Hopkins County Hospital District Board Calls Special Noon Meeting On Aug. 9
Hopkins County Hospital District Board of Directors have called a special noon meeting Friday, Aug. 9, to accept the resignation of one board member and consider appointing another to fill the opening.
The agenda also calls for discussion and consideration of a name change.
Hopkins County Ponytails Force Final Game Before Losing In Championship Game
The Hopkins County Ponytails earned their way into the final game against Alabama in the Dixie Softball World Series Wednesday, August 7, before their quest for the championship ended.
Hopkins County won the first game Wednesday, 6-4 to force the final game. Lucy Hernandez had a first inning double that drove in two runs to tie the early game at 2-2. She drove in Daylee Fite who singled and K.K. Montgomery who walked. Hopkins County took the lead with a four run third inning to go up 6-2. Tessa McGary singled, Emily Hall got on base, Shiloh Cowgirl Hill singled, Fite got on on an error, Montgomery doubled and Hannah Speed and Bella Romero both singled. Alabama got two runs back in the top of the fourth, but that was all they could do.
Alabama took the Ponytails championship with a 13-3 final game win. They scored four runs in the first inning, had four more in the fourth and five runs to wrap it up in the fifth.
Hopkins got two runs in the fourth as Fite walked, Montgomery singled and Speed singled. They scored one more in the fifth. Sarah Corley singled and scored. Allison Fireball Frazier also walked in the inning. Speed, Fite and Hill all pitched for Hopkins County, who finished in second place in the World Series.
In the Debs and Angels, two undefeated favorites took care of business winning first game pitchers’ duels Wednesday. In the Debs, South Carolina took the championship topping Tennessee, 2-0. In the Angels, Alabama shut out Virginia, 3-0.
Joey Martin, president, and the Hopkins County Girls Softball Association organized and ran the six day Dixie Softball World Series at Coleman Park.
New CattleWomen’s Organization Forming to Serve 10 NeTx Counties
Jennifer Dwyer and husband Paul moved from Michigan to Delta County, Texas about 5 years ago. After attending an outreach meeting by members of the Texas CattleWomen’s Association, Jennifer developed a desire to form a chapter for the women who live in Northeast Texas and are associated with the beef industry. The newly formed North East Texas CattleWomen’s Association is seeking members, and an informational/organizational event is planned on Saturday August 10, 2019 at 6pm. The location is Redneck Grill in downtown Sulphur Springs. Jennifer is the Social Chairman of the local group, and appeared on the KSST Good Morning Show on August 8, 2019 to spread the word about the group.
Today, the numbers of women in the family farm/ranch business or in their own beef farming business is significant. Statistics show there are 1.2 million women working America’s lands, and that about 1/3 of our nation’s agriculture workers are women. According to Jennifer, many of these these women are busy working on their own but would like to stay connected with others. She admits that her family operates a grass-fed beef operation in an area where there are many more cattle than people. Members of North East Texas CattleWomen share a common interest in the BEEF industry. ‘We share friendships and support each other during the challenges and successes that being involved in the beef industry presents. Owning a cow is NOT a requirement’. The new non-profit will serve the counties: of: Delta, Hunt, Hopkins, Rains, Van Zandt, Wood, Lamar, Bowie, Fannin and Red River.
The new organization is an affiliate of the Texas CattleWomen’s Association, in connection with the American CattleWomen’s Association. If you would like to know more, visit the Facebook page North East Texas CattleWomen, or attend the organizational meeting on Saturday August 10, 2019 at 211 Main Street.
Landmark Southside, Travel Time RV To Expand; Agreement Amended For Main Street Project
Sulphur Springs City Council at their August meeting approved two contracts and an agreement amendment which will impact three local businesses.
Community Facilities Contracts
Approval was given for Community Facilities Contracts for expansion of Travel Time RV and a Wildcat Way storage facility for Landmark Southside Storage, provided each meets the terms of the contract.
According to City Manager Marc Maxwell, when the city is approached about development, they require the developer to put in utilities, sometimes a road as well. Permits are required. The developer is required to sign an agreement and put up a bond. The terms are stipulated in the contract.
Travel Time RV is planning to expand, with an additional RV park behind the current property. There will be an office and campgrounds in the back with family RV spots, city officials said Tuesday.
Public water and sewer utilities will need to be extended further onto the Travel Time Site for additional development. The city will provide water, sewer and fire protection in that area. A plan and engineering have been submitted to the city and approved. A letter of credit has also been submitted, city staff told Sulphur Springs City Council during their regular August meeting Tuesday.
Easements and inspection fee, also required, have yet to be met. City staff recommended the city manager be authorized to execute the contract once the final items are attained.
Landmark Southside Storage plans to put storage units on Wildcat Way.
The Landmark Southside property was platted in 2017 and an engineering plan provided. Landmark South needs water and sewer extended to the development.
Originally, the city and Suphur Springs Independent School District had a pro rata agreement which would require anyone who tied into the sewer and water lines the school district paid to have put in would have to pay the district a fee. This was struck during construction of Sulphur Springs Middle School. SSISD’s pro rata agreement has lapsed at the school’s request this year, thus the pro rata fee no longer applies, city officials reported at the meeting.
With an engineering plan, easements, inspection fees and all other parts of the contract fulfilled by Landmark, all that was needed to proceed was authorization for the city manager to execute the contract, the council was told.
Approval was given for Maxwell to execute the contracts, Landmark South’s immediately, and Travel Time RV’s as soon as the remaining terms have been fulfilled.
Amended Agreement
The city council also granted approval to a resolution amending an existing 380 agreement with Billie Ruth Standbridge for property located at 216 Main St. and allowing Maxwell to execute the agreement.
According to the Texas Comptroller’s Office, “Chapter 380 of the Local Government Code authorizes municipalities to offer incentives designed to promote economic development such as commercial and retail projects. Specifically, it provides for offering loans and grants of city funds or services at little or no cost to promote state and local economic development and to stimulate business and commercial activity.
City Attorney Jim McLeroy explained that about 1 1/2 year ago an agreement was struck giving Standbridge $35,000 in incentives for development of the property at 216 Main Street.
Standbridge, in an August 2018 interview, told KSST’s Enola Gay her plan for her Main Street property is the “The Courtyard,” a complex with five upstairs apartments and three retail spaces downstairs.
The project is substantially under construction, but Standbridge has not required or used all of that incentive. More than $18,000 has been used so far, leaving about $16,500. Because of some circumstances she’s incurred on the job, she’s asked the city to consider converting the remaining balance of that incentive to a cash incentive, McLeroy explained.
“It’s no greater than the initial $35,000 we’ve committed. Because of circumstances we’re not going to have to spend out there. From a budgetary standpoint, we’re not spending any more incentive dollars on her than we initially anticipated,” McLeroy said.
The city attorney pointed out that the amount anticipated in ad valorem and sales tax benefits coming in from the retail locations in the building once the project is complete would far exceed the incentive amount. Thus, he recommended amending the agreement as requested, and allowing the city manager to “execute” it.
The motion passed, 4-1, with Place 1 Councilwoman Erica Armstrong voting against the proposed amendment to the 380 agreement.
Crash Complaint Leads To Misdemeanor Controlled Substance Arrest
A complaint about a major crash on Gilmer Street Wednesday afternoon resulted in a 37-year-old Sulphur Springs woman’s arrest.
Upon arrival in the 1000 block of Gilmer Street about 1:45 p.m. Aug. 7, Sulphur Springs police reported finding the woman, who was unable to get out of a Chevrolet Equinox. The woman was responsive, but did not seem to be aware of her surroundings, police alleged in arrest reports.
The officer, in reports, said he tried to get the woman to unlock the door of the vehicle, but she wouldn’t open it. Sulphur Springs firefighters were able to get the vehicle unlocked to start treating the woman. That, police alleged, allowed officers to see several oval-shaped pills in the driver’s side floorboard inside the sport utility vehicle. A baggy with more pills was located in the driver’s side door pocket and other pills were found in the console, police alleged in arrest reports.
One type of pill allegedly had 176 imprinted on one side, which officers found identified it as acetaminophen and hydrocodone, a controlled substance; and the other pills had L484 imprinted on one side of them, identifying them as acetaminophen, which is not a controlled substance. The woman did not have a prescription for the narcotic, according to police reports.
She refused to go with EMS and was, thus, transported to the county jail, where she was booked on the Class A misdemeanor charge possession of less than 28 grams of a Penalty Group 3 controlled substance, according to arrest reports.
Tira News for Aug. 7, 2019
By Jan Vaughn
Kim Beck reports that she and Lee “took off on a crazy 2,400 mile West to South Texas adventure!” They went to Odessa, Texas and then up to Carlsbad, New Mexico for a day trip and back to Midland to pick up son Jason and his girlfriend, Courtney. The group then went to Balmorhea State Park, Fort Davis and Alpine. They hit Big Bend and Lajitas on Monday and then off to Marathon and Del Rio on Tuesday, stopping to see the Judge Roy Bean museum on the way. Kim adds, “Swam in the San Felipe Springs, very refreshing!” On Wednesday they were up early on the way to Fredericksburg, Luckenbach, Gruene and San Antonio. They visited with son Jackson and celebrated their daughter-in-law finishing up her bar exam. Way to go, Courtney!
Janie Lewis reported that some repair work is being done at the Tira Community Center. Also, she cleaned out the cabinets and “gave the cabinets by the sink a little uplift.” She’s been helping keep the pantry stocked, too. We appreciate all she and the other council members do for the community.
Chip and I took Rylan, Brailon, and Slaiden to meet their Gimmee (grandmother) Tiffany and Aunt Jaidyn in New Boston on Friday afternoon. They spent the weekend with Perry, Tiffany, and Jaidyn in Malvern, Arkansas. The kids went to Vacation Bible School on Saturday and they all had a great time at the Mid-America Science Museum in Hot Springs on Sunday, after church. Perry and Jaidyn brought the boys back on Monday. Tiffany was at work in her new job as a library aide at Lakeside School District.
On Saturday, Chip and I went to Waco and took our son, Delayne, out for lunch at Ninfa’s Mexican Restaurant for his birthday, which was on Aug. 1. Our grandson and granddaughter-in-law, Landon and Laiken, did some shopping on Saturday, while the boys were away on their weekend trip.
Malcolm, Kenden, and Landon Joslin joined us for lunch on Sunday. Chip cooked steaks for Malcolm’s birthday. Laiken couldn’t be with us, due to a prior commitment, so Landon took her meal “to go.”
I always need and appreciate input from my friends to help keep me informed of news in our community. If you have any news pertaining to Tira residents, past or present, please contact me, Jan Vaughn, at 903-438-6688 or [email protected].
Sulphur Springs City Council Approves Ordinances Rezoning 2 Business Parks, Defining Travel Center, Amending Fee Schedule
Sulphur Springs City Council approved four city ordinance proposals — two rezoning annexes, one amending the community development fee schedule and one defining truck stops and travel centers — during Tuesday evening’s regular meeting.
Business Park Rezoning
Ordinances 2747 and 2748 rezone Pioneer Business Park and Heritage Business Park from agricultural to heavy industrial zones. Basically, Community Development Director Tory Niewiadomski told the council on first reading of the ordinance at the July council meeting, this is a standard action following annexation of business parks, which “come in” as agricultural zones.
These areas were intended as industrial zones when annexed, to allow for growth and development within them, according to the community development director.
The 103.05-acre annex of Pioneer Business Park and adjacent properties spans from the west side of CMH Road between Business 67 and the Interstate 30 frontage road. Heritage Business Park is 117.33 acres and includes adjacent properties located east of Loop 301 on Heritage Parkway, north of the railroad tracks, west of County Road 3501 and south of County Road 3502.
Both received unanimous approval on second and final reading at the Aug. 6 meeting.
Fee Schedule Amendment
Also approved on second and final reading was Ordinance No 2759, which amends the fee schedule for community development to comply with House Bill 852.
Essentially, HB 852 stipulated that Texas municipalities, including Sulphur Springs, are no longer able to base permit and inspection fees for residential dwellings on the cost of the project, state officials determined recently.
HB 852 prohibits municipalities from using the value of the dwelling and the cost of constructing or improving the dwelling to determine building permit or inspection fees in connection with construction or improvement of a residential dwelling. Municipalities also are barred from requiring information related to the cost or value of construction or improvement of the dwelling when setting the costs for a building permit.
“Due to these recent changes, staff has review our fee schedule. We have made the necessary changes to either make the fees based on square footage or a flat fee. So, for the most part our ordinance was in compliance, except for the trades; we decided to go with a flat fee. For residential remodel we want to go with square foot,” Niewiadomski told the council during the regular July 2 meeting, when the ordinance was first read.
Truck Stop/Travel Center Defined
Ordinance No. 2750 amends Zoning Ordinance 2050, Article 2, by clarifying what constitutes a travel center/truck stop in Definition 2.200.
According to Niewiadomski, a conflict in wording in the ordinance came to the attention of city staff recently when talking with an engineer regarding development of a potentially new gas station with regular fuel pumps as well as those for truck fuel.
Under the current ordinance, a business that sells fuel and has retail sales is considered a truck stop. The city officials proposed keeping the ordinance as worded, except adding that a business with overnight parking would be considered a truck stop or travel center, which are more heavily zoned, Niewiadomski and City Attorney Jim McLeroy told the council on first reading of the ordinance at the July council meeting.
City Manager’s Report For Aug. 6, 2019
PACIFIC PARK DRAINAGE PROJECT
This project is progressing well. This project is finished. The barricades will remain in place until Friday so that the concrete will cure a bit more before we subject it to traffic. Allowing traffic on the concrete before it has had sufficient time to cure would lead to cracking and premature failure. The estimated final cost of the project is $43,000, well under the $85,000 budget.
SUNSET STREET
This project is on hold until we can construct the Connally/League intersection. We are trying to get that intersection open before the school year begins.
CONNALLY STREET
The Capital Construction Division is constructing the Connally/League intersection at one end of the street and the drainage system at the other
end of the street.
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT
Today was a milestone day at the wastewater treatment plant. We began testing the new aerators today. Tonight we will fill the aeration basin with treated effluent, and we will begin a 5-day aeration test tomorrow. After that we will begin treating wastewater with the new aerators. This marks
a turning point in the project. Almost all of the work remaining is street construction, sidewalks and grass. This has been an $18 million project. We expect to come in a little under budget. We expect to be finished in January.
CLAIMS
We did not have any workers’ compensation claims in July.
We had one liability claim from a driver who claimed damages to their vehicle after driving around city equipment in a work zone. TML denied the claim.
2020 STREET IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (S.I.P.)
Staff has prioritized the list of streets to be paved in the 2020 S.I.P. These are all of the streets we will be able to pave with the $5 Street Maintenance fee:
REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES
Finance Director Lesa Smith will give a year- to-date report of revenues and expenditures.
OTHER
Elsewhere around the city, employees:
• Made 13 street repairs following utility repairs.
• Patched 45 potholes.
• Replaced 6 street signs, 2 Wrong Way signs and installed 2 Slow Children Playing signs.
• Burned the brush pile at Hilltop.
• Repaired the belt press at the wastewater treatment plant.
• Repaired the generator at Coleman water tower.
• Repaired Cantex lift station.
• Treated wastewater effluent to a daily average total suspended solids (TSS)
reading of .68 mg/L, less than one-tenth of the maximum level.
• Repaired 14 water main ruptures.
• Replaced 18 water meters.
• Unstopped 14 sewer mains.
• Repaired 6 sewer mains.
• Flushed 35 dead-end water mains.
• Drained and washed the Carter Street water tower.
• Treated 161 million gallons of potable water.
• Responded to 178 fire/rescue calls including 1 vehicle fire and 4 grass fires.
• Performed 25 fire inspections and reviewed 25 pre-fire plans.
• Performed preventative maintenance on 72 fire hydrants.
• Conducted 34 building inspections, 26 electrical inspections, 16 plumbing
inspections, 6 mechanical inspections, and issued 32 building permits.
• Checked out 4,629 items from the library.
• Sold 2,196 gallons of AvGas and 11,598 gallons of JetA fuel.
• Responded to 2,911 calls for police, worked 22 accidents, wrote 605 citations, made 87 arrests and recorded 71 offences.
• Responded to 203 animal control calls and achieved an adoption rate of 34%.
• Made 13 felony arrests in the special crimes unit.
• Seized 8.9 pounds of Methamphetamine.
Listen to the Dixie World Series Tonight on KSST 1230AM
KSST 1230 AM will be broadcasting and live-streaming the audio from tonight’s Ponytails Dixie Softball World Series game. The Hopkins County Ponytails have a chance to win their division starting at 6PM. KSST Sports Director Don Julian will be calling the game live from Coleman Park.
Be sure to thank the sponsors of this special broadcast:
- Jay Hodge Chevrolet
- Alliance Bank
- City National Bank
- North East Texas Farmers Coop
- Discount Wheel and Tire
The local Ponytails now face undefeated Alabama, 5-0 in the World Series, Wednesday at 6 p.m. on Field 1. To win the Ponytails World Series, Hopkins County will have to defeat Alabama twice on Wednesday. If the Ponytails win their first match, KSST will extend the broadcast to include the final game.
