City Council Special Meeting Agenda For Aug. 13
CITY OF SULPHUR SPRINGS, TEXAS
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
AUGUST 13, 2019, 5:30 P.M.
A special meeting of the Sulphur Springs City Council will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 13, 2019 in the Council Room at 201 North Davis. The following items will be discussed:
- Call to order.
- Pledge and invocation.
- Discussions on proposed fiscal year 2019-20 budget.
- Discussion/action on motion to place a proposal to increase total tax revenue on the September 3, 2019, City Council meeting agenda and to schedule two (2) public hearings for the proposed tax increase.
- Adjourn.
Cumby VFD Honored; Town’s History Of Fire Protection Dates Back To 1870s
The commissioners court and county fire chief also recognized Cumby VFD and expressed appreciation to them for their continued dedication to the community, with volunteers responding with apparatus housed both at the main station in Cumby and the substation in Brashear.
The county is recognizing one volunteer department each month this year as part of Hopkins County Fire Department’s 20th anniversary celebration, noting the vital role each plays in providing fire and rescue protection in each community and throughout the county.
“We wanted to include everybody, because without each individual volunteer fire department Hopkins County Station 20 would not be where it’s at today,” Hopkins County Fire Chief Andy Endsley said. “Because of all of yall helping the guys. We all work so well together. Cumby’s one of those if you call them, they’re coming, it doesn’t matter where it’s at in the county.”
“This is a special occasion. Cumby is one of the most effective volunteer fire departments in Hopkins County. We’ve watched over the years as as they have responded really all over the county at times, but especially on the western side of the county. They’ve been a lifesaver for many,” Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom said.
Cumby has had various levels of fire protection dating back more than 100 years, according to information read during the Aug. 12 Commissioners Court session.
According to the Cumby Rustler publication, Cumby had a fire brigade that put out fires at local cotton gins, other businesses and homes, the railways as well as grass fires from the 1870s to early 1900s. The Cumby fire brigade was reported to have put out a locomotive steam engine fire. It was reported that a large portion of downtown would have burned if not for the quick efforts of firemen, Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom read from a proclamation given to the department at Monday’s meeting.
The City of Cumby’s first official fire department was formed in 1924, however, information about the members was destroyed in a when the roof of the old city hall collapsed in the 1980s. The first known fire apparatus was a 1932 Howe pumper truck, Newsom said.
The current fire department, the modern era department, was formed in 1968 by James Strickland, Leroy Conville, Junior Millsap, Leon Higginbotham, Luke Smith, Williams Cross and Bill Spencer.
“The department’s motto ‘Pride of the Westside’ still holds true as its members continue to proudly claim a longstanding sense of success in providing fire protection for the City of Cumby and Western Hopkins County,” Newsom said.
“They are the pride of the west side. They take care of the west end so well for us, the Interstate. We know each other very well from the Interstate. That history right there if phenomenal. It goes all the way back to the 1800s. So far y’all have go the record on how far back you go. That’s amazing right there. That’s a testament to Cumby, the people of Cumby and the department. We appreciate that,” Endsley said.
Cumby VFD member Jimmy Evans noted that he’d been a member of the department since 1976, and could remember a time “the budget of the county was $38,000 for all of the departments.”
Evans commended the county for “doing an excellent job for us, helping all the fire departments” over the years. He noted at one time, the county purchased a cab and chassis for all VFDs, and said he wished the county was able to still do so, but expressed appreciation to the commissioners court for what they are able to do for the VFD.
Evans said just as the county has grown and changed over the years, and that has impacted VFDs.
“As far as the departments, I think everybody is suffering for manpower. I know we are. We used to always have a minimum of 18 members. We are down to about 12 now. You have to keep up the good work supporting fire departments as you have done,” the VFD members said.
“We need young firemen. The future future of Hopkins County and depends on young people to step up. This is volunteers. They don’t get paid, and are volunteers we appreciate that so much,” Newsom said.
The commissioners court urged citizens to join them in applauding the outstanding efforts of Cumby VFD, including their dedication and perseverance in providing fire protection to the citizens of Hopkins County, and offer heartfelt appreciation to the servant hood of each CVFD member.
Deputies: Woman Claims Substance Found In Her Bag Is Gag Gift, Not Meth
A 63-year-old Sulphur Springs woman was arrested early Tuesday morning near a South Broadway Street eye care business after officers found a baggy with a crystal-like substance she claimed wasn’t methamphetamine, but a gag gift.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputies Lance Burdick and Zack Horne spotted the woman, identified in arrest reports as Rosemary Boone Springer, walking at 2:10 a.m. Aug. 13, on South Broadway Street. They stopped to conduct a welfare check on the woman. The sheriff’s office had received a call Monday from a person inquiring if the person was still listed as missing, so they stopped to check on her, according to sheriff’s reports.
While talking to the woman, the deputies noted her to exhibit “nervous behavior.” She allegedly wouldn’t make eye contact with the deputies and several times change her story as to where she was walking.
A short time later, HCSO Sgt. Scott Davis reportedly arrived and began speaking to the woman. Dispatchers reportedly advised she had an outstanding warrant for her arrest on a possession or delivery of drug paraphernalia charge, but that she was not at that time listed as a missing person.
After obtaining permission to search her handbag, deputies found a small white pill bottle that had a plastic bag containing a crystal-like substance the suspected to be methamphetamine, Burdick and Davis alleged in arrest reports. Springer allegedly claimed the substance wasn’t meth; that it was gag gift. Deputies field-tested the substance. Contrary to her claim, the substance tested positive for methamphetamine, Burdick and Davis alleged in arrest reports.
Springer was taken into custody on both the warrant as well as a new charge for possession of less than 1 gram Penalty Group 1 controlled substance. The substance and packaging weighed about 0.61 gram, the deputies alleged in arrest reports.
She remained in the county jail Tuesday morning. Bond on the controlled substance charge was set at $5,000, according to arrest reports.
Teen Reportedly Injured In County Road 4712 ATV Crash
A 16-year-old was reportedly injured and flown from the crash site to an area trauma center for treatment Monday evening.
Hopkins County emergency dispatchers at 6:18 p.m. Monday were notified of an ATV crash with injuries on County Road 4712. Hopkins County and Cumby firefighters, and sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the location, according to reports.
A 16-year-old was reportedly found trapped beneath a crashed ATV. Once the vehicle was moved, a medical helicopter was reportedly landed near the crash site. The teen was flown to an area trauma center, for what were reported to be possible life-threatening injuries. Another person at the crash site was reported to have sustained less serious injuries and was transported by ambulance to CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs, according to sheriff’s reports.
No additional information was available regarding the crash, including information regarding the two injured, mid morning Tuesday.
Merger Of North Hopkins, South Sulphur VFDs Receives Approval Of Commissioners
A handshake between North Hopkins Volunteer Fire Department Chief Bobby Harris and South Sulphur VFD Chief Jim Rich marked what Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom called a “historic moment” in county history.
The two departments have agreed, with approval of Hopkins County Commissioner Court, to merge their departments to better maximize the resources of both departments.
There are still several details to work out in regard to the combining of the two stations, including some financial matters. The new North Hopkins-South Sulphur VFD plans to add a substation in the near future to house part of the apparatus and give the area a second station from which department members can more quickly respond to calls in the north and western portions of Hopkins County as needed. The court appointed Harris as chief of the newly combined department.
The combined department and additional station should also help lower ISO ratings, which should mean lower insurance rates for many residents within 5 miles of each station.
“Bobby and I have a good working relationship, which makes this possible with the tight funds and available volunteers,” said Rich.
“This is for the residents. Jim and I want to help our community. If we do our part together, we can pool our resources in the community and pool different resources,” said Harris.
That spirit of cooperation and potential for more efficient and productive use of resources were the motivating factors for the commissioners court to unanimously passed a resolution in favor of the combining of departments, according to Newsom.
Wildcats Varsity And JV Football Teams Begin Practice Monday Evening
The Wildcats Varsity and JV Football Teams will have their first practice of the season Monday evening, August 12, at the Multipurpose Building.
After several meetings, the teams were expected to take the field, either indoors or out, beginning at around 6 p.m. Practice is expected to go until around 9 p.m.
The Wildcats are starting a week later than some because they had spring football practice. Because of spring ball, they lose not only a week of practice, but also one scrimmage. The Wildcats lone scrimmage will take place Thursday, Aug. 22, at Liberty-Eylau in Texarkana. The Leopards are coached by Klint King, son of former Wildcats Head Football Coach Chuck King.
The Wildcats are expected to go several days without pads before putting on pads and getting in some contact.
The Wildcats were 6-4 last season including a bi-district loss to Frisco. They were 5-3 in district play and finished as the district’s #3 seed.
The Wildcats return 19 lettermen, including four offensive and four defensive starters. The Wildcats lost 35 seniors off last year’s team.
Lady Cats Volleyball Coach Bailey Dorner Was Generally Pleased With Her Team At First Tournament of Season
Lady Cats Volleyball Coach Bailey Dorner said the Lady Cats played tough teams and looked good against them during the Garland ISD Volleyball Tournament this past Friday and Saturday, Aug. 8-9.
Coach Dorner said she would be tweaking some things in practice but he added her team had an overall good weekend and stepped up their play.
The Lady Cats went 1-2 in pool play Friday defeating Kilgore while losing to Rowlett and Wylie East. Coach Dorner said she would have liked her team to do better in pool play losses. She said some minor mistakes kept the Lady Cats from winning the two close pool games they lost.
Saturday, playing in the Challenger Bracket of third and fourth place pool teams, the Lady Cats defeated Richardson Berkner, Carrollton Newman Smith and Denton Braswell, all 2-0, to advance to the Challenger Championship Game. The out of gas Lady Cats lost to Carrollton Ranchview, 2-0.
Coach Dorner agreed that the Lady Cats were tired and worn out in their fourth game of the day that started with an 8 a.m. game Saturday. She said her team is still working on getting into shape this early in the season.
Coach Dorner liked the play of junior Sadie Washburn, who she said is healthy and who shows up ready to work at practice. Net player Brooklyn Burnside, a sophomore, also had a very good day Saturday. Coach Dorner called her not only athletic but also smart.
Coach Dorner also mentioned the play of senior Sydney Washburn who made some good blocks at the net; libero Czhela Moya, who Coach Dorner said was all over the place; and setter Peyton Hammack, who Coach Dorner said did a good job setting the ball all weekend.
The Lady Cats travel to McKinney North for a Tuesday evening match at 6 p.m. JV and freshman matches get underway at 5 p.m.
Coach Dorner said by playing tough teams early, her team would be better prepared for district games later.
Officials Proposing No Change To County Tax Rate
Hopkins County Commissioners Court Monday morning gave approval for the county tax rate to remain the same, at the recommendation of Tax Assessor/Collector Debbie Pogue Mitchell.
She reported officials from her office and those of the appraisal district and auditor’s office met last week to go over tax rolls. Work proceeded to calculate a tax rate to propose to commissioners court.
Recent legislative changes regarding tax caps will impact school districts this year but won’t affect cities and counties until next year. However, she recommended local officials began looking at the matter to being preparations in order to be ready for it in the next budget cycle.
Mitchell recommended the county keep the same tax rate of $0.624892, which is above the effective rate of $0.577457 but below the rollback rate of $0.62556.
That, according to the proposed budget posted on the county website, should generate an additional $752,789 in revenue from property taxes in the coming year, compared to the current tax year, including $272,117 in tax revenue from new property added to the tax roll this year.
As required, two public hearings must be conducted by the county before the tax rate can be formally adopted because the proposed tax rate, the same as in the last couple of years, is above the effective rate.
Public hearings are to be held during the regular meeting of Hopkins County Commissioners Court at 9 a.m. Monday, Aug. 26; and during a special called meeting at 9 a.m. Sept. 3.
Judge Robert Newsom said that should allow the county to approve the rate and have the budget ready for a vote by Sept. 9.
District Clerk’s Technology Fund
Also during Monday’s court session, a public hearing was held. District Clerk Cheryl Fulcher asked the commissioners to consider a plan for the District Clerk’s Technology Fund.
In 2009, Fulcher explained, Senate Bill 1685 set the a $10 technology fee district clerks would collect as part of regular court fees to apply toward preservation and restoration of the office’s records. That fee was to drop to decrease to $5, however, the current legislative session changed that to allow district clerks to charge a tehnology fund fee up to $10.
That has be reflected in the county budget when it’s approved. Commissioners gave approval for a $10 fee to be charged
Interlocal contract with Lubbock County
In other financial matters, the commissioners court also Monday approved an agreement with Lubbock County, pursuant to the Fair Defense Act in Texas Code of Criminal Procedure and Texas Government Code.
“That is our capital murder insurance protection,” said Newsom.
The amount to be paid per year has gone down, according to the county auditor.
Line item transfers
Line item transfers approved for the district clerk and county attorney’s offices included:
- District clerk — $1,426 to be moved from the district clerk’s office equipment fund to the schools and training fund so the clerk can attend a conference in September.
- County Attorney — moving $4,468.40 from the county contingency fund to the county attorney ‘s office. When the county attorney’s office sustained heavy damages due to the building flooding, repairs and new computers were paid for out of the operating budget, leaving a deficit in that fund. Moving that amount from the contingency fund would help off set the deficit in that fund and provide enough funding for the county attorney’s office to make needed purchases, according to the county auditor.
