them. Four of the coaching staff are new, including the Head Coach. Let’s show them lots of Eagle spirit to start off their season. There’s not a prettier place in Van Horn than Eagle Field, looking out at our beautiful mountains to the west and north. And the first few games of the season, we also can watch those beautiful sunsets.
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In a recent Newsweek magazine there was some poll data that I find rather hard to believe and somewhat thought provoking.
The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed. What are we so unhappy about?
Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter? Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job? Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?
Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state? Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter? I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all involved. Whether you are rich or poor they treat your wounds and even, if necessary, send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.
Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of rained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family and your belongings. Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90 percent of teenagers own cell phones and computers.
How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world? Maybe that is what has 67 percent of folks unhappy. Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S., yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don’t have, and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.
Stop buying the negative venom you are fed everyday by the media. Shut off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as a country. There is much more good than bad.
We are the most blessed people on earth. We should thank God several times every day.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
August 30th - The Van Horn JV football team plays the Tornillo Coyotes in Tornillo this evening beginning at 6:30 p.m. Members of the Van Horn Volunteer Fire Department are slated to meet this evening at 7 p.m. at the firehouse.
August 31st - The Van Horn Eagles open their 2007 gridiron season at home tonight as they host the Marfa Shorthorns. Kick-off is set for 7:30 p.m. at Eagle Field.
September 1st - Nothing scheduled at press time.
September 2nd - Attend the church of your choice.
September 3rd - Labor Day Holiday.
September 4th - Members of the Van Horn Rotary Club are scheduled to meet today at noon at Chuy’s. The Van Horn Lady Eagles volleyball teams are scheduled to play Anthony tonight in Anthony at 6 p.m. The Van Horn Town Council is slated to meet tonight at 7 p.m. at City Hall.
September 5th - Nothing scheduled at press time.