Cherokeean Herald (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 162, No. 21, Ed. 1 Wednesday, July 20, 2011 Page: 6 of 16
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6A
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Cljerokeeaif Herald ■ thecherokeeari.com
CITY OF RUSK
Local option petition filed Monday
at Cherokee County Courthouse
Signature collector fired, but petition receives 317 signatures calling
for local option election for sale of all alcoholic beverages
Apetition asking for a local
option election to the sale of
all alcoholic beverages for
off-premise consumption
in Rusk was filed Monday
morning at the county court -
house in Rusk.
A total of 317 signatures
are on the petition awaiting
valuation from the voter reg-
istrar's office. A total of 292
Certified voters are needed
to call the election.
However, one of the men
collecting signatures for the
petition to call the hquor
election in Rusk has been
fired.
Tim Reeves of The Elec-
tion Group in Dallas, said
Friday morning he hadbeen
notified by Rusk Chief of
Police Joe Evans that local
residents complained that
the employee told them they
had to sign the petition to
vote in the election. Also,
the employee allegedly told
local residents they could
sign the petition on behalf
of their spouse.
Mr. Reeves said, "We
apologize about this. He is
out of here andhe will never
work for us again. We want
to abide by the law.''
He added, "You do not have
to sign a petition to vote if
an election is called and it is
illegal to sign a document on
behalf of someone else."'
Persons signing the peti-
tion in error could remove
their names from the peti-
tion until the time it was
presented to the voters
registrar's office.
One couple managed to
remove their names prior to
Monday morning.
Another man called and
wanted his name removed.
I le had not wanted to sign
asking for the election and
he said he did not liye in
Rusk.
Connie Quinn of the voter
registrar's office in the
county tax office said, "We
checked with the secretary
of state and they told us we
were not handwriting spe-
cialists and we would have
to acceptthe signat ures pre-
sented to us if they belonged
to certified voters.''
After the signatures are
certified, members of the
commissioners court will
call the election for Nov. 8 at
their Aug. 22 meeting.
Rusk Council examines
possible sports complex
A sports complex on city
owned proper ty was pr opo sed
by Councilman Kris Morgan
at the Thursday evening
meeting of the Rusk City
Council.
"There is a need for a better
athletic complex, and I would
hke for this council do some-
thing about it," he said.
Mr. Morgan suggested that
the city construct the complex
on 25'30 acres at the timber
plantation near theKOApark
off FM343.
"X want us to have some-
thing that will make other
cities jealous,'' he told other
council member s. "I wouldlike
to see us construct a football
field and a couple of baseball
fields''
Mayor Angela Raibor n said,
"Every hotel and restaurant
will be filled if we do this."'
Mr. Morgan said he would
personally generate aerial
photos of the area.
In other matters, on Mayor
Raiborn's recommendation,
the council reappoi nt ed Larry
Sinclair, city attorney; Forrest
Phifer, city judge; and Fran
Wendeborn, city secretary,
Walter Session was reap-
pointed mayor pro-tem.
The city will apply for a
$1,000 tobacco compliance
grant that will be used for
presenting information to
students about the dangers
of smoking and the use of
tobacco. A police officer will
be required to attend a free
one-day school for instruction
in presenting the information
to young people.
The council adopted an
ordinance adding a provision
to the unified development
code concerning exterior wall
requirements for buildings or
structures in B-1, B- 2 and L-1
districts.
In the; event a building
owner wants to use a different
exterior wall, the board of ad-
justments can be consulted.
"We have an ample water
supply and there is no need for
rationing,'' Thomas Thomp-
son, public Works director,
told the council. All six wells
are working 55-60 hours per
week, he said.
City water wells date to 1945;
when the city acquired two
wells from a donation from
Sheffield Steel. Other wells
came into existence in 1949,
1954, 1961 and 2008.
Prior to putting the Shef-
field Steel wells into the city's
system, water came from the
city lake.
The city budget is 99.78
percent completed.
"Everything is ready to go,"
City Manager Mike Murray
said.
The new budget will be
financed with a 47.75; cent,
tax rate. The tax rate will
be adopted in August and
the budget adopted prior to
Sept. 30.
"Sales tax revenue is down
from last year, but this year
will be in the top three years,"
Mr. Murray said,
Attending the meeting Were
Mayor Raiborn; Councilmem-
bers Morgan, Session, Don
Jones and Sam Florian; City
Manager Murray; and City
Secretary Wendeborn.
ALTO COUNCIL
continued from pg, 1A
of action required by the state in case of a
crisis situation.
The council tabled the vote until the plan
could be read and will be addressed during
the next meeting.
Judge Phifer asked the council to consider
naming his office as the "court of record" for
the city.
When the cityjudgeis also an attorney, that
person has the authority to fine or imprison
for contempt, issue search warrants andcivil
judgments — freeing up the city attorney to
take care of other business.
The council voted unanimously to accept
the proposal to become a court of record.
"One advantage is any money brought in
comes back to us; it widens the power of the
court," Judge Phifer said.
Other business
Steve Winfield, owner of The Arbors and
former owner of Alto Care Center, approached
the councilregarding outstanding utihty bills
owed to the City of Alto.
"I am willing to pay what is owed: I would
just like to have it adjusted if X can," said
Mr. Winfield.
Earlier in the year. Alto Care Center owed
$11,447 for unpaid utilities, and the city of
Alto filed suit.
Mr. Winfield made a $5,000 payment on
the delinquent account, but he is also being
asked to pay attorney fees, which are ap-
proximately $2,500.
Councilman Charles Thomas responded to
Mr. Winfield saying, "There was a judgment
made, and we do not have the authority to
override the judge's authority."
Councilman Jerry Flowers agreed. "We
went through the proper channels; it's going to
cost a lot more money to go back to court."
Mr. Winfield asked, "Is that it?"
"That's all I have," said Councilman Flow-
ers.
Mobile home ordinance
Attorney Jimmy Oassells was asked to
discuss changing the city ordinance allowing
mobile homes inside the city limits.
"It. would be easier for a young person
moving into Alto to buy a mobile home than
to have a house built," Councilman Flowers
said.
"We want growth here, he said.
In order to change the ordinance, restric-
tions would have to be in place before mobile
homes could be allowed to be within city
limits. This issue will be further discussed
at the next meeting.
John Hall, city utilities director, addressed
the city's low water pressure.
"Oncor energy is investigating the problem
to see if we are not receiving enough power,"
he said. "I will continue working on it to see
what the cause is."
Budget cuts
The meeting concluded with the council
discussing several cost cuts to get the budget
under control.
Areas discussed included animal control,
sanitation, emergency management and the
Stella Hill Memorial Library
These items will be discussed at the next
budget workshop planned at 6 p. m. Thursday
July 21 at Alto City Hall.
RISD BUDGET
continued from pg. 1A
cents. The total district tax rate
is expected to be $115.75. the
same rate the district has used
since 2007-08.
The pre-kindergarten pro-
gram at the primary school
will be changed from full-day
ofinstruction to a half-day with
only one teacher and aide use d
in that program. Other Pre-K
teachers were transferred to
other areas and no jobs were
lost.
The extended day program
has been eliinitiated. Twelve
teaching posit ions in all were
eliminated in the proposed
budget. However, no teachers
lost their jobs.
There were five positions
eliminated at the high school;
one at the junior high school;
two at the intermediate
school; two at the elementary
school; and two at the primary
school.
Retiring and moving teach-
ers were not replaced. Payroll
costsin the new budget dropped
from $7,668,633 to $7.318,182,
a decrease of $350,451.
"We actually lost $213,000
inpayroll fun ding," Mrs. Jones
said. A total of $100,000 was
cut from the budget when the
extended day program was
eliminated.
The proposed budget deleted
the various upgrades for in-
structional software programs.
Travel funding was decreased
$18,000.
Staff members willreceive a
three percent across the board
raise. The district incentives
were left intact, with staff
membersreceiving extra funds
for academic ratings.
Employee insurance will in-
crease 9.5pereent. The district
pays $225 per month and the
employee pays the remainder
of health insurance costs.
An increase of 41 percent is
included in the budget for die-
sel price S, Electricity rates are
expected to increase slightly,
Mrs. Jones said.
"We are saving $72,000 in
janitorial services because in
the new budget year we will
use the service every other
dayinstead of every day,"' Mrs.
Jones said.
In another matter , the board
discussed TAKS and end of
course graduation require-
ments. Incoming freshmen will
be required to pass the end of
course tests. Students classi-
fied as freshmen for the second
year and other high school
students are required to pass
the TAKS test to graduate.
End of cour se or the STARR
program requires Students to
take three tests per subject.
Test scores and course grading
will determine district credit.
Class rank will be deter-
mined using the first end of
course test score.
In another matter, the board
approved the purchase of stu-
dent insurance for $16,302
from Tex Monarch Insurance
Co.
Attending the meeting were
Vice-President Britt Patter-
son, who presided; Frances
Long, secretary; and Roy
Cava/o/. Dana Young, and
Bruce Bradley.
Absent were Boar dPresident
Rodney Hugghins and Tracy
Session.
MODEL A
continued from pg. 1A
removed, such as finding
a suitable car, getting the
right people and finding the
motivation. As things looked
bleakest, Jason Hoffman,
youth minister at First Baptist
ChurchinRusk, told Coxhe had
presented the idea and that 16
young people — including four
girls — expressed interest.
After much discussion, they
decided to meet every Sunday
afternoon and the church bus
would take them to the shop
to work on the car. A parent
of one of the students agreed to
drive the church bus and help
with the restoration.
Another parent served as
the official photographer and
Sheriff James Campbell, a
member of the church, also
joined the effort.
The group set a goal to have
the renovation complete for
the Third World Model A Meet
in Dallas in June 2008. The
group achieved the goal and
the car joined 534 Model As,
not including service vehicles,
at the meet.
Afterward, it, along with
the other 534 cars, was driven
aroundTexasMotor Speedway
three times in order for all
restoration participants to
ride. The Coxes also took their
1929 Model A Huckster on the
drive.
During the restoration, each
Sunday afternoon session
openedwith prayer and a short
Bible study, followed by brief
auto mechanics instruction
and then a talk about life and
related subjects during the
Model A era.
Students worked in three
teams and the adults let the
students do the work, under
supervision.
The car was taken completely
apart and parts evaluated
and studied before being re-
assembled. The "Restorers
for Christ," as they named
the group, visited the Tyler
Model A Ford Club, where the
club voted to make all of the
students associate members of
the club.
The Coxes say, "Thekidswere
a great bunch to work with and
we hope someday they, too, will
become Model A owners."
The students said they had
a wonderful time doing this
restoration. They learned
much about being prompt,
dependable, trustworthy,
taking instructions, having
patience, not being afraid to ask
que stions and being very proud
of the job they had done.
The students also learned
much about activities of their
ancestors during the Model A
days.
Since being restored, the car
hasbeen anexhibit atthe Texas
Museum of Automotive History
in Dallas.
Painted jet black with a tiny
orange streak all around, it is a
real jewel, with brown interior
and lots of chrome knobs
and handles — and it's a very
comfortable ride.
As the car was being delivered
to the museum in Rusk, it was
left with the engine idling.
Onlookers were heard saying,
"listen to that engine."
One remarked, "That's
referred to as 'calling the
chickens'."
"Oh, no," said another. "It's
cadillacing."
Whatever it's called, the
restored car has a sound all
its own.
The car will be on display in
the museum in Rusk for about
a year.
Kevin S tingle y, museum
director, said, "Everyone needs
to see this vehicle, as well as all
the other historic relics we have
displayed. '
The museum is open 10 a.m.
to 5 i3.m. on Saturdays and 1
to 5 p.m. on Sundays, and is
consistently adding new items
as they become available.
SAFETY FUNDING
continued from pg. 1A
towns to close their police departments. "It's not
unheard of, but it's not something a lot of cities
are going to," he said.
Cities aren't obligated to have police
departments, he said. Sometimes officials shut
them down to save money, and often they choose
to contract with another local public safety
agency to consolidate services, he said.
Nearby cities have arranged to share policing
responsibilities in some instances, and in
others cities sign an agreement with the county
government that allows the local sheriff to take
over both jurisdictions.
In Texas, the largest city to start on the path
to consolidating police and sheriffs departments
has been El Paso.
County Judge Veronica Escobar said she and
other local officials started talks about combining
services even before the economy tanked, as
early as 2007.
"We're so isolated from the rest of Texas that
in many ways the environment was ripe,'" she
said.
The city and county recently combined their
information technology departments, which
immediately saved the county $2 5 million
and will save another $250,000 a month going
forward.
Next on the consolidation hst are the police
and sheriffs operations.
The task is not as simple as putting all the
officers in one big station, though, Escobar said.
Each agency has its own employee union, its
own pension plan, its own training academy
and other unique processes.
And, she said, there are long-lasting scars
among officers in both departments from
previous failed merger attempts.
"There's always a lot of apprehension about
merging departments, because each entity is
very protective of itself," she said.
It's also unclear just how much money the
local governments will save with consolidation.
It might not be a huge amount, Escobar said,
but it will save one entity from bearing all the
cost of providing pubhc safety for the region's
burgeoning population.
"Even if we were to just stop the increase in our
budget, that would be a savings," she said.
Neither the El Paso City Council nor the El
Paso County Commissioners Court has signed
onto a plan to consolidate law enforcement, but
they are marching ahead, step by step.
So far. the few consolidation efforts in place
haven't produced a lot of savings, said pohce
department spokesman Darrel Petry. The
department hasn't seen layoffs or furloughs,
but when officers leave or retire, their positions
have gone unfilled
"We'vejustrestructuredourresources, andwe
are not seeing as much of a proactive approach to
policing as have had in the past," Petry said.
El Paso city budget talks are underway now,
Petry said, and the department is hoping to
reverse the recent trend and get money to hire
and train new officers.
Despite the tight budget, crime in EI Paso
— just across the border from violence-ridden
Juarez — has consistently fallen in recent
years,
Combining the two agencies, he said, woul dn't
be easy, but it has been done in other large cities
across the country.
"Budge taryconstraintsacrossaHmunicipalities
has forced people to pause at some of those
strategies," Petry said.
But in small, rural Texas towns like Alto, the
local sheriffs are often already overburdened
with tiny budgets, huge swaths of land to patrol
and few deputies.
If a city can't afford to provide basic pubhc
safety for its taxpayers, said Kevin Lawrence,
executive director of the Texas Municipal Pohce
Association, perhaps there are even bigger
questions to answer.
"Isn't one of the moral duties you have to
provide law enforcement services to your cities?'
he asked. "Maybe you should just consider
disbanding the city altogether."
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Whitehead, Marie. Cherokeean Herald (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 162, No. 21, Ed. 1 Wednesday, July 20, 2011, newspaper, July 20, 2011; Rusk, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth201609/m1/6/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Singletary Memorial Library.