Palacios Beacon (Palacios, Tex.), Vol. 106, No. 10, Ed. 1 Wednesday, March 6, 2013 Page: 2 of 12
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DEADLINE 5 P.M. FRIDAY
Page 2 - Palacios Beacon - Wed., March 6, 2013
City sales tax took big hit in December
December showed an insuf-
ficient gain in revenue from
the city sales tax for Palacios
as its’ rebate from the State
Comptroller, received earlier
this month for sales tax col-
lected in December which
totaled $59,521.10 or 26.41 %
less than what the city received
for the same month last year.
This month’s reimbursement
from the State Comptroller’s
Office, which collectedthe tax
in January and rebated it to
sales tax entities in February,
was for sales in December and
from quarterly filers.
Palacios’ actual money
decrease, $21,366.93, un-
fortunately topped the chart
when compared to the local
surrounding cities in the fol-
lowing counties: Matagorda,
Jackson, Wharton, Calhoun,
along with two cities in Bra-
zoria County. Eight of the 13
cities had increases.
Leading the city sales tax
rebates in percentage from
last year included La Ward’s
314.23% increase totaling
$528.89, Ganado’s 79.08%
increase totaling $23,825.40,
followed just across the cause
way by Port Lavaca’s 25.79%
increase totaling $61,886.83.
In the first two months of
2013 Palacios has now re-
ceived $113,386.93 in sales tax
money, an overall decrease of
10.8%, when compared to this
time in 2012 having received
$127,126.95.
State Comptroller Susan
Combs stated that statewide
the rebate to cities totaled
$741 million, up 4.6 percent
compared to February 2012.
Among the area 13 cities, 2
other cities besides Palacios:
Point Comfort and Sweeny
received fewer rebates this
month and are also behind in
year-to-date totals.
Point Comfort received
$7,956.38 earlier this month,
compared to $17,534.50 (-
54.62%)in February 2012. For
the year Point Comfort has re-
ceived $16,889.23, compared
to $ 19,207.88 (-12.07%) in the
first two months of last year.
Likewise, Sweeny received
$30,270.11 earlier this month,
compared to $49,036.73 (-
38.27%) in February 2012.
For the year Sweeny has re-
ceived $58,624.40 compared
to$73,157.81 (-19.86%)in the
first two months of last year.
Rebates receivedthis month
by the other area cities, fol-
lowed by February 2011,
percentage of change in pa-
renthesis, year-to-date total,
2011 year-to date-total, then
percentage of change are a
follows:
Bay City: $422,475.99,
$428,983.34, (-1.51%),
$783,267.62, $$735,323.26,
(6.52%). East Bernard:
$25,189.84, $22,505.95
(11.92%), $47,202.63,
$40,354.81, (16.96%).
El Campo: $326,310.33,
$311,443.62, (4.77%),
$590,372.74, $571,836.47,
(3.24%). Wharton:
$194,929.15, $194,562.03,
(.18%), $1,002,697.17,
$964,467.44, (3.96%). Edna:
$120,977.89, $97,129.23,
(24.55%), $216,104.04,
$182,357.01, (18.50%). Ga-
nado: $53,952.73,$30,127.33,
(79.08%), $111,575.52,
$57,032.86, (95.63%). La
Ward: $697.20, $168.31,
(314.23%), $1,051.40,
$1,091.56, (-3.67%). Port
Lavaca: $301,788.25,
$239,901.42, (25.79%),
$491,015.28, $432,016.37,
(13.65%, Seadrift:
$11,052.26, $12,358.51,
(-10.53%), $19,908.19,
$19,518.97, (1.99%), West
Columbia: $70,911.04,
$69,232.89, (2.42%),
$132,053.57, $121,729.50,
(8.48%).
ELECTION'
(Continued From Page 1)
are Ed Schulze (Place 3) and
Gary Hafernick (Place 4).
Also unopposed is former
councilman Andy Erdelt
who has filed for the Place
5 seat being given up by
Stella Alamia who did not
file for re-election.
CHARTER
AMENDMENTS
Although there will be
no voting on city council
positions, Palacians can still
vote on proposed amend-
ments to the City Charter.
Amendments include: a
correction of a typo, council
members specific request of
a finance report, and coun-
cils’ order of succession in
case of a tragedy.
EARLY VOTING
The early voting period
for both the PISD and City
elections will be held at the
Palacios ISD Administra-
tion Building beginning
Monday, April 29th and
continuing until May 7.
COUNCIL
DOROTHY’S COWBOY
COUNTRY CORNER
St. Patrick's
BBQ/Chili Cook-Off:
Saturday, March 16,h<
Rummage Sale starts at 10am - ?
BBQ/Chili Judging begins at 2pm
For more info call 361-588-6212 _
Hwy71 & 111 • Midfield • 361-588-6212
dot@dorothyscomer. com
and a concerned citizen, I am totally responsible
for this decision to lower the American flag to
half staff during a veterans funeral in Palacios,
I am proud of this decision and will continue
to order the lowering of flags during veterans
funerals as long as I am the Mayor, no citizen
should be directed any criticism other than
myself, no one on the city council, this is my
decision alone,” said Mayor Sardelich.
“The greatest causality of war is to forget our
veterans who have paid the ultimate sacrifice
for our freedom,” he added.
City Manager Report
Kocurek updated council on the demolition
of unsafe buildings: letters were sent out, some
have picked up remodeling and or demo permits,
a couple of houses have already been torn down
and most likely in March the next step toward
the demolition of additional buildings will occur
which is pending letter responses.
Kocurek updated council on construction
projects: started new water well behind the post
office, work is started on the elevated storage
tank that has been already been drained, sewer
line has been completed on Duscon St., will
be starting the waterway, and installation of
the new water meters has begun on the north
side of Palacios; out of 84 meters replaced 6
leaks on the city’s side and 2 leaks on cus-
tomers end.
The final issue on the City Manager Report
was discussion of potentially filling the police
officer vacancy by hiring an officer with a drug
detection canine.
A qualified and recommended officer has
a dog; “the opportunity to have a canine out
here on this highway that’s a direct link to the
Rio Grande Valley presents an opportunity for
seizures’ and contraband that we haven’t had
in the past. It’s a program that can benefit the
police and the city: help the schools and business
if they need a dog,” said Chief Miles.
The canine will be the officers’ partner and
when the opportunity presents itself, during a
traffic stop, the canine will be used to conduct
an area search the “free air” around the car.
The dog would be available to the surround-
ing counties, when needed, for use similarly
to other pieces of equipment.
“I don’t see how we can lose her, if you feel
TO ALL INTERESTED
PERSONS AND PARTIES
MAVERICK TUBE CORPORATION, has applied
to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
(TCEQ) for issuance of Air Quality Permit No. 108281,
which would authorize construction of a greenfield pipe
mill facility located at 7960 State Highway 35, North
Bay City, Matagorda County, Texas 77414. Additional
information concerning this application is contained in
the public notice section of this newspaper.
(Continued From Page 1)
comfortable with it, we’re here to support it,”
said Mayor Sardelich.
In other action at the Feb. 26 meeting:
• Approval was given to the City election to
be held May 11, 2013 and to elect 3 Council
Members: Place 3, Place 4, and Place 5.
• Council approved to submit potential
changes to City Charter: correcton of a typo;
council members specific request of a finance
report; and Council’s order of succession in
case of a tragedy.
•Approval was given to an Equipment lease
between Matagorda County and the City of
Palacios for DRE Voting Machine for the May
2013 election.
• Fixed Asset Policy was approved: financial
policy advised by auditors to have requiring
the city to categorize and document items
purchased exceeding $10,000 and also apply
a depreciation schedule to these particular
items.
• Council approved adopting a change in the
Fraud Policy to include if the City Manager
commits fraud then there is an avenue where
someone can bring this directly to council.
• Council accepted the Contract Data An-
nual Report submitted by the City of Palacios
Police Department for Jan. 1, 2012 through
Dec. 31,2012.
• Council amended the current year budget
to accurately move assets under correct cat-
egory.
• Council approved establishing Local Fair
Housing Policies and Procedures required by
Grant Works, federal funds the City is receiving
for the construction of houses for qualified ap-
plicants. Council also approved Fair Housing
Complaint Procedures.
• Council approved Minutes of the Feb. 12
regular meeting.
Citizens Forum
Citizen Herby Gonzales also spoke briefly
regarding the “major” sewer back-up problem
he had experienced the previous week on 3rd
and Henderson.
Gonzales statedthe city has temporarily fixed,
the problem and that he had spoken to David
Kocurek, Director of Public Works and Acting
City Manager, and Kocurek had promised he
would look into this problem.
Mayor Sardelich assured
Gonzales, “David, when he
gives you his word he’s going
to get on it, he’s going to.”
Gonzales expressed having
confidence in Kocurek but just
wanted to inform the council
of this issue.
cMerf
{ktrfkilMill®!!©
Specialist in Urology
Diagnoses, treatment, and management of
urological disorders
Lee A. Hutton, MD
Now accepting appointments
(979) 323-1308
1115 Avenue F, Bay City
Se Habla Espanol
PALACIOS BEACON
Area Briefs
USDA Emergency Disaster Loans
YOAKUM- Recent drought deems Lavaca County eli-
gible to apply for low-interest emergency disaster loans,
as discussed by the Lavaca County Commissioners Court;
designated by the U. S. Secretary of Agriculture. “Basi-
cally most of Texas is under a disaster designation and
are eligible for low interest emergency loans,” said Tim
Respondek Farm Loan manager with the United States
Department of Agriculture. According to Respondek, the
loans are very hard to qualify for and are offered for about
2.25 percent interest. Interested individuals should apply
at Guadalupe County Farm Service Agency in Seguin.
-Yoakum Herald Times
Grant funded energy-efficient houses
WAELDER- Neighborhood Stabilization Grant provided
by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Af-
fairs along with SolidGreen Systems, contracted Austin
construction company, is building at least 3 steel framed
Styrofoam insulated houses. Insulating from the outside us-
ing a light gauge steel framing system, Styrofoam insulation,
resistance to water penetration, while without providing a
food source for ants or termites, according to Byron Phil-
lips, vice president of operation for SolidGreen, contribute
to a significant (40- percent) reduction in traditional home
energy costs. “The Neighborhood Stabilization Program is
a federal grant program managed by the state and is geared
toward revitalizing neighborhoods. You take an abandoned
or condemned property and turn it into something new for
the community. The homeowner will purchase the home at
its appraised value and part of that program is to fund the
difference,” said Phillips.- The Gonzales Inquirer
Wharton Wal-Mart Gas Spill
WHARTON- Wal-Mart’s Murphy USA pump was dam-
aged by a gooseneck trailer causing approximately 200
gallons of fuel to spill onto the pavement. Initially the
efforts were unsuccessful to stop the spill due to the sta-
tions emergency shut-off devise malfunctioning. “I finally
hit the right one (switch) and it shut it off,” stated Officer
Dino Garcia upon assessing the breaker. Fire chief Anthony
Abbott borrowed bags of sand from Wal-Mart in efforts to
halt the spill. Wharton Firefighters tended to the gas spill
by spraying Micro-Blaze onto the fuel and into the storm
drains. “Those are scary situations. Luckily it (the gas)
didn’t find an ignition source,” said Abbott. - Wharton
Journal Spectator
Intruder forces Columbus High School lockdown
COLUMBUS- An intruder, a juvenile Columbus High
School student, suspiciously dressed caused a district wide
lockdown and area wide officials to flock to CHS on Feb.
6. Responding agencies included: Columbus Police De-
partment, Colorado County Sheriff’s Office, Department
of Public Safety, Weimar Police Department, Texas Parks
and Wildlife, and Colorado County EMS were all called
to the campus. The intruder was suspiciously dressed and
would not identify him or herself causing law enforcement
to secure the campus and initiated lockdown procedures.
The juvenile was charged with a Class B Misdemeanor
for criminal trespassing, “Our investigation revealed that
the juvenile did not intend any harm, and he certainly did
not anticipate or attempt to provoke the law enforcement
response,” stated Columbus Police Chief W.E. “Bill” Lat-
timore. - The Columbus Banner Press
Fire engulfs house and shed
PLANTERSVILLE-An unattended citronella candle on
Feb. 15 caused a shed, with propane gas and car batteries,
to ignite and demise both Plantersville house and shed. Ef-
forts from three fire departments tackled the 40-foot flames
using approximately 20,000 gallons of water and were
able to prevent the spread of the flames to a neighboring
residence. Five hours later the fire was extinguished with
no reported injuries. -The NavasotaExaminer
No Coal Coalition’s monthly March
meeting rescheduled for March 19
The No Coal Coalition reg- ture.
ular March meeting set for Lydia Avila, of the Texas
March 11 has been resched- Sierra Club will be the guest
uled for 7 p.m. March 19 speaker,
at the Service Center in Bay Refreshments will be
City. served.
It’s time to celebrate and For more information con-
discuss the organization’s fu- tact eamalina@gmail.com.
Was your home damaged
by Hurricane Ike?
The Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) Ike Disaster
Recovery Program is for homeowners whose primary residence
was damaged by Hurricane Ike.
The home must have existing Hurricane Ike Damage and
be located in one of the following counties: Austin, Brazoria,
Chambers, Fort Bend, Matagorda, Montgomery, Walker or
Waller.
The applicant must exhibit low to moderate income, and the
owner must have been residing in the home as a primary
residence when Hurricane Ike made landfall on September 13,
2008.
Participation is limited, and specific eligibility requirements
apply. Assistance is not guaranteed.
Assistance may be in the form of repair, rehabilitation or
reconstruction. No cash benefits or reimbursements will be
provided through this home repair assistance program.
Visit www.H-GACIkeHousina.com
or call (877) 442-2777.
H-GAC will accept applications as follows:
March 12,10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Bay City Service Center
2105 Avenue M in Bay City
March 12,10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Palacios City Hall Council Room
311 Henderson in Palacios
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West, Ryan G. Palacios Beacon (Palacios, Tex.), Vol. 106, No. 10, Ed. 1 Wednesday, March 6, 2013, newspaper, March 6, 2013; Palacios, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth774736/m1/2/: accessed August 15, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Palacios Library.