Hondo Anvil Herald (Hondo, Tex.), Vol. 127, No. 46, Ed. 1 Thursday, November 14, 2013 Page: 11 of 29
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Hondo Anvil Herald • Thursday, November 14, 2013 *11A
County amends policy on employee payroll
By Sonia Garza
Anvil Herald Correspondent
The Medina County Court-
house will see many changes
to its internal human re-
sources policies in the com-
ing weeks. County Commis-
sioners Court met on Tuesday
to discuss the many changes
that will take place.
"Nov. 1 presented an issue
on payroll,” Stacey Cameron,
HR Director said. Many em-
ployees have the advantage of
using their direct deposit ac-
counts, however, many still re-
ceive live paychecks. "Twenty
to thirty of the 220 employees
here receive paper paychecks,”
Cameron said. Employees re-
ceived their checks but they
were badly damaged, de-
stroyed or lost in the mail.
Even County Judge Jim
Barden said, “It looked like
mine had been run over.”
Checks had to be reissued
and payments were stopped.
While employees are cur-
rently encouraged to enroll in
direct deposit, some still like
to have a live check. “We mail
them out early enough so that
the employees receive them
on pay day”, Cameron said.
Commissioners approved a
slight alteration of the policy
manual if an employee opts out
of direct deposit. Checks lost
in the mail will result in a stop
payment and reissuance which
can take upward of seven days
to receive their paychecks.
“It may not take the full
seven days,” Cameron said,
“however we want to han-
dle it properly. If we reissue
a check, some employees
might take both checks to the
bank and try to cash both. We
want to have steps in place in
case this happens again.”
The amended form will be
changed to include that those
who opt out of direct deposit
acknowledge that by signing
the form there will be no guar-
antee that they will receive their
check on the regular scheduled
day. “We are hoping that this
encourages more employees to
enroll in direct deposit.”
Many counties require em-
ployees be enrolled in direct
deposit, however, this amend-
ment will still allow for the op-
tion of payment by mail.
Another line item for hu-
man resources was to amend a
county personnel policy allow-
ing employees to voluntarily
contribute their “comp time”
to other employees. There are
legality issues with allowing
employees to give their comp
time to other employees.
“You may have an employee
who is very well liked by every-
one and people will donate to
that employee, however, you
may have someone who is
not well liked and in the same
predicament and not receive a
donation,” Cameron said.
While it was voted to take
no action at this time on al-
lowing the use of transferring
comp time, employees are
currently able to cash in their
comp time with their super-
visor and donate the funds to
another employee.
“That is considered a fund
donation. At that point it’s
between employee A and B,”
said Cameron. The personnel
policy committee will provide
an update to the court over
the next couple of months.
• Currently the court ap-
plies for the Indigent Defense
Formula Grant Program an-
nually, allowing for those
in the legal system to have
representation of a court ap-
pointed attorney.
“It is required by law to
have representation,” Judge
Burden said. “This grant will
pay for the court-appointed
attorney if the individual be-
ing represented is unable to
do so. However, if they are
able to pay, they must, and
the grant money will not be
used.” The grant will have to
be filed by Nov. 15 with a cost
of $30,027 for the year.
• The court approved the
nomination of Richard Rothe
of D’Hanis to the Board of Di-
rectors for the Medina Coun-
ty Appraisal District. Willing
to serve another two-year
term, he along with four oth-
ers will be nominated. Oth-
ers include: Michael Groff of
Emergency notification
Sign up now to receive text or email
messages regarding emergencies
at http://r.i-info.com/rc/arc. A link
to the site is also located on the
county website at www.medinac-
ountytexas.org.
Cancer support
American Cancer Society’s Me-
dina County Resource Room,
Open Fridays, 10 a.m.-12 noon,
Church of Christ, provides info,
and services to cancer patients and
their families including wigs, hats,
prostheses and more. To arrange
another time, call 830-741-2228 or
830-931-4766.
Texas Ramp Project
Anyone in need of a ramp for use
with a walker or wheelchair may
apply for area assistance by calling
830-426-0624. Volunteers to assist
in installing the ramps also needed.
Food giveaway
The Cowboy Church in God’s Coun-
try, at 374 CR 341, Hondo, gives
food and meat to anyone in need
from 5-7:30 p.m. every Wednesday.
Call 830-426-3637, after 1 p.m. on
Wednesdays for info.
Wesley Nurse
Free blood pressure and blood
sugar checks, exercise classes,
and health education. Help with
CHIPS, Medicaid and SNAP appli-
cations, emergency food and other
resources. 830-426-5532.
Veterans Service Office
Hondo: 709 Ave. Y, Mon. & Tues.,
9 a.m.-noon & 1-4 p.m. Devine:
317 N. Hwy. 132,1 st & 3rd Wed.,
9 a.m.-noon; Castroville: 1312
Geneva, 3rd Wed., 830-741-6135
by appt. only.
Medina Co. Food Pantry
502 Arnold St., Hondo, Mon., Wed.,
Fri., 8:30-11:30 a.m.
Caregiver resources
Hondo Public Library. Supplies, lit-
erature & resources. 830-426-5333.
Free GED classes
South Texas Regional Training Ctr.,
402 Carter St., Hondo, Mon.-Fri.,
8 a.m.-noon, 830-591-7235.
Garden club thrift store
190319th St., Hondo, Thur., 1-5 p.m.
Area Museums
• Medina County Museum
2202 18th St., Hondo, Wed.-Sat.
10-4, Sun. 1-4, 830-426-2755.
• Shooting Star Museum
Free, 6 mi. south of Castroville off
FM 1343. Antique aircraft, cars,
farm equipment, vintage clothing.
Driver’s license office
702 Harper, Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m-5
p.m., 830-426-8975.
Community services
Community Council of South Cen-
tral Texas Inc., 375 CR 5214,
Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-5 p.m., D’Hanis,
830-363-3119.
Hondo Public Library
1011 19th St., Mon.-Thurs. 8:30
a.m.-6 p.m., Friday 8:30 a.m.-5
p.m., 830-426-5333.
Book club: 2nd Monday, 2 p.m.
Story time: Wednesdays, 10-11
a.m., ages 2-5, Sept.-May.
Read: K-5 reading and math tutor-
ing at First Baptist Church.
Writers’ group
The Medina Co. Writer’s Guild
meets the 3rd Monday each month,
4:30-6 p.m., at Hondo Public
Library. For info, call Jarvis, 210-
296-8171.
Free counseling
K’STAR Youth and Family Servic-
es, 1210 18th St., 830-426-2878.
Individual and family counseling.
Darkness to Light mtg.
Classes to identify perpetrators
and symptoms of child abuse at
Bluebonnet Children’s Advocacy
Center, 1901 Ave I., 830-426-5554.
Free clothing
Blessed Threads, Jesus Church,
2035 Hwy. 90, Castroville, 3rd
Saturday monthly, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
830-931-3085 or 210-772-0720.
Websites
Medina County:
www.medinacountytexas.ora
City of Hondo: www.hondo-tx.org
Medina Regional Hospital:
www.medinahospital.net
See “Clubs and Regular Meetings” or
“Blurbs” for additional services, organiza-
tions and happenings.
Castroville, J. Gruber of Hon-
do, Roy Sheetz of Natalia and
John Ward of Devine.
• The court approved a con-
tract with Caleb Environmen-
tal Corporation d/b/a Sum-
mit Landscape and Design
for courthouse drainage im-
provements. The $329,818.86
budget will be used to create
an irrigation system similar
to the one currently used at
the Mission Title Building.
“The underground irrigation
system has a lot of pluses,”
Judge Barden said.
The start date is dependent
on the receipt of certificates
of insurance.
• The court approved an In-
terlocal Agreement with Lub-
bock County (regional public
defenders for capital cases).
This agreement makes it pos-
sible to have a court appoint-
ed counsel in capital murder
cases and provide represen-
tation of the defendant. With
one capital murder case pend-
ing for Medina County, this
insurance policy will have to
be purchased. In its 4th year,
of the 5-year contract, the cost
will increase this coming year
to $31,974 from $21,000.
• Judge Barden, along with
Kenneth Burns, of Burns Ar-
chitecture, LLC, is working
on the preliminary planning
of an Adult Probation, Juve-
nile Probation and Pre-Trial
Services building. This build-
ing will be located across the
street from the Sheriff’s office
and will use 3.6 acres of the 4
acres there. Still needing more
information and parameters
on the project, it was moved
to take no action at this time,
but to instead determine how
much space will be needed
and solicit recommendations
before moving forward.
• Precinct 2 & 4 will be
refinancing a total cost of
$94,198.50 from Community
National Bank, at 3.25%, for
Caterpillar Equipment. With
the first payment not due
until December 2014, Pet. 2
Commissioner Larry Sittre,
said it was better to “keep
the lease local... rather than
finance through Caterpillar”,
which is based in Illinois.
Next month’s commission-
er’s court meetings will be on
Mondays, Dec. 9 and 23 at 9
a.m. The Dec. 30 meeting has
been canceled due to holiday
timing. The first meeting of
the new year will be Jan. 13.
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Lee Johnson
3001Ave E
Hondo, TX
830-426-5301
Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.™
State Farm Fire and Casualty Company • Home Office: Bloomington, Illinois
Temefor
a Mew Retie?
830-426-5391 • 109 19th St., Hondo • CECILMOTORS.COM
When the products are similar, the dealer makes the difference.
MEDINA COUNTY RESIDENTS AND PROPERTY OWNERS:
TAX BILLS HAVE BEEN MAILED!
The tax bills were mailed out the last week of October and should have all arrived at their destination by now if we have your correct
address. We received a large amount of returned mail this year and are diligently trying to get it back out using addresses provided
by the Post Office, however not all returns indicate a new postal address. If you own property or a home in Medina County, own a
business in Medina County or have oil and gas leases or interests, you should have received a property tax bill. If you have not I urge
you to contact my office as soon as possible to avoid penalty and interest.
Ad-Valorem taxes (property taxes) are assessed on January 1st of every year and bills are mailed on October 1st or as soon
thereafter as practicable. Property taxes are due by January 31, 2013, unless that day falls on a weekend, which will allow payments
to be accepted the next business day without penalty or interest. The only entity in our county that offers an early payment
discount is the City of Natalia.
If you are 65 or older, social security disabled or (new this year) a disabled Veteran or the unmarried surviving spouse of a disabled
Veteran you may be eligible for installment payments (formerly called quarterly payments) on your homestead. You may sign the
bottom of your statement and submit it with payment for one quarter (1/4) of your total bill by January 31, 2014. You will then have
three additional payments due by: March 31, 2014, May 31, 2014 and July 31, 2014. If you are not sure if you qualify for installment
payments please call and we will be more than happy to assist you.
The Medina County Tax Office accepts partial payments and we also offer escrow payments. If you would like to pay before taxes
are billed then we will gladly accept your payment and place it in escrow to be applied after bills are created. If you choose to pay
into escrow you will receive your original tax bill followed by a corrected bill showing your prepayments that have been applied. If
you start making payments after bills are mailed we will apply your payment to the bill and give or mail you a statement showing
the remaining balance. We try to give taxpayers every opportunity to pay their bill on time, so please don’t ever think you can’t pay
because you do not have the full amount right away.
If you owe delinquent taxes PLEASE contact us to make payment arrangements! We try to do whatever we can to help the taxpayer
catch up, and we will explore any options you may have that allow additional time to pay. Please do not be afraid to call us or come
by, we would much rather work with you than have to foreclose on your home, land or business.
The Medina County Website: www.medinacountytexas.org has a wealth of information as well as the Tax Assessor/Collector page
which lists all the current tax rates, helpful links and a link to our online tax roll, which is located at www.medinacountytx.org. You
may also follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/medinacountytaxoffice for current information on deadlines, payment
date reminders and other useful information.
The Medina County Tax Office accepts: cash, checks, money orders, cashier’s checks, and traveler’s checks, Visa, MasterCard and
Discover (credit and debit) in the office. Credit card payments will be charged a convenience fee of 2.65% of the total payment and
debit cards will be charged a convenience fee of 1.95% of the total payment with a $3.00 minimum. You may pay online at www.
officialpayments.com and use Visa, Discover, MasterCard or American Express. You will be charged a convenience fee of 2.5% of
your total payment. You may also pay online at www.govpay.com/medina_tax using Discover, MasterCard, or Visa and you will be
charged a convenience fee of 2.5% of your total payment. Coming soon: We will be accepting checks online at www.govpay.com for
a flat convenience fee of $2.00 per check. Please know that the convenience fees are charged by the processor and none of the fee
is retained by the county.
Postmark is accepted on all payments mailed through the U.S. Postal service or any alternate carrier such as FedEx, UPS or LoneStar.
Please include a phone number with your payment in case we have any questions.
Melissa Lutz, RTA
Medina County Tax Office
1102 15th St.
Hondo, TX 78861
Auto: 830-741-6120 or 6121
Property Tax: 830-741-6100 or 6101
Fax: 830-741-6105
Open M-F 8:00 to 5:00
Our contact information:
Castroville Sub-Station
1312 Geneva St.
Castroville, TX 78009
830-931-4040
Open M-F 8:00 to 12:00 and 1:00 to 5:00
Melissa Lutz, RTA
Medina County Tax Assessor/Collector
Medina County Tax Office Substations
for Auto Registration Only:
Devine Sub-Station
317 St. Hwy 173 N
Devine, TX 78016
830-665-8010
Open M-F 8:00 to 12:00 and 1:00 to 5:00
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Hondo Anvil Herald (Hondo, Tex.), Vol. 127, No. 46, Ed. 1 Thursday, November 14, 2013, newspaper, November 14, 2013; Hondo, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth740943/m1/11/?q=Homecoming+queen+1966+North+Texas+State+University: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Hondo Public Library.