The Bastrop Advertiser (Bastrop, Tex.), Vol. 154, No. 98, Ed. 1 Saturday, February 2, 2008 Page: 2 of 13
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Page 2A ★ lD\t Bastrop Idocrtiscr
Saturday, February 2,2008
Police
■ Continued from Page 1A
Hensley said. The total pay
increase came within several
pay hikes.
"We're not competitive
with salary and staffing, I
know we're not," Hensley
said.
Because the department
is understaffed, he said some
officers are working overtime.
The department is also down
to two dispatchers — instead
of the normal four — so offi-
cers are also covering those
shifts.
Councilman W.C. Estes
said, "Working overtime,
police officers will not be as
sharp."
"There's not enough time
off for officers," Hensley
agreed.
During the meeting, nei-
ther Hensley nor councilmem-
bers offered a specific num-
ber of additional officers that
might alleviate the personnel
crunch at the department.
Hensley said he asked
the council for more police
officers when he joined the
department in 2005, but that
hasn't occurred.
Mayor Gladys Markert told
the council, "This is my third
time to go through a mass
exodus of officers. We need
to come up with a recruitment
and retention plan that we can
fit within our budget."
Councilman Stephen
Kylberg said the city should
"not just run ads" seeking
police officers but also do
active recruiting.
Hensley said the depart-
ment is making recruiting
efforts through informa-
tion programs at Elgin High
School and the Austin Police
Academy.
Hensley said Elgin's turn-
over is not as high as in the
three years before he became
chief.
'We had 19 officers leave
the past three years, but we
had 25 officers leave in the
three years before I came
here," Hensley said.
Hensley said he believed
morale among Elgin officers
"is basically good. But if you
want to raise morale, give
them something — like a pay
raise or equipment"
Reyes said, "I haven't the
slightest idea why there's been
so much turnover. But there's
a lot of turnover with police
and state agencies across a
lot of the state. I would sec-
ond what Chief Hensley said
about salaries that could be
more competitive."
Reyes added "I have a lot
of respect for my co-workers
and supervisors. It's unfortu-
nate for some to leave. But if
it's a career move, I suppose
it's good for them. But I really
hate to see them leave."
Community relations
discussed
During the meeting the
council also discussed how
the police are perceived in
some parts of the community.
Councilwoman Theresa
Scott said Elgin police should
"improve its image" with the
community.
"I know in certain eth-
nic (locations) of the city,
the police department is not
viewed as a friend," Scott
said. "We've got to mend the
bridge. The image has been
negative for the majority of
times ... if you are a minor-
ity."
Hensley said his depart-
ment has been "reaching out"
w ith a one-page citizen survey
that asks recipients four ques-
tions, preceded by the intro-
duction, "You have recently
required the services of the
Elgin Police Department. In
order that we may better serve
-
The Bastrop Advertiser photo/Terry Hagerty
Elgin police chief Jack Hensley says low pay is hurting his department.
you, we would appreciate you
taking a few moments to com-
plete this questionnaire."
The four questions are:
"Did the officer respond in
a timely manner? Were you
satisfied with the officer's atti-
tude/behavior toward you and
your complaint? Were you
satisfied with the manner in
which your complaint/problem
was handled? Overall, are you
Idol
tion get him down—he plans
on giving American Idol
another shot next year. He's
still got his mind on music
and is currently working on
a demo of his singing with
some local friends. Dickson
describes his latest efforts as
alternative rock with a sound
similar to One Republic. If his
demo is successful, Dickson
said he would run with his
music and see where it takes
him, but if he hits a dead end,
he said he might study music
and minor in business in col-
lege.
He's created a bit of a buzz
after interviews on radio sta-
tions from Texas to California,
and he was recently featured on
Fox news. Occasionally people
stop and say, "Are you that guy
from American Idol?"
And for as much Internet
chatter out there making fun
of his waiting to kiss until he
Development
Building a new river bridge
could cost more than $13 mil-
lion, depending on how wide
the span is, said Lineham.
Current preliminary plans
call for construction of up to
1,298 single family homes, a
small retail district and nearby
townhomes, Lineham said.
The site lies within the
city's extra-territorial jurisdic-
tion, said Talbot. When fully
built out, it could add an esti-
mated $27 million to the city's
tax base, said Lineham.
The council urged Talbot
meets "that special someone,"
Dickson said there have been
just as many people encourag-
ing him and supporting him
in his stance to save every-
thing—even kissing—for his
future wife.
"I want to be able to look her
in the eyes and be honest when
I say, T've been waiting for you
all my life,'" Dickson said of
his plans for his future wife.
Dickson, who has lived in
Bastrop just over a year, moved
to Texas from California
because his parents were drawn
to the cheaper cost of living.
His parents, Mike and Voni
Dickson, homeschooled him,
his four sisters and one brother,
even though he did attend pri-
vate school in California to play
basketball and other sports. He
was even elected Homecoming
King.
While the video-editing in
American Idol made it appear
i Continued from Page 1A
to begin talks with developers
and the water district. "It could
be a beautiful piece of prop-
erty," said Council Member
Terry Sanders.
Talbot said he should be
able to make a progress report
to the council in six to eight
weeks.
Mayor Tom Scott suggest-
ed a public hearing might be
scheduled after Talbot's report.
Talbot said negotiating
detailed agreements with
developers could take up to a
year.
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an overprotective father had
Dickson under his thumb.
Dickson said saving his first
kiss until his wedding day was
his own personal decision and
that his father hadn't forced the
idea on him,
Dickson and his family are
very close-knit after all, and
Dickson and his father buy
houses, spruce them up and
sell them at a profit—a process
that has come to be known as
"house-flipping."
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satisfied with the performance
of the Police Department?"
Several lines are also left
for the respondent to supply
additional written comments.
The council expects to con-
tinue their discussions of the
police department at future
workshops.
Co unci I woman Pat Frenzel
recommended city officials
contact other communities
with similar demographics to
see how they get by "with
small budgets. We can't be
that unique."
Near the end of the meet-
ing, Coffee said, "Retention
of police officers is our prior-
ity. The first step is to come
up with a pay structure and
policy to retain officers . . .
officers who arc invested in
this community."
■ Continued from Page 1A
His father does hold the
other half of the key necklace
Dickson wears around his neck
that he showed viewers during
his TV auditions. His father
plans to give the other half to
Dickson's eventual wife.
And if Dickson's Myspace
page on the Web is any indica-
tion, there are more than a few
ladies out there who probably
wouldn't mind applying for
the job. Check it out at www.
myspace.com/brucefdickson.
About Your
Bastrop Advertiser
TELEPHONE NUMBER:
I (512) 321 -2557
FAX:
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ADDRESS:
■ Street: 908 Water St., Bastrop, Texas 78602-3834
■ Mailing: P.O. Box 459, Bastrop, Texas 78602-0459
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■ Obituary announcements are published free of charge. Photos
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■ The best way to place a classified or display ad is in person during
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Denny for display ads.
■ Advertising deadlines: Thursday issue, 5 p.m. Friday for display
ads and classified ads; and Saturday issue, 5 p.m. Wednesday for
display ads and classified ads. Early deadlines may be announced
prior to some holidays.
ADVERTISING ACCEPTABILITY:
■ The Bastrop Advertiser reserves the right to reject or edit any
advertisement submitted for publication, in its sole discretion.
■ We will not knowingly accept any advertisement that we consider
potentially misleading, deceptive, offensive, discriminatory, that may
infringe the rights (including trademark and copyright) of any person
or entity, or that otherwise may be inappropriate for general circulation
publication. We will not knowingly accept, regardless of ad content, any
advertising for any product or service that itself may be unlawful, harmful,
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■ We do not warrant the accuracy or completeness of any published
advertisement, and urge readers to contact the advertiser directly if
they have any issue with either the content of the advertising or the
product or service advertised.
■ The Bastrop Advertiser is not responsible for errors or omissions
in advertisements, for failure to publish in a timely manner, or for any
damages caused thereby. The sole remedy for failure to publish in a timely
manner shall be refund of any monies actually paid by the advertiser for
the desired publication. The sole remedy for errors or omissions shall be
refund of monies actually paid by the advertiser for the space in which
the error or omission occurred, which may be less than the cost of the
entire advertisement. We reserve the right to correct or republish an
advertisement in lieu of any refund.
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months in Bastrop County, $62.40 per year or $43.16
per six months outside Bastrop County or $74.88 per
year or $49.40 per six months outside Texas. All are
payable in advance by cash, check or money order or
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can be made in person during regular business hours or sent by mail.
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are welcome to browse through our back issues during regular business
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your newspaper when you are finished with it. The city of Bastrop has
curbside recycling (321-3941), and Recycling Options is located at217
Pershing Blvd., around the corner from the former County Recycling
Station. For information, call 303-6665.
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McAuley, Davis. The Bastrop Advertiser (Bastrop, Tex.), Vol. 154, No. 98, Ed. 1 Saturday, February 2, 2008, newspaper, February 2, 2008; Bastrop, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth252416/m1/2/: accessed March 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Bastrop Public Library.