Sulphur Springs City Council Has Full Agenda for September Meeting
August 30, 2024 – The regular meeting of the Sulphur Springs City Council will take place at City Hall Tuesday, September 3rd with the public portion of the meeting starting at 7:00 pm. Council members and city staff will begin an executive session at 6:00 pm to deliberate economic development for portions of Thermo Mine property known as Thermo 2 and Thermo 3. Executive session meetings are closed to the public.
The regular meeting agenda contains several ordinances for the council to consider including items for final budget and setting the tax rate for the upcoming year. New water and sewer rates are also listed on the agenda as ordinances for first reading and ultimately will be brought back to the council at a later meeting for final approval. The full agenda can be seen below.
Solar, Wind, and Carbon, OH MY!!
August 29, 2024 – Hopkins County residents have been inundated with the promise (or threat) of green energy projects needing thousands of acres in different parts of the county. Many solar plant projects already have been approved, built, and operating, but more solar companies are leasing land and asking for tax abatements. The green energy projects keep expanding and now include wind (huge windmills), Carbon Capture (C02 gasses pumped underground) and Lithium (brine water extraction). Add to these projects, Hopkins County has already approved a Lithium Battery Storage Facility and has been contacted to approve a CryptoCurrency Mining Facility. Currently, the end seems no where in sight as outside companies want to gobble up Hopkins County real estate, mostly by leasing, to profit off the land that so many families depend upon.
The City of Sulphur Springs has already given their stamp of approval on a Lithium Extraction Project for the old Thermo Mine Land, with one council member, Jay Julian, singing the praises of the company contracted with the city and urging residents to do their own “due diligence” by visiting the company’s website. Jay Julian touts this project as a “done deal” but companies are still visting landowners to try and shore up more leases in the area as the company reportedly wants to pull the water from over 30,000 acres.
The Hopkins County Commissioner’s Court has felt the backlash of neighbors against various projects as they move through the process on each project of defining a reinvestment zone to considering tax abatement levels for each company. Residents still feel that they are not fully informed about the projects ahead of time, nor do they feel that Hopkins County is adequately protecting those neighbors from the project. Hopkins County is now utilizing a consultant, Jeff Snowden, to help the county naviagte the process, even adopting new “Guidelines and Criteria for Granting Tax Abatements” in September of 2023. This 19-page document lays out the requirements for companies wanting a tax abatement including project size, road repair responsibilities, and number of new jobs created as well as many other factors. In the end, for most projects, Hopkins County favors a 100% tax abatement on the improvements (usually the building, machinery, windmills, solar panels, etc.) and defines a set payment for the county to receive over the first 10 years of the project. This is called Payment in Lieu of Taxes or PILOT and attempts to let the county “lock-in” the amount of dollars the county will receive over the taxable period without a variation caused by depreciation or a decreasing tax rate.
Some may argue that these companies would not come to Hopkins County and make any investment unless they get a tax reduction. Others may say that Hopkins County would not have any control over the project without a Reinvestment Zone or Tax Abatement. Either or both may be true but the business of dealing with multi-billion dollar companies tends to be difficult.
These companies are identifying rural areas for two reasons: (1) there is a lot of vacant land, and (2) there is little to no oversight on these projects. This is happening in rural counties all over Texas and across the country, and most, if not all, counties are behind in their planning. Twenty years ago, no one thought to have regulations for solar, wind, carbon, or brine because these industries did not exist. Fast forward to 2020 and the flood gates opened for green energy projects as federal funding and tax credits became available for these companies to pour millions of dollars into huge projects. Unfortunately, rural counties and residents are unsure what the future holds for the life of these projects and what long-term effects they may have on the land and the neighbors.
Future Projects
Carbon Capture
Tenaska (Carbon Capture) is the latest company to address the Hopkins County Commissioner’s Court with an informational presentation describing a 20,000 acre area that they hope to lease and build a pipeline (possibly from Texarkana) to pump liquified CO2 deep into the ground. It would seem that Tenaska needs to sign up every landowner in the 20,000 acre area that they have identified, as they are pumping the CO2 deep into the substructure and are unable to predict exactly where that product will end up. The project is also dependent upon getting the liquified CO2 from the business or factory producing it out to the capture field through a pipeline which would cross literally hundreds of landowners from Hopkins County to Texarkana. The term “eminent domain” comes up for this project, as some landowners reluctant to lease their land for the project could be forced to lease or sell their land at a rate determined by someone else for the “greater public good.” The long term effects for this process, on this scale, are unknown at this time.
Lithium Mining from Brine Extraction
Extracting valuable lithium from water deposits deep underground involves drilling a well, pumping out the water, extracting the lithium from the water and then pumping the residual water back down into the same area from which it came. The leases on the land for this process prove to be complicated as currently the water that they pump out of the ground belongs to the surface landowner (not the mineral rights owner). Also, there are several different lithium extraction methods used once the water gets to the surface, some of which may be damaging to the environment. The companies employed to secure land leases (from the surface owner) are offering a one time payment up front and then a royalty share on the lithium extracted. Anyone receiving an offer on their land for this or any project should consult an attorney before signing anything.
Apex Clean Energy
The term “wind farm” may sound pleasant but these giant windmills which could reach 800 feet tall or higher are massive structures that can be noisy and contain a massive amount of hydraulic oil at the hub. Apex Clean Energy has expressed their desire to lease anywhere between 10,000 to 14,000 acres to erect approximately 100 turbines across the county to connect to either of the two transmission lines that traverse our county. They are seeking mostly contiguous land to line up these windmills in order to easily connect them back to the grid. Representatives of Apex have been busy sigining leases with interested land owners and are committed to coming to Hopkins County with or without a tax abatement. But, Hopkins County officials continue to explore the option of granting Apex a tax abatement to have more control over the project. Apex revealed to KSST News that they offer what they call a “good neighbor lease” to adjoining land owners who may be affected by a windmill on a neighboring property. KSST News research shows that these neighboring leases also allows Apex to build their windmills with fewer restrictions closer to neighboring property.
CryptoCurrency Mining Facility
The Hopkins County Commissioner’s Court received a letter from Harbor Blocktech indicating their intentions of building a cryptocurrencty mining facility in the southwestern portion of the county. Other communities have fought these installations as some feel they are noisy and obtrusive. It is not clear at this time if Harbor Blocktech or their agents will be asking for a tax abatement. KSST News reached out to agents of Harbor Blocktech and did not receive a response.
What’s Next?
It is anyone’s guess as to what the next “big project” to come to Hopkins County may be, but rest assured any company looking for lots of open land and few restrictions will have Hopkins County in their sights. The appeal of any additional tax revenue is very attractive to county officials as these companies promise and quickly agree to PILOT payments for the first 10 years, but simply not enough time has passed from the first project to the last request to know exactly what can happen. Other green energy projects in other counties sit abandonded and damaged with no cleanup in sight. One can only assume that the company has defaulted on their contract and not continuing to pay their reduced taxes or PILOT or whatever agreement they had.
In these past few years since the first solar plant was proposed, Hopkins County has instituted new subdivision rules and restrictions, new “wrecking yard” restrictions, and tougher septic and clearwater rules for county residents, but there are still no restrictions to build a solar plant, battery plant, windmills, or brine extraction plant……unless you want a tax abatement, and even then most restrictions are no different than state minimums. The restrictions for some or lack of restrictions for others do not fit what many say, “a person can do what they want on their own land.”
Attorney General Ken Paxton Makes Good on Promise to Sue Texas State Fair
August 30, 2024 – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued the City of Dallas and the State Fair of Texas for unlawfully prohibiting firearms from government-owned public property in violation of Texas law.
Earlier in August, the Office of the Attorney General gave the City of Dallas fifteen days’ notice to reverse the Texas State Fair’s recently announced prohibition of firearms in Fair Park before a lawsuit would be filed. Fair Park is owned by the City of Dallas which contracts with the State Fair of Texas for the management of the annual fair. Since state law permits gun owners to carry in places owned or leased by government entities unless otherwise statutorily prohibited, the prohibition represented an unlawful infringement on Texans’ legal rights. Dallas and the State Fair have refused to comply with state law.
Attorney General Paxton asked the court to grant injunctive relief to prevent the City of Dallas or the State Fair of Texas from enforcing the unlawful ban on firearms.
“Municipalities cannot nullify state law nor can they avoid accountability by contracting official functions to nominally third parties,” said Attorney General Paxton. “Neither the City of Dallas nor the State Fair of Texas can infringe on Texans’ right to self-defense. I warned fifteen days ago that if they did not end their unlawful conduct I would see them in court, and now I will.”
Big Lots Stores May Close Soon
August 29, 2024 – Big Lots Stores may soon be a thing of the past. The discount giant is considering a potential bankruptcy filing and may seek court protection within weeks.
The company is scrambling to find investors with cash in hand to prop up the company and avoid Chapter 11.
Share of BIG fell 27 percent in extended trading and have lost nearly 88 percent of their value this year.
The closest Big Lots store in operation is here.
CHRISTUS Health Celebrates Community Partners for Fighting food Insecurity in Northeast Texas
August 29, 2024 – (TYLER, Texas) – CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System recognized 10 organizations from Northeast Texas as part of the annual community benefit breakfast this week. .
The groups were honored Tuesday for their work in fighting food insecurity in the region.
“These organizations play a vital role in meeting community needs, and we are blessed to partner and collaborate with them in changing the fabric of our communities,” said Crissy Chanslor, program manager for community benefits.
Those honored were:
The Dinner Bell, Sulphur Springs
Hopkins County Christian Alliance
Winnsboro Community Resource Center and Food Pantry
Winnsboro Volunteer Fire Department
H.O.P.E. (Helping Other Pursue Enrichment), Jacksonville
Henderson County HELP Center
East Texas Food Bank
St. Vincent de Paul, Tyler
Oak Grove Church of God in Christ
North Tyler Developmental Academy
“At CHRISTUS Health, we are guided by our mission to extend the healing ministry of Jesus Christ, so our success and our growth translate directly to our community,” said Chris Glenney, senior vice president for group operations, CHRISTUS Northeast Texas. “We are always asking ‘how can we invest in this place, in these people? How can we make an impact with our partners where it counts the most?’ That’s what our Community Benefit Program is all about.”
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CHRISTUS Health Awards More Than $3.3 Million to Non-profit Organizations
Four Northeast Texas groups from the CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances ministry received funds totaling $300,000 for community health initiatives
August 29, 2024 – (TYLER, Texas) – CHRISTUS Health is proud to announce the distribution of more than $3.3 million to 47 non-profit organizations across Texas, Louisiana, and New Mexico through the CHRISTUS Community Impact Fund.
Four groups in Northeast Texas received funds collectively totaling $300,000. The announcement came at an event on Tuesday.
Selected organizations were awarded the funds for programs addressing critical social determinants of health in the communities they serve. Priority issues include chronic disease management, mental health and well-being, safe housing, and food insecurity.
The recipient organizations are:
- Carevide in Sulphur Springs
- Children’s Advocacy Center of Smith County
- People Attempting to Help (PATH) in Tyler
- St. Vincent de Paul in Tyler
“We saw a need for support within local CHRISTUS communities and knew we had to create more ways to contribute and collaborate with local organizations beyond community benefit dollars,” said Jessica Guerra, CHRISTUS Health program manager for community development. “This fund allows us to invest in the programs helping to improve our communities.”
The CHRISTUS Community Impact Fund launched in 2011 and is a CHRISTUS Health initiative supporting programs led by local organizations responding to the needs of the community and improving its health and well-being.
Since inception, CHRISTUS Health has invested more than $22 million in the communities it serves.
The CHRISTUS Community Impact Fund will open its next applications process on Oct. 1. For more information or to apply, visit our website: www.christushealth.org/connect/fund
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CBP Officers Seize $910K in Methamphetamine at Hidalgo International Bridge
August 29, 2024 – HIDALGO, Texas—U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations officers at Hidalgo International Bridge this week seized more than $910,000 in methamphetamine in a single enforcement action.
“Our frontline CBP officers continue to maintain their vigilance as summer travel traffic begins to fade and their effective application of inspection skill and technology yielded this significant seizure,” said Port Director Carlos Rodriguez, Laredo Port of Entry “These types of seizures perfectly illustrate CBP’s efforts to protect our communities from the harm caused by the smuggling of hard narcotics.”
The seizure occurred on Aug. 27 at the Hidalgo International Bridge when a CBP officer referred a 2009 Dodge driven by a 48-year-old female lawful permanent U.S. resident for secondary inspection. CBP officers conducted a secondary examination that included utilization of a non-intrusive inspection system and CBP canines. Upon conducting a closer physical examination, CBP officers discovered 95 packages containing a total of 101.89 pounds of alleged methamphetamine hidden within the vehicle. The narcotics had a street value of $910,903.
CBP seized the narcotics and vehicle. Homeland Security Investigations special agents arrested the driver and initiated a criminal investigation.
TAMU-C Top Cop Bryan Vaughn Lays Out His Vision For Future
August 29, 2024 – Sulphur Springs native Bryan Vaughn highlights his vision for the University Police Department at Texas A&M-Commerce in the following press release from TAMU-C.
COMMERCE, TX, August 28, 2024—University police are tasked with the safety and security of students, faculty and staff across campus. That alone is a consuming and complex mandate. Yet, Chief Bryan Vaughn of the University Police Department (UPD) at Texas A&M University-Commerce envisions more. His efforts are redefining policing and safety on campus and in the region.
Ascending the Ranks
A native of Sulphur Springs, Texas, Vaughn attended Kilgore College and Sam Houston State University on a football scholarship before transferring to A&M-Commerce. He joined the University Police Department in 1998 while completing his bachelor’s in criminal justice.
“At the time, there was an officer working here who found out that I had been through the police academy,” Vaughn recalls. “He encouraged me to apply, and I picked up an application that day.”
Three weeks later, Vaughn left his job in insurance sales to join the department and begin his career in law enforcement. He eventually served as assistant chief under then-chief Donna Spinato for 12 years before ascending to the top spot in 2018 following her retirement.
He’s grateful for Spinato’s leadership and support.
“She gave me the opportunity to tag along on a lot of conferences and events,” Vaughn said. “So, I was pretty well-rounded when I came into the position. I knew what it was about. I knew what I was getting into.”
Redefining the Role of University Police
Vaughn says the department has grown significantly since 2018 in both its size and mission.
The department now has 36 employees, including 25 officers. With that growth, Vaughn says UPD has transitioned from a reactive to a proactive approach to campus safety.
“We stay current with all the laws. We stay current on news and trends, not only in Texas but around the nation, related to university policing, policing in general and what may impact our university,” he said.
Vaughn is particularly proud of the department’s newly acquired accreditation by the Texas Police Chiefs Association (TPCA).
“We’ve become an accredited department over the last year. It took a lot of work to get there,” he said. “We were always a good department, but we strive to be the best we can be. Accreditation was a major step for us. It means our policies and procedures are consistent with what the state of Texas and the nation determine a police department should be.”
He said UPD is one of only two TPCA-accredited police departments in Hunt County.
“We are very, very proud of that,” Vaughn said. “At the time when we met the qualifications for it, there were less than 200 accredited police departments out of 3,000 in the state of Texas.”
It Starts with People
Vaughn says his vision for policing begins with people.
“Whether it’s the community we serve or the people who work at UPD, we always try to look at the people aspect of what we do first,” he said. “I want officers who are friendly and that students, faculty and staff can talk to. A lot of our officers are graduates of A&M-Commerce. We’re not just here to enforce the laws. We’re part of the community.”
When dealing with students at A&M-Commerce, he often thinks of how he wants his children treated. He also thinks of his younger days.
“I was young, too, and made mistakes. If I can set a student down and have a conversation that fixes the problem rather than taking somebody to jail, everybody is better served,” he said. “That’s the latitude we give our officers. There are times when we have to take law enforcement action, but if we can have a conversation and fix the problem, that’s what we prefer to do.”
He added: “To me, the worst thing that can happen is for one of our students to leave here with a criminal record. That’s not what this place is for, and it’s not what we’re about. So, we do a lot of talking, teaching and encouraging students.”
Community Engagement
Beyond campus safety, Vaughn said UPD hosts at least one community outreach event each semester and often more. He also encourages students, faculty and staff to meet, interact and communicate with officers around campus.
“We want to come to events. We want to come to classes and be part of the student experience,” he said. “That’s the culture we’re building here. We’ve got to get back to being part of the community, not aside from it.”
The National Night Out event held each fall semester is one of UPD’s biggest community outreach events. The department partners with numerous divisions around campus to make the event a success. Vaughn said more than 1,000 students attend the annual event, which promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie. The department also hosts a “Know Your Police Department” event each spring.
One significant change in recent years is the creation of the department’s community engagement position. Vaughn said Sergeant Ray Dittrich is the ideal fit for the role, serving as an ambassador and liaison between UPD and the university community.
“His job is to go out and meet with various groups, contact the campus and find out what’s going on,” Vaughn said. “We all do that to an extent, but that’s his specific job, and he’s great at it.”
Another new addition is the crime victim services coordinator position, which is tasked with keeping victims and the community informed on the progress of investigations.
The department also started Safe Walk, a program that pairs students with an officer or student worker who walks them from one campus location to another during evening hours.
Regionally, UPD partners frequently with Lion Athletics to provide officers at some off-campus events. The department also meets monthly with law enforcement representatives from around Hunt County to identify trends and possible problems.
Modern Tech
Technology plays a big part in Vaughn’s vision for UPD and campus safety.
Perhaps the department’s most far-reaching technology asset is a network of nearly 800 cameras providing eyes in the sky at the Commerce and Dallas campuses.
“There’s always someone in our dispatch area who is watching the cameras,” Vaughn said. “When something happens in a particular area, the dispatcher can zoom in and be an additional lookout for officers who are responding to those calls.”
The department is also implementing the use of license plate readers on some patrol vehicles. The technology can help officers quickly identify whether a vehicle belongs on campus, or if it has been reported as stolen or involved in an accident.
Along with its new phone system, which records every call coming into the department, UPD is also considering participation in Hunt County’s new communication system. Called a trunk system, the network connects law enforcement and emergency responders in Hunt, Rockwall and Collin counties under one system. Joining the trunk system would allow UPD to communicate with its officers, regardless of where they are within the three-county network, without interference.
Innovative Training
UPD invests significantly in ensuring its officers are well-trained.
“It’s expensive, but our priority is to have the best officers possible,” he said.
He says the university’s on-campus police academy represents an innovative approach to transforming law enforcement in the region. Director Louis Lufkin continually seeks opportunities to add new aspects to the training cadets receive through the academy.
One critical piece to modern policing, Vaughn says, is the addition of mental health education.
“We’re dealing with more mental health issues,” he said. “So, it’s important that we’re getting that education into the training. We recognize that someone experiencing a mental health crisis doesn’t necessarily need to be placed in jail. We seek out opportunities to get them help, whether that’s here on campus or through other resources in the county.”
Additionally, UPD prides itself on providing the latest defense tactics.
“We train in-house when we can, but we also want to know what others are doing,” Vaughn said. “A common detriment to many departments is keeping things the way they’ve always been. We want to go out and see what other departments are doing and bring some of that back with us.”
For instance, Vaughn said the department began integrating Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu techniques into officers’ defense training. Assistant Chief Kyle Lowe recommended the training after significant research.
“We have several new officers with fresh ideas,” he said. “They’re hungry and eager to learn new skills, and we want to make the most of that energy.”
Growth for the Future
The department’s growth has maxed out its current space in Henderson Hall. Therefore, Vaughn said, the university is considering a move that would place UPD, Emergency Management, and the police academy under one roof as soon as 2025.
As the department continues to grow, Vaughn believes it’s important to hire people who fit the culture at UPD. He said the focus is to build a culture by design, not by default. Subsequently, attracting the right people for open positions can be challenging. Recruits often want to advance straight to the rank of detective or supervisor.
“That’s just not the way we work,” he said. “It takes a long time to get to that point. We don’t just hire anyone. We want people who are going to come in and be part of what we’re trying to accomplish within the department and on campus.”
Under Chief Vaughn’s leadership, the Texas A&M-Commerce police department is becoming a model for campus safety and police forces across the state. His stewardship and dedication to community building and best practices foster a sense of trust and safety that makes A&M-Commerce an attractive option for students seeking a safe environment to learn and grow.
Attorney General Ken Paxton Launches Illegal Voting Tipline and Issues Election Integrity Advisory Cautioning Against Unlawful Voting Activity
August 29, 2024 – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued a legal advisory on election integrity and launched an email tipline ([email protected]) where the public may report suspected violations of Texas election law.
In preparation for the 2024 elections, Attorney General Paxton issued guidance clarifying and emphasizing several key aspects of State election law. The guidance notes, “Significant growth of the noncitizen population in Texas and a pattern of partisan efforts to illegally weaponize voter registration and the voting process to manipulate electoral outcomes have created urgent risks to local, state, and federal elections.”
Citizens and governmental entities may review this guidance to better acquaint themselves with the relevant laws that govern who can register to vote, how voting may be conducted, and other legal requirements. Violations of the Texas Election Code carry serious penalties including jail time and fines.
Attorney General Paxton also launched an email tipline where the public may report suspected violations of the Texas Election Code. Reports may be submitted by email at [email protected].
“There is nothing more important than the integrity of our elections. This means protecting every legal vote from unlawful attempts to alter the outcome of our elections. Any attempt to illegally cancel out legal ballots with fraud, vote harvesting, or other methods will be met with the full force of the law,” said Attorney General Paxton. “I invite all Texans to report suspected violations at our new tipline, [email protected]. Your political liberties and your representation in our government depend on secure elections. I will fight every step of the way to protect your vote and your voice.”
This advisory is part of Attorney General Paxton’s Election Integrity Initiative which leverages OAG law enforcement authority and resources to protect the integrity of every legal vote. Previously, Attorney General Paxton announced an undercover operation to investigate allegations that noncitizens were being registered to vote in direct violation of Texas law. Additionally, the Office of the Attorney General recently executed search warrants in furtherance of a two-year investigation into an illegal ballot harvesting scheme.
To read the advisory, click here.
To report suspected election law violations, email [email protected].
Governor Abbott Celebrates Groundbreaking Of New Terrell State Hospital
August 28, 2024 | Austin, Texas | Governor Greg Abbott announced that the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) is beginning construction of a new Terrell State Hospital building that will provide inpatient psychiatric care to North Texans. HHSC held a groundbreaking ceremony this morning to celebrate the start of construction of the 415,000-square-foot replacement hospital. Governor Abbott and the Texas Legislature approved $573 million in funding for the hospital building, which is expected to be completed in late 2027.
“This groundbreaking ceremony for the new state hospital in Terrell is a step forward in Texas’ ongoing efforts to expand and modernize state facilities that offer behavioral health treatment to Texans,” said Governor Abbott. “Since 2017, Texas has provided more than $2.5 billion to build, renovate, and improve our state hospitals to ensure that Texans in every corner of our state have access to the quality inpatient psychiatric care they deserve. I thank the Texas Health and Human Services Commission for their work on this new hospital as one of seven projects to provide better behavioral health services to those in need.”
“Texans are better served when they have access to health care closer to home, and that is why state leaders and HHSC have invested in facilities like the Terrell State Hospital,” said Texas Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Cecile Erwin Young. “When completed, this hospital will offer hope, healing, and recovery for some of the most vulnerable people in North Texas.”
The new hospital will have 275 beds: 175 non-maximum-security, 50 maximum-security, and 50 adolescent. Adult and adolescent patients will have separate living areas, and the maximum-security unit will include strict security measures to ensure the safety of patients, staff, and the community.
The new facility will include state-of-the-art therapeutic spaces that align with evidence-based treatment. Single-person rooms are designed to balance privacy and security for patients, and natural light throughout the facility will help promote recovery and healing. Patients will have access to common activity areas and outdoor courtyards to encourage social interaction.
For nearly 140 years, Terrell State Hospital has played a crucial role in providing services to Texans in need. The hospital first opened in July 1885 after the 18th Texas Legislature passed a bill calling for the establishment of a psychiatric hospital in North Texas. Today, the hospital serves 31 counties.
Since 2017, Governor Abbott and the Texas Legislature have appropriated more than $2.5 billion in funding to replace, renovate, or expand state hospitals across Texas. Construction continues on the Texas Behavioral Health Center at UT Southwestern in Dallas, and HHSC hosted grand openings this past spring for replacement state hospitals in Austin and San Antonio. Construction is scheduled to begin this fall for a replacement hospital in Wichita Falls and later this year for new hospitals in Amarillo and Lubbock.
