City Property Tax, Utility Rates Approved On First Reading By Council
Sulphur Springs City Council approved on first reading several ordinances dealing with the city property tax and service rates, as well as another amending the 2018-19 budget.
Budget
City Finance Director Lesa Smith asked the council to approve Ordinance 27851, which amends the 2018-19 budget. She explained that Sulphur Springs Municipal Airport has sold more jet fuel and thus had to buy more jet fuel. The adjustment would be for about $90,000 more. Smith noted selling more fuel to be a good thing in that it brings in more funding for the city. However, because that project wasn’t in the original budget, the budget needs to be adjusted to reflect the increase in sales and purchases.
The City Council approved the budget amendment on first reading; it will be presented again at an upcoming meeting for second reading and final approval.
The City Council also approved on first reading Ordinance 2752, an appropriations ordinance needed to adopt the fiscal year 2019-2020 budget at a meeting later this month.
Tax Rate
Ordinance 2753, setting the city tax rate at $0.44 per $100 property valuation for fiscal year 2019-2020, was approved by the City Council on first reading. Smith noted if approved, FY 2019-20 would mark more than 15 years in which the tax rate has remained unchanged at 44-cents for the city. However, because of an increase in property values, the revenue collected from city property taxes is expected to raise, which per state law, requires a hearing, City Attorney Jim McLeroy and City Manager Marc Maxwell explained.
City Service Rates
Ordinance No. 2754 increasing the sanitation rate by 1.5 percent was approved on first reading.
“This is because of our contract with Sanitation Solutions and the landfill. The contract states that they are allowed to increase their price by the consumer price every year,” Smith said of the proposed 1.5 percent sanitation rate increase.
Ordinance No. 2755 increasing the water rate by 3 percent received City Council Approval on first reading Tuesday evening.
The 3 percent water rate increase, broken down, includes 1.5 percent for inflation, 0.5 percent increase for the upgrades at the water treatment plant and 1 percent for pay-as-you-go capital improvements plan. The city officials adopted the pay-as-you-go CIP last year to fund major improvements instead of borrowing money to cover the costs of capital improvements, Smith explained.
Ordinance No. 2756 increasing the sewer rate by 2 percent also was met with the City Council’s approval on first reading Tuesday.
“We are proposing a 2 percent increase in sewer rates, 1 1/2 percent for inflation and a half percent for pay-as-you-go capital improvement project plan. I lowered it on the sewer rate. The CIP contribution is lower than on the water rate because our sewer revenues have come in higher than expected due to last year’s increase,” Smith told the City Council.
Retirement Contributions
Ordinance No. 2757 authorizing updated service credits also received City Council approval on first reading.
Essentially, this allows for funding and scale for retirement contribution for full-time city employees. The plan increases the amount of contribution, accounting for increases in the employee’s salary later in their career, so that the amount the person receives in retirement will be closer to the amount paid later in their employment years with the city, Sulphur Springs Human Resources Director Gordon Frazier explained.
For instance, if the city finance director started her career with the city 14 years ago at a lower paying position. As the finance director she receives a higher pay. The ordinance has a formula for service credits that will allow her retirement be more equal to what her pay is now, as opposed to the amount it was when she first started working for the city more than 15 years ago, Frazier explained.
Atmos increase
Ordinance No. 2758, which adopts a new gas rate for Atmos Mid-Tex, was approved Tuesday on first reading the City Council.
The Atmos Cities Steering Committee and Company reached an agreement with Atmos years ago over for what was call a rate review mechanism ti replace a reliability infrastructure process. An alternative to a piece-meal rate system was proposed, according to Maxwell.
“They proposed a rate that would go up $39 million among all of us cities that participate in the Atmos Cities Steering Group. That’s our group that we are a member of and contribute money to, and they negotiate on our behalf. They proposed a rate increase of $39.3 million. In the end, we settled at $35.4 million. What that means to our residents is the average residential bill will go up $2.05, at 3.7 percent. The average commercial bill will go up 2.31 percent or $6 and change,” Maxwell told the council when presenting the ordinance resolving the pending RRM rate filing.
Tabled Proposal
A proposal for an ordinance which would prohibit the use and contact with designated groundwater from beneath certain property to facilitate certification of a municipal setting designation of the property by Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, was pulled from the agenda, at the recommendation of McLeroy.
Chemical Bid
A bid for a slight increase in chemicals for the water treatment plant was approved by the council. The low bid with a $22000 increase for sodium chloride was approved. The cost is incorporated into the 2019-2020 proposed budget.
All ordinances read and approved a Tuesday’s regular City Council meeting will be presented at an upcoming council meeting for second reading and council approval.
Sulphur Springs City Manager’s Report For Sept. 3, 2019
Presented by Sulphur Springs City Manager Marc Maxwell during the Sept. 3, 2019 City Council meeting.
SUNSET STREET – The Capital Construction Division is back at work on Sunset Street. We have changed the profile of the lay-down curbs to a gentler transition. This is a grant funded project through the Community Development Block Grant program.
CONNALLY STREET – The contractor, 5W Contracting, has begun construction on Connally Street. The Capital Construction Division will
construct the intersections, while 5W will construct the street segments in between.
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT – The new aerators are working very well at the wastewater treatment plant. We are seeing fantastic numbers. The contractor, Gracon, has begun refitting the old aerator basins with the new diffused-aeration systems.
CLAIMS – We had two minor workers compensation claims in August, one for minor burns and one for a strained shoulder. We had one liability claim in August; one of our employees backed a dump truck into a parked car.
REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES – Finance Director Lesa Smith will not give a year-to-date report of revenues and expenditures but will have a report for the Street Maintenance Fee.
Elsewhere around the city, employees:
• Made 10 street repairs following utility repairs.
• Repaired 27 potholes.
• Repaired 1 pothole caused by a lightning strike.
• Installed speed limit signs and dead-end signs.
• Removed 3 trees from the road.
• Responded to 176 fire/rescue calls including 3 structure fires.
• Conducted 91 fire inspections and reviewed 91 pre-fire plans.
• Performed preventative maintenance on 76 fire hydrants.
• Issued 25 weed tickets.
• Conducted 31 building inspections, 32 electrical inspections, 22 plumbing
inspections, 4 mechanical inspections and issued 22 building permits.
• Installed a new fence at the wastewater treatment plant.
• Achieved a daily average total suspended solids (tss) reading of .53 mg/L at the wastewater treatment plant. The limit is 12 mg/L.
• Responded to 187 animal control calls.
• Achieved a 41% adoption rate at the animal shelter.
• Made 8 felony arrests in the special crimes’ unit.
• Responded to 2,474 calls for police, worked 42 accidents, made 94 arrests, wrote 597 traffic citations, and recorded 73 offenses in the Patrol Division.
• Hosted a softball World Series (36 teams).
• Replaced the water cannon at the splash pad at Pacific Park.
• Repaired 19 water mains and replaced 14 water meters.
• Unstopped 13 sewer mains.
• Washed 75,000 feet of sewer mains.
• Repaired a brick manhole leading to Cantex lift station.
• Flushed 36 dead-end water mains.
• Installed a new motor at Cooper Lake pump station.
• Treated 184 million gallons of potable water.
• Sold 1,760 gallons of AvGas and 11,833 gallons of JetA fuel.
• Checked out 3,401 items from the library plus 520 eBooks.
‘Operation Restore’: Mel Haven Cemetery Clean-up Day, Volunteers Needed!
The Mel Haven Cemetery in Sulphur Springs is in need of care and clean-up. A group of volunteer leaders, including Ricky Godbolt, deacon at Morning Chapel Baptist Church and Rhonda Bechhold, volunteer researcher at the Hopkins County Genealogical Society, are organizing a clean-up day called “Operation Restore”. They brought their message to the KSST Good Morning Show on Wednesday September 4, 2019 to enlist the help and support of listeners for the purpose of preserving the cemetery for future generations. “Operation Restore” is set for Saturday September 14, 2019 from 7am til 2pm at Mel Haven Cemetery.
In excerpts from a letter received in August 2019 by the Hopkins County Genealogical Society Research Library, ‘the cemetery is in dire need of cleaning the fence lines around trees and uncovering graves buried beneath underbrush. There are graves dating back into the late 1880’s.’ Also, ‘the historical significance of Mel Haven Cemetery is vital to our history. It is time for the younger generations to step up and assist the men and women carry on the legacy and upkeep of Mel Haven Cemetery and assist in revitalizing a part of our history’. After receiving the letter, Bechhold began a database citing the known graves and is already adding photos and information she has found on the Find-a-Grave website. She states, ” there are 1,140 graves in Mel Haven and there are 550 stones. So another half of the graves have no stone or marker. I would like to be able to mark the graves of the individuals buried there in some way. Any citizens who may have information pertaining to the families buried in Mel Haven Cemetery, please forward it to the genealogical library at [email protected] or to Reverend Jason L. Lindley at [email protected]. Or if needed, please drop the information off at the Genealogical Library inside the Sulphur Springs Public Library at 611 North Davis Street during business hours. This way, everyone can work together in preserving this for posterity”.
According to Godbolt, at one time there was a strong membership in the Mel Haven Cemetery Society and clean-ups were done regularly. But much of the membership has now passed away. “Today, President is J.D. Franklin, Secretary is Michelle Gasaway and Sexton (caretaker) is Eddie Askew. Before him, Perry Cotton was Sexton. Wilbert Roland is among surviving members, as are a few other elderly members of the community. My parents and many of my family members are buried there. I would like it if people in the community would join me on September 14, and thereafter, in honoring the tradition of caring for Mel Haven”. Godbolt also said, “tools and equipment are needed. If you can bring a mower, weedeater, edger or trimmer, or chainsaw, shears or clippers for the bushes and tree limbs, please come. If you can help haul away debris afterward, we need your help too. Individuals and families are welcome to help. Whether you can do a little or a lot, you will receive a huge blessing. We will even provide lunch for the workers. Work will be going on from 7am til 2pm that day”.
The City of Sulphur Springs has recently moved to improve the entrance by repaving Debord Street which leads to the cemetery, and to place signage directing attention to the entrance. Mel Haven Cemetery is located next to and just north of the Sulphur Springs City Cemetery on 7th Street.
Sulphur Springs Woman Allegedly Identified Herself To Deputies By A False Name
A 27-year-old Sulphur Springs woman was arrested early Tuesday morning on East Shannon Road on a controlled substance charge after deputies reported finding more than 13 grams of an unknown substance in her bags during a traffic stop. She allegedly compounded her trouble by initially identifying herself by a false name, according to arrest reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputies Drew Fisher and Tanner Steward stopped a silver Chevrolet at 3:19 a.m Sept. 3 in the 100 block of Shannon Road after noticing it didn’t have a front license plate. The vehicle had four occupants, including a driver who allegedly did not have a valid drivers license. The driver was asked to step out of the car and agreed to let officers search the car, the deputies alleged in arrest reports.
All four occupants were removed from the vehicle and separated during a search. Two black bags were located in the back seat behind the driver. The passenger, allegedly claimed the bags but refused permission to search them. Deputy Jason Lavender was requested to bring his canine partner to the scene to perform a sniff search of the vehicle and bags. The dog alerted on both bags. A search by Deputy Tanner Steward revealed a clear plastic bag with a crystal-like substance suspected to be methamphetamine and a glass vial with a clear liquid substance in it, several syringes and an empty bag were found inside the black bags, Fisher and Steward alleged in arrest reports.
The back seat passenger, 27-year-old Sulphur Springs woman, was arrested and the suspected contraband and paraphernalia were seized. Both tested positive for a controlled substance. The bags and glass containers with the substances weighed a total of 13.05 grams, resulting in the woman’s arrest for possession of 4 grams or more but less than 200 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance, the deputies alleged in arrest reports.
It was later determined, by the deputies alleged in reports, that the woman had given a false name during the course of the traffic stop and initial book-in proceedings. She told sheriff’s officials she lied because she thought she had warrants for her arrest. Kelsey Devon Carrillo was also charged with a failure to identify by giving false or fictitious information as well as warrants for failure to maintain financial responsibility, expired registration and failure to appear, according to arrest reports.
Carrillo remained in the county jail Wednesday morning, Sept. 4. Bond was set at $45,000 on the controlled substance charge and $1,000 on the misdemeanor failure to ID charge, according to jail reports.
Wildcats Tennis District Opener
Wildcats Team Tennis Competes With Lindale in District Opener Tuesday Losing 12-7 at Wildcat Tennis Center
Wildcats Team Tennis had their most competitive match with Lindale Tuesday (September 3) since Tony Martinez has been head coach. Coach Martinez is in his sixth year here. Lindale, coached by former Wildcats Coach Randy Namanny, won the district opener for both teams, 12-7 at the Wildcat Tennis Center Tuesday. Coach Martinez got solid play especially from his senior-laden boys players. The Wildcats were playing without their #1 girls player, Jeauxleigh Cantu, who is injured. In doubles matches, the Wildcats won a pair of boys doubles matches but trailed 5-2 after the doubles. The team of Aaron Lucas and Logan Schumacher won 6-2, 6-3. The team of Jonah Kirkpatrick and Carlos Lopez won, 4-6, 6-4 and 10-3 in a tiebreaker. Lopez, Lucas and Schumacher also won singles matches. Lopez won 6-2, 6-1. Lucas won 6-0, 6-2. Schumacher won 6-0, 7-6 (decided by a 10-5 tiebreaker). Jordan Gonzales won his singles match, 6-4, 7-6 (decided by a 7-2 tiebreaker). Paige Miesse won her girls singles match, 7-5, 6-4. The Wildcats are 0-1 in district play. Their season record is 3-10. The Wildcats play a crucial district match at Greenville next Tuesday at 3:30 p.m
Lady Cats Volleyball Wins Home Opener
Lady Cats Volleyball Wins Home Opener Over Wills Point, 3-0 Tuesday Evening
The Lady Cats Volleyball Team really enjoyed their home opener Tuesday (September 3) in the Main Gym at Sulphur Springs High School. The Lady Cats played strong sets and downed Wills Point, 3-0 in a non-district match. Score was 25-10, 25-14 and 25-12. Senior Sydney Washburn had a very solid game and collected a lot of kills. Her sister junior Sadie Washburn had her usual strong game of awesome kills. Setter Peyton Hammack continually put the ball where the sisters wanted it. Lady Cats Coach Bailey Dorner said everyone she put on the floor performed well. The Lady Cats improved their season record to 16-8. The Lady Cats play at Edgewood Friday at 4:30 p.m. The Lady Cats lost to Edgewood, 2-0 in the third place game at an Edgewood tournament on August 24. The score was 20-25 and 25-27
AmEx Pharmacy Issues Nationwide Recall For All Lots Of Bevacizumab
A recall has been issued for all lots of AmEx Pharmacy’s Bevacizumab 1.25mg/0.05mL 31G Injectable and Bevacizumab 2.5mg/0.1ml Normject TB Injectable that are within expiry to the healthcare provider level.
The Bevacizumab involved in this recall is used for wet age-related Macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.
The recall is issued “out of an abundance of caution following an FDA inspection,” according to a release from Pacifico National, Inc., doing business as AmEx Pharmacy.
According to the FDA, “AmEx Pharmacy has not been operational since July 27, 2019. Following FDA’s formal recall request on Aug. 27, 2019, AmEx Pharmacy agreed to recall all unexpired drugs intended to be sterile and continue to cease operations.”
All products associated with this voluntary recall “passed compendial testing per USP 71 and USP 85.” However, administration of a non-sterile drug product intended to be sterile present risk of infection, according to
The recalled product is individually wrapped and labeled in a Tyvek pouch which is then placed in a labeled amber bag to protect from light.
The product can be identified by referencing the Lot number which is prominently displayed on the amber bag and Tyvek pouch of the product. The specific lots were distributed nationwide to ophthalmologist clinics in the following states: AR, AZ, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SD, TN, TX, UT, WA, WI, WV, and PR.
AmEx Pharmacy is notifying its consignees by email and overnight mail and is arranging for return of all recalled product. Administering physicians who have product that is being recalled should stop use, remove it from inventory and return to AmEx Pharmacy. All lots of unexpired Bevacizumab products distributed by AmEx Pharmacy are affected by this voluntary recall.
Consumers with questions regarding this recall can contact AmEx Pharmacy at 800-644 – 9431 Monday -Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m, EST, or send an email to[email protected].
AmEx, it’s recall notice, encourages consumers to contact their physician or healthcare provider if they have experienced any problems that may be related to being administered this drug product.
Winnsboro Police Department Media Report for Aug. 26-Sept. 2, 2019
Arrests
- Joshua Wright, 33, of Winnsboro was arrested on 08/27/2019 on a Winnsboro Municipal Court warrant.
- Louanna Wenich, 41, of Winnsboro was arrested on 08/30/2019 for possession of marijuana, less than 2 ounces.
- Brian Forest, 56, of Dallas was arrested on 08/31/2019 on a Tarrant County warrant.
- Troy Ragsdale, 34, of Winnsboro was arrested on 09/01/2019 on a Franklin County warrant.
- Elisabeth Jones, 59, of Winnsboro was arrested on 09/01/2019 on a Winnsboro Municipal Court warrant.
Accidents
The Winnsboro Police Department responded to a two-vehicle accident on 8/30/2019 at East Broadway at Apple. No injuries reported. Unit two was stopped on East Broadway facing westbound attempting to make a left-hand turn. Unit one was westbound on East Broadway and failed to control speed colliding with unit two.
Calls for Service
The Winnsboro Police Department responded to a total of 220 calls for service during this reporting period.
Citations
The Winnsboro Police Department issued 64 citations and 103 warnings during this reporting period.
Coach Owens Discusses Wildcats Season Opening Loss on Saturday Morning Coaches Show
17-17 game at the half. Then the wheels come off for the Wildcats in the second half of a 53-17 loss to Frisco Wakeland Friday night at The Prim. Wildcats Football Coach Greg Owens discussed the game on KSST Radio and Cable Channel 18’s Saturday Morning Coach’s Show this past Saturday (August 31). Coach Owens acknowledged that in the first half the Wildcats played well utilizing two straight onside kicks to create opportunities and then using those to put points on the board. He said the Wildcats got after it and battled during the first half. Coach Owens said in the second half, the Wolverines took it to the Wildcats and he said the Wildcats lost their poise in some areas. He said his young team is maturing and learning. Coach Owens said they made a lot of mistakes including penalties and band busts (misreading their wrist bans full of plays). He said there is a lot of stuff the Wildcats need to clean up and he added video is the tool to use to help do it. Coach Owens did find some positives. He said defensive ends Cameron Kaufert and D’Andre Peoples had good games. He liked the game of sophomore defensive back Korderrian “Bull” Turner. Coach Owens said offensive lineman Ryan Hammonds played well and was physical. He said running backs Caden Davis and Da’Korian “Chock” Sims did a great job. He was thrilled by the 55-yard catch and run by hard working receiver Zach Tiemeyer. Coach Owens said receiver Aidan Walker had a nice run after a catch. He said receiver Noe Ponce had a good night catching and blocking. He said quarterback Kaden Wallace had a good game except for a couple of plays. Coach Owens praised kickers Brandon Zavala and Osiel Lopez. Among things to improve on, Coach Owens said in the second half linebackers didn’t read their keys and react as they should have. He said the defensive backs need to play with more confidence. Coach Owens said he was frustrated by offsides calls and lining up offsides. There was the big mishap on a punt snap. But to put things in perspective, Coach Owens said the loss really had no impact on the Wildcats season adding they have to continue to work to get ready for all important district play. He noted that the Wildcats played with great effort and played hard. Coach Owens said this was no time to panic. Still he said the players need to have an urgency to get better. Coach Owens expects a Frisco Wakeland type challenge again this Friday as the Wildcats take on Lovejoy at Lucas.
Lady Cats Cross Country Team Wins at Mineola Friday While Wildcats Take Fourth
In their first time to run at Mineola, the Lady Cats Cross Country Team took first place while the Wildcats were fourth on Friday (August 30). Wildcats and Lady Cats Cross Country Coach Ross Hicks said it was a great meet for his teams and he added he was pleased with their results. Coach Hicks said all nine of his Lady Cats ran season bests in the 5K race of Class 6A and Class 5A schools. Senior Sydney Washburn was the top finisher for the Lady Cats. Coach Hicks said Washburn ran almost a minute faster than she did last week. Right behind Washburn were a pair of freshmen. Laney Hurst finished fourth overall and Maddie Bridges fifth. Freshman Makayla Jimmerson was ninth overall. Junior Maurie Flecker was the next finisher for the Lady Cats. The Wildcats were fourth among 15 teams. Top Wildcats finisher was senior Christian Palomino who was third overall. Sophomore Jose Mejia was the next Wildcat to finish. Then came junior Camden Fuller, senior Kevin Yanez and sophomore Evan Patrick. The Wildcats and Lady Cats will run next at a UT Tyler Meet on Saturday. Coach Hicks said the field would include strong Class 6A and Class 5A competitors from East Texas.
