Second Annexation Public Hearings Set for Wednesday, January 9, 2019; First Hearing Results
The first public hearings for Annexation of Pioneer Business Park and Heritage Business Park were conducted Tuesday night, January 8th during the Special Session of the Sulphur Springs City Council. A hearing for each business park was conducted and the second public hearings for each will be Wednesday , January 9th, at 7 p.m. in the City Council Chambers of City Hall, 210 North Davis Street.
No one spoke Tuesday regarding the Heritage Business Park annexation. Heritage Business Park is located on the east side of the City of Sulphur Springs. Opportunity to speak will be afforded again Wednesday.
Annexation of Pioneer Business Park did receive questions from Tim Dollison, a manager of an industry that moved from California to the local business park. Dollison asked the council and city staff what benefit his business would receive if annexed. He was concerned about their facility meeting city codes and how those codes would affect expansion of the facility in the future. He said the industry moved to Sulphur Springs and Hopkins county to be able to expand quickly without the need for the permitting process. He also questioned inspections of his facility. He wanted to know if the facility would have to undergo changes to meet current city code.
City staff told Dollison that the city would be required to provide full municipal services to the industries in the business park. Those services include but are not limited to police and fire protection, water and sewer services.
The local business parks are developed by the Sulphur Springs Hopkins County Economic Development Corporation. The industrial parks currently have city water and sewer provided. The annexation of the properties would provide increased tax revenues for the city. Many of the industries located in the parks have tax abatement agreements with the local hospital district and county. Schools cannot offer tax abatements except in a strictly structured system for which most local industries do not qualify.
Wildcat Soccer Ties Nevada Community Tuesday; Longview Tournament Next
The Wildcats’ soccer team and Nevada Community battled to a 1-1 tie in non-district game at Gerald Prim Stadium Tuesday night (January 8).
The Braves scored first on a goal from Gabriel Murillo at 18:09 in the first half.
The Wildcats got the equalizer from Alejandro Diosdado assisted by Enrique Arellano at 27:32 in the second half. The Wildcats threatened to take the lead with several close calls in the game’s final minutes. One Wildcat shot hit the crossbar of the goal.
The Wildcats are now 1-1-1 for the season. Next the Wildcats play in a Longview tournament this Thursday through Saturday.
Saltillo Lions Lose; Lady Lions Win in Avinger
Avinger 55, Saltillo Lions Basketball 48
The Saltillo Lions’ basketball team opened district play with a 55-48 loss against Avinger Tuesday (January 8). The Lions fell behind at the half 30-19. Despite outscoring Avinger 29-23 in the second half, the Lions could not make up the first half deficit. Chris Boekhorst led the Lions with 18 points. Matthew Gurley scored 15 points. Andrew Redburn and Ben Moore had 6 points each, Edi Olayo scored 3 points. The Lions season record slips to 15-8. The Lions play Bloomburg next on Friday.
Saltillo Lady Lions Basketball 52, Avinger 22
The Saltillo Lady Lions improved to 3-0 in district play with a 52-22 win over Avinger Tuesday (January 8). The Lady Lions built their lead through the game outscoring Avinger in every quarter. Maddy Smith led the Lady Lions with 15 points. Chandler Bain had 14 points. Brittney Peeples scored 10 points. Jocelyn Ochoa added 5 points. Anna Reeder scored 4 points. Paisley Kastner and Kristina Wade had 2 points each. The Lady Lions improved their record to 19-8 for the season. The Lady Lions play Bloomburg Friday.
Mayor Proclaims January 20-26, 2019 “School Choice Week”
During a January 8th Special Session of the Sulphur Springs City Council, Mayor John Sellers proclaimed January 20-26, 2010 “School Choice Week”.
CITY OF SULPHUR SPRINGS, TEXAS
PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, all children in the City of Sulphur Springs should have access to the highest quality education possible; and
WHEREAS, the City of Sulphur Springs recognizes the important role that an effective education plays in preparing all students in the City of Sulphur Springs to be successful adults; and
WHEREAS, quality education is critically important to the economic vitality of the City of Sulphur Springs; and
WHEREAS, the City of Sulphur Springs is home to a multitude of high-quality public and nonpublic schools from which parents can choose for their children, in addition to families who educate their children in the home; and
WHEREAS, educational variety not only helps to diversify our economy, but also enhances the vibrancy of our community; and
WHEREAS, the City of Sulphur Springs has many high-quality teaching professionals in all types of school settings who are committed to educating our children; and
WHEREAS, School Choice Week is celebrated across the country by millions of students, parents, educators, schools and organizations to raise awareness of the need for effective educational options.
NOW, THEREFORE I, JOHN A. SELLERS, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Mayor, and on behalf of the City Council of the City of Sulphur Springs, Texas, do hereby proclaim the week of January 20 – 26, 2019 as
“SCHOOL CHOICE WEEK”
in the City of Sulphur Springs and urge all citizens to join with me in recognizing this observance.
Sulphur Springs City Manager’s Report January 8, 2019
CROSSTOWN TRAIL – Construction continues on the Hopkins County Civic Center grounds. The Capital Construction division installed 200 linear feet of pathway and a retaining wall on the Civic Center grounds.
SUNSET STREET – We have been waiting for bids for the rock. They came in today. Now our grant writer will review the bids for compliance with the grant requirements. Once we approve the bids we will get started on the project.
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT – Phase 2 is well under way. The concrete structure of the first aeration basin is complete. Construction of the second aeration basin is progressing well. Once these basins are operational, the existing basins will be taken offline and they will be refitted with diffused aeration just like basins 1 & 2. Once all of this is completed our aeration capacity will be greatly enhanced. This is the heart of our wastewater treatment process.
CONNALLY STREET – Work on Connally Street will begin this month. The first phase will be new sewer mains.
SUBSTANDARD STRUCTURES – The Capital Construction Division has demolished the burned structure 917 Church Street. The city council ordered the structure demolished at the December 04, 2018 council meeting and set a deadline of 30 days. The deadline passed and the owner did not comply. The remaining debris will be removed by Wednesday afternoon. The owner of the building at 200 Gilmer Street complied with the city council’s order to abate the dangerous condition of the east wall. Temporary bracing has been installed per the structural engineer’s design. We now await the owner’s plan for a permanent solution. Staff plans to bring the issue back to the city council the February 05 council meeting to find the building substandard and to order the abatement of the substandard condition.
CLAIMS – We had 2 workers compensation claims in December, one for a dog bite, and one for a cat bite. Neither incident resulted in lost time. We received 2 claims relating to road hazards. They are both in TML’s hands now. Another claim for water damage resulting from a wastewater overflow in a residence has been submitted to TML.
REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES – Finance Director Lesa Smith will give a year-to-date report of revenues and expenditures. Elsewhere around the city, employees:
Responded to 190 fire/rescue calls including 4 structure fires and 1 vehicle fire.
Performed 55 fire inspections and reviewed 55 pre-fire plans.
Performed preventative maintenance on 68 fire hydrants.
Made 8 street repairs following utility repairs.
Repaired multiple potholes.
Replaced 18 stop signs.
Graded Pipeline Road… again. .
Installed 300 feet of sewer main and set 5 manholes on Highway 11 E$ast.
Processed 429 citations through municipal court.
Responded to 180 animal control calls achieving an adoption rate of 55%.
Made 8 felony arrests in the Special Crimes Unit.
Made 74 arrests, wrote 429 citations, recorded 52 offenses and responded to 39 accidents on the Patrol Division.
Repaired basketball lighting at Pacific Park.
Closed on the sale of 50 acres in Ridgeway.
Achieved a daily average total suspended solids reading at the wastewater treatment plant of less than 1 mg/L (0. 83).
Repaired 11 water main mptures.
Replaced 8 water meters. Unstopped 49 sewer mains. Repaired 4 sewer mains. Washed 78, 000 feet of sewer mains. Flushed 33 dead-end water mains. Treated 127 million gallons of potable water.
Conducted 40 building inspections, 25 electrical inspections, 20 plumbing inspections, 6 mechanical inspections and issued 22 building permits.
Sold 1,465 gallons of AvGas and 9,243 gallons of JetA fuel.
Checked out 2,352 items from and library and 744 eBooks.
Applied wood sealer to Kids Kingdom. Trimmed lower limbs at Buford Park. Mulched leaves at Buford Park.
Woman Speeding on Highway 11 Arrested for DWI 3rd
A vehicle traveling at a speed of 79 miles per hour on State Highway 11 East was observed by a Hopkins County Deputy. He conducted a traffic stop at a convenience store in Como where Teresa Pryor, 60, of Sulphur Springs, failed a sobriety test and, later, a blood alcohol test showed her above the legal limit. It was her third arrest for Driving While Intoxicated, a State Jail Felony.
Pryor is in Hopkins County Jail charged with DWI 3rd and is held on a $20,000 bond.
Local Woman In Possession of Meth When Arrested on Warrant for Manufacture Deliver Controlled Substance
Surveillance at a residence on Middle Street in Sulphur Springs ended when Sabrina Rochelle “George” Plafcan, 49, drove away from her residence. A felony traffic stop by the Special Crimes Unit allowed them to serve a warrant for her arrest. She also had approximately 2-grams of methamphetamine on her person, which was found as she was booked into Hopkins County Jail.
Plafcan also told officers there was additional meth in her residence. Less than 1-gram of meth was recovered in the residence. At the residence, SCU found Edward Lee Wilson, 55, who admitted to having meth in his room. He led officers to the meth and handed it to them.
Plafcan is in Hopkins County Jail charged with Manufacture Deliver Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 more than 4-grams but less than 200-grams in a Drug Free Zone, Manufacture Deliver Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 more than 1-gram but less than 4-grams in a Drug Free Zone, and Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 less than 1-gram in a Drug Free Zone. She is held on bonds totalling $100,000.
Wilson is charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 less than 1-gram in a Drug Free Zone.
Kid’s Kingdom Closed Wednesday and Thursday for Mulching; Will Open Friday
This just in from the City of Sulphur Springs: “Kids Kingdom will be closed Wednesday, January 9 and Thursday, January 10, 2019 for mulching. The Kingdom will be open again Friday, January 11th.
Make Your Reservations for Chamber of Commerce Banquet Set for February 14, 2019
2019 Board of Directors invites you to the 93rd Annual Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce Banquet on Thursday, February 14, at 6:00 p.m. at the Hopkins County Civic Center. The Chamber is introducing a Networking Cocktail half hour at 6:00 p.m. Dinner will be served at 6:30, and the awards will follow at 7 p.m. An evening of dinner and community awards including Large and Small Business of the Year, Educator of the Year, Caregiver Award, Agriculturist of the Year, Woman of the Year, and Citizen of the Year, is planned. The banquet theme is “Love Makes the World Go ‘Round!” and is set in various places around the world. Red attire is encouraged, but not required.
Individual tickets are $30, and tables of ten are available for $500, which includes preferential seating and visible labeling of your business.
The Chamber welcomes you and your business to join in this extraordinary evening. Reservation may be made today by calling Chelsea, Cathey, or Lezley at the Chamber of Commerce, (903) 885-6515, or by stopping by to visit at 300 Connally Street in Sulphur Springs.
