City Applying for $700,000 Grant For Sidewalks on Bell, Texas Streets
Sidewalk grant application
Street work was a hot topic at the August City Council meeting and a sidewalk grant was also discussed.
City Finance Director Lesa Smith asked the council to approve a resolution which would allow city officials to submit an application applying for to Texas Department of Transportation for a Safe Routes to Schools-Infrastructure Grant which would fund 100 percent of the cost of sidewalks for Texas and Bell streets, to provide safe paths for kids to walk to and from Sulphur Springs Elementary School.
The sidewalk would span from Industrial Drive to Jarbo Street on Texas Street, and from Texas to Bell Street, making it safer for school children walking to and from school.
The city has already received letters of intent from the property owners from whom easements would be needed in order to construct the project.
The resolution was required, and the application is due next week. If approved, the $700,000 project would be contracted out, according to Smith.
The city council gave unanimous approval for city officials to move forward with the grant application.
Street Improvement Projects
City Manager Marc Maxwell told the council that 20 streets have been designated for paving improvement in 2020, using the $5 street maintenance fee. The lists has been compiled over quite a period of time using input from various city departments, including engineering, public works, utility and water support.
Those projects will be put out for bids, and performed over the course of a a few months, typically during the warmer months of the year. Depending on the weather and availability of contractors, what could mean doing half in one month and half in another month or over more than one month.
Maxwell also noted that contrary to complaints some have voiced, many streets outside of downtown have been the focus for street repairs in the last 11 years, since the downtown revitalization project began.
He also displayed on a screen a map with streets that had received improvements highlighted in yellow. He said those would soon be added to the city’s website so that anyone who wants can click and see the past and planned street improvements.
Currently, street improvements continues on Connally Street. The city’s Capital Construction Division is constructing the Connally/League Street intersection at one end of the street and the drainage system at the other end of the street. The plan is to get League at Connally open before school starts on Aug. 20 to better accommodate the heavy vehicle and bus traffic.
While crews work on Connally Street, the Sunset Street project is on hold.
The street running alongside Pacific Park where the drainage issue was addressed will remain closed until Friday, to allow time for the concrete to set and cure properly.
Citizens Comments
Woodside Lane resident Jay Julian during the public comments portion of the meeting thanked Maxwell for the graph, showing that the city has indeed many more streets have been repairs aside from the ones that are or lead to downtown.
A Texas A&M University-Commerce student during the citizens comments portion of the meeting noted potholes on Davis Street over the last year have worsened, causing problems for vehicles of residents and other motorists who travel along the street.
John Lambert asked, after seeing the map of street maintenance repairs made since 2008, when the rate of repair or replacement of the streets was equal to or greater than the rate of deterioration.
A representative from Hopkins-Rains Retired School Personnel personally handed all of the council members an invitation to attend their 50th anniversary at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 10. She said 741 people in Hopkins County receive monthly checks from the Teachers Retirement System, for a total of about $16.5 million brought into Hopkins County in 2018, The even will be at The Venue, 219 Main Street. The council members who grew up in Hopkins County were each encouraged to recognize a retired school personnel who made a difference in their lives. Others at the meeting were also invited ot greet and say hi, greet and recognize teachers.
Wildcats Team Tennis Splits Two Matches Thursday
Wildcats Team Tennis won one and lost one Thursday on the road.
In the afternoon at John Tyler, despite having to forfeit a point because of an injured player, the Wildcats defeated the Lions, 11-8. It was the Wildcats first win of the season. Earlier the Wildcats lost to a good Whitehouse team, 14-5. It was during this match Wildcats senior Brandon Dittrich injured a knee.
Wildcats winners included #1 boys singles player Jonah Kirkpatrick, #2 boys singles player Aaron Lucas, #1 girls singles player Jeauxleigh Cantu, #2 girls singles player Paige Miesse and the mixed doubles team of Kirkpatrick and Cantu.
The Wildcats are now 1-4 for the season against good competition. The Wildcats will play Hallsville and Spring Hill next Tuesday on the road.
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].
