The Hopkins County Echo (Sulphur Springs, Tex.), Vol. 107, No. 1, Ed. 1 Friday, January 1, 1982 Page: 1 of 4
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SULPHUR SPRINGS, TEXAS, FRIDAY, JAN. 1,1982.
4 PAGES-15 CENTS PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY
ins drafted to fix
waste plant problem
• ■ «* .*■
■ * !—
By CRAIG MANNING
Nyws.Telegram Staff
A four-part plan to correct the problems
Sulphur Springs is facing at the Waste
Water Treatment Plant was approved and
adopted Tuesday night by the City Com-
mission in a special session
Following the recommendations of
Project Manager Joe N. Harle of Kindle
Stone and .Associates. Inc. iKSAi, the
commission adopted plans to install
flowmeters and samplers at a cost of about
125,000 to monitor the waste flow to the
plant and to look at the possibility of ac-
tivating an abandoned sewer plant at a
total cost of about $33,000
The abandoned plant is located just
southeast of the new facility.
The commissioners also approved a
suggestion by Harle to compile a list of
industries which will be required under an
existing city ordinance to install
flowmeters and samplers on their sewer
lines and to prepare a report for the Texas
Department of Water Resources
City Nfinager Marshall Shelton, Quality
Control Supervisor Maxie Chester and
Harle developed- that list of industries
while the.j#iunission was in executive
session discussing other matters
The city is in trouble with the TDWR due
to not being in compliance with state
regulations concerning the quality of the
water being discharged from the plant.
Before the city will be able to start using
the abandoned plant, the facilities will
have to be inspected. "We don't know
what, if any repairs.are needed,” Harle
said. In addition to the equipment at the
plant, the road to and inside the plant will
also have to be repaired, according to
Chester ,
In addition, all of the wiring will
probably have to be replaced as it has been
either been destroyed or deteriorated over
the years since the use of the plant was
discontinued.
Chester also said the motors at the old
plant should be taken apart to make sure
they work properly.
This would be a very significant step in
solving our long term waste water
problems," Harle added in reference to
the re-opening of the old facility.
Starting up the the old plant will provide
about a third more capacity for the sewer
plant and should result in the facility
meeting the state's requirements, ac-
cording to Harle
He,stressed the importance of installing
flowmeters and samplers “so we can
check the data over several months.”
When the city can determine what is
being put into the sewer system, long term
plans can be better arranged. “We don’t
have enough information about the long
term," Harle said, "this is the best we can
do in a short period of time.”
Several members of the commission and
industrial representatives at the meeting
questioned various aspects of the
proposals presented by Harle and wanted
to know if the plans recommended by KSA
would work. Harle responded that it “will
be money well spent.”
Commissioner Aftc Brittain said he
thought the problem was -in the
engineering of the plW It was estimated
that in 1990 the plant wquld be receiving 2.2
million gallons of waste water a day, but in
1981, the plant is receiving 3.1 million
gallons. "If I were to find a fault, it would
be in the projection," he said.
Harle commented that without
guidelines or meters industries "can dump
whatever they want and just have to pay
for it," he said, referring to the surcharge
that industry now pays for discharging the
waste water from their plants into the city
system.
V
<
z
IS
Owens tapped to replace Shelton
City manager resigns
Explaining the alternatives
Joe Harle, consulting engineer for the City of Sulphur Springs,
, told city commissioners Tuesday night that his recommendation
for getting the Waste Water Treatment Plant into compliance
with state rules was to install a flowmeter and sampler at the
six-year old facility and then attempt to again use the nearby
plant that was abandoned when the new one opened. The an-
ticipated costs of the project are expected to be around $58,000.
"... ."1
Also as part of the plan, local industries who use large quantities
of water will be required to install flowmeters and samplers.
The city has not been in compliance with the requirements of the
Texas Department of Water Resources' for a long time and
must bring the plant to a point where it will meet the strict water
discharge rules. Long term solutions will be considered at a
later time.
6*
i r
\
Sulphur Springs will have its fifth city
manager in the last ten years as of Friday
Travis Owens was named as new city
manager effective Friday morning by the
City Commission during its meeting
Tuesday night
Marshall Shelton resigned the position
Tuesday night after a lengthy executive
sessionhad served as city manager
since Sept 1.1980
The commissioners went into executive
session at 9 13 p.m and returned to the
open meeting at 10 55 p m
Shelton offered his resignation to the
commissioners who then accepted it in a
unanimous vote.
He said that his resignation was ef-
fective Jan 1, but that he would be leaving
the office Tuesday night.
In a unanimous decision, the com-
missioners appointed Owens as interim
city manager until Jan. 1, and after that
date he is expected to fill the job on a
permanent basis
Owens had been called into the executive
session about 10:30 p.m and remained
there for almost 15 minutes
Shelton had few comments Tuesday
night, but Wednesday morning, he told The
News-Telegram in a written statement,
"Effective 1-1-821 have resigned my job as
city manager I have enjoyed my 16-
mohths in this community and met some of
the nicest people in the state.
"I wish the very best for this fine
community. I am leaving on a positive
note I feel several things have been ac-
complished, and with the help of the staff l
think we have done a good job.
"The reason for the resignation is a lack
iWof acceptance of my particular
management style and a lack of ability or
desire on my part to change that style.
No conflict exists in a personal way
between myself and the commissioners.
- Each member is a credit to his con-
stituents and each member has’ the best
interest of the community at heart. 1
certainly wish the best for them and for
Travis Owens.”
The commissioners expressed their
appreciation Tuesday night to Shelton and
for his accomplishments while serving as
the city manager.
“Mr. Shelton is the kind of man — and
you can't say this about too many people —
who will do anything he can to help
someone, I feel lucky to consider him my
friend,” said Commissioner Gregg Price.
"I appreciate Marshall's concern and
the effort he has put into The city,” said
Commissioner Vic Brittain with Com-
missioners Dee-Mabe, Millard Glover and
Vaden Richey expressing similar com-
ments.
This is Owens' second time to serve as
interim city manager. He previously held
that from April 14, 1980 to Aug. 31, 1980
after the resignation of Wendell Sapaugh.
Sapaugh, too, had held the post on-an
interim basis in October and November of
1979 and then served as the full-time city
manager from November 1979 to April 11,
1980.
Lee Vickers served in the position for a
year from October, 1978 to October 1979
and Olen R. Petty served from October,
1971 to October, 1978 when he left Sulphur
Springs to take the city manager's position
at Deer Park.
Sulphur Springs has had 12 city
managers since it began the city manager-
commission form of governent in 1947.
City sales tax
take shows jump
A December check of $47,862.76
boosted Sulphur Springs' share of the
city sales tax for 1981 to $661,653.93,
compared to $608,096.30 during the
corresponding period in 1980. The gain
added up to 8.81 percent.
State Comptroller Bob Bullock said
that 802 cities received December
checks as their share of the one-
percent sales tax. They added up to
$41.4 million. The December payment
is $7.9 million more than the cities
received during a comparable period
in 1980. ' *
The optional one-percent city sales
tax is collected along with the state
four-percent sales tax by merchants
and businesses and is rebated each
month by the comptroller to the cities
where it is levied.
Commissioners okay
---•// • -y
coverage
insurance
Avinger, McCorkle and White Insurance
Agency’s bid of $35,000 for an insurance
package to cover general liability, county
buildings and auto-truck damage and
liability was approved by the Hopkins
County Commissioners Court in Monday’s
regular session. ^
Bids for a self-propelled mower for T.M.
Chester's precinct were opened by the
court. Martin Equipment of Garland won
■the commissioners’ nod of approval on a
bid of $21,250 for a Tiger boom-axe mower.
In other business, the court voted to
accept the proposahby Mrs. Edith Taylor
of Cumby and the Cumby Cemetery
Society to exchange one quarter acre of
land given to the county from the Ben
Green estate for one-quarter acre erf land
belonging to the Cumby Cemetery skuety
from the same estate. . \
Mary Attlesey, Hopkins County Clerk,
recommended to the court that the county
begin a records management system
under the direction of Nancy Mertz of the
State Library System, Ms. Mertz would
assist county workers in sorting the
records and help in determining which
could now be destroyed' by law; which
could be shipped to an area depository at
the East Texas State University Library;
and those which must be kept in the
county, the County Clerk said.
The county would have to provide more
record storage facilities if some of the
present records, can not be managed in this
manner, Mrs. Attlesey told the court.
“None d£>the vital statistics, warranty
deeds or other records concerning land
transactions will be involved in this," she
told the commissioners.
The court approved to spend up to $4,000
on . setting up a records management
program under Ms. Mertz’s direction.
A request for permission to lay buried
telephone cable in precincts 3 and 4 was
qved as the last item of business
beforefhe court,
Compulsory liability law in force
. , i- .
Proof of auto insurance deadline nears
Absentee vote opens
in city council race
After Jan 1.1982, all Texas drivers will
have to show proof of insurance if stopped
by a law enforcement officer.
i
Under a new compulsory liability in-
surance law that was adopted by the past
Texas legislature, all drivers must earn
minimum liability coverage for medical .
expenses of $10,000 per person i $20,000 for
two or more persons) and- property
damage coverage of $5,000.
Department of Public Safety Sgt. Ricky
Smith of Sulphur, Springs said that his
troopers have been instructed to begin
checking for the proof of insurance as of
the first of the year.
Col. Jim Adams, director of DPS, said
that hoopers will accept as eveidence of
insurance coverage either the insurance
policy itself or a document issued by the
insurance company.
"Such a document must contain a
statement that the liability coverage for
the motor vehicle is the minimum
prescribed by the law,” Adams said,
"included must be the name of the in-
surance company!- name of the insured
person, policy period and policy number.
This document may take the form of a
letter or a card, depending upon the
preference of the insuring company.”
Drivers who do not maintain the
specified coverage risk being fined at least
$75 for the first offense and a minimum of
$200 for subsequent violations.
In addition, a conviction under this new
law will result in the suspension of the
vioiaiui s drivers license and motor
vehicle registration unless the violator
establishes and maintains proof of
financial responsibility for five years from
theconvictiondate.
A clams also said any vehicle which is to
be used in the driving test by a new drivers
license applicant must be covered by the
minimum liability insurance specified by
the law.
Applicants will have to certify on the
license application that the minimum
coverage is in effect for the vehicle before
they will be permitted to take the driving
test. " ' ■
Adams predicts that more Texans will
obtain the required insurance coverage
when the law goes into effect.
"Cwrent figures show that ap-
proximately 74 percM of the drivers
involved in, accidents carry liability in-
surance,” Adams said, "this indicates that
a substantial number, of people must
secure the required coverage or face the
possibility of heavy fines and loss of
driving privileges:”
Out-of-state, government-owned and
self-insured vehicles are exempt from the
insurance requirements of the new law.
However, drivers of self-insured vehicles
will be asked by law enforcement officers
to produce'evidence of self-insurance at
accident(scenes and traffic stops.
Persons wishing self-insurance must
have a certificate of deposit issued by the
State Treasurer that is carried in the
vehicle.
Qualified voters who are planning to be
out of town Jan. 16, when the Sulphur
Springs City Commission election is held
to elect two city commissioners, may vote
absentee beginning Monday through Jan.
12.
The terms of Vaden Richey and Millard
Glover are expiring and there are 11
candidates who have filed for the two
seats.
On the ballot will be Stephen Bonner, Joe
Cerretani, Jerry Hodges, Glover, Billye M.
Harper, George Singleton, Don A. Wor-
sham, William Lockhart Jr., Joe Ardis,
David Baucom and Kathea Whittle.
Richey is not seeking re-election.
The absentee ballot to vote for two of the
11 candidates may be picked up in person
from the city secretary’s office or a
request may be mailed to the city and a
ballot will be mailed back. The filled out
ballot must be sent back to City Hall
postmarked no later than Wednesday, Jan
13, according to City Secretary, Sandy ’
Beach.
To qualify to vote absentee, a person
4 must expect to be absent from the county
on the day of the election; be participating
‘ in the administration of the election Jte a
poll watcher or election judge; fdve
religious beliefs that conflict with the day
of the election; have an illness that would-
prevent the voter from traveling, to the
polls; or be 65 years of age or older.
The address to request a ballot or to send
an absentee ballot when completed is: City
Manager, 125 South Davis St.,, Sulphur
Springs.
City officials said the ballot handling
process would be speeded if voters make a
notation on the envelope that the contents
concern absentee voting.
Police chief named to panel Ci*y water bond sale postponed
Sulphur Springs Police Chief Clarence
M. Jones has been appointed to serve on a
special four-state committee by Lt. Gov.
Bill Hobby.
Jones' appointment to the Quad State
Project Participation committee created
to study the feasibility of Texas entering
an intelligence network with other states
along the border with Mexico to deal with
smuggling. s ^
Chief Jones expressed pleasure at the
appointment. “I would consider it an
honor,” he said. (Reattributed the cause of
his appointment “to my previous ex-
perience," referring to his work in the
Dallas area.
The purpose of the proposed network is
to gather and disseminate information to
other states that border Mexico with
special emphasis on smuggling both in and
out of the United States concentrating
specifically on Texas. The committee wll
deal with all kinds of smuggling, “but
primarily drugs coming in from Mexico,”
Jones said.
The committee was appointed by Lt.
Gov. Bill Hobby and consists of State Sen.
Bill Sarpalius of Amarillo who will serve
as chairman, Texas Sen. Carl Parker of
Port Arthur who will serve as vice-
chairman, State Sen. Hector Urike of
Brownsville, Val Verde County Sheriff
J.R. Coon and Jones.
Such intelligence networks have been
successful in other states in regard to
criminal activity in the gathering,
correlation and dissemination of in-
formation relating to criminal activities,
Jones said. The long border and coastline
of Texas present unique problems in
stopping the flow of illegal drugs from
LatiruAmerican countries.
Jones said he was planning" to go to
Austin soon for the committee’s
organizational meeting where “we will try
to establish some ground rules,” he said.
The sale of $2.2 million in water im-
provement bonds has been delayed once
again.
City officials had planned to sell the
bonds on Jan. 5, at the Municipal Building,
but changing market conditions and an
emergency meeting of the City Com-
mission Wednesday morning have
resulted in the date being changed to Jan.
26. .
The bonds were originally approved by
the voters in December, 1980.
The commissioners discussed the
change Tuesday night. However, as the
item was not on the agenda, City Attorney
Joel Sheffield advised the commissioners
to call an emergency meeting for^Wed-
nesday morning. Thj, emergency session
was necessary in order for Dan Almon, the
city’s financial advisor, to be able to notify
the prospective bond buyers of the change
in dates.
Interim City Manager and Financial
Director Travis Owens said Wednesday at
the meeting that the bond market has
jumped back up to:14 percent frpm the 10-
plus percent seen in November and that
each point of interest equates to about
$22,000 over the life of the city’s bonds
(based on a 14.4-year maturity).
He said that the jump in interest rates
would mean approximately $500,000 in
additional pay-back on the city’s bonds.
Owens said that part of the problem was
that when the interest rates dropped, a lot
of bonds were dropped on the market,
causing the rates to go up again' and
creating a scarcity of buyers.
Commissioner Vic Brittain said that
according to the economists, the predic-
tions of Almon and Owens are believed to
be correct and the market should be going
down again several weeks after the start of
1982.
After a short discussion by those
present, the commission voted to change
the date of the bond sale to Tuesday, Jan
26.
Commissioners Dee Mabe and Millard
Glover were absent from the emergency J
meeting. ^—
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Keys, Clarke & Woosley, Joe. The Hopkins County Echo (Sulphur Springs, Tex.), Vol. 107, No. 1, Ed. 1 Friday, January 1, 1982, newspaper, January 1, 1982; Sulphur Springs, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth780848/m1/1/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Hopkins County Genealogical Society.