Sulphur Springs City Manager’s Report May, 2, 2017
SPRING CLEANUP – The spring cleanup has concluded. We sent 54 40-yard roll off containers to the landfill and accumulated a large pile of green waste which will be burned this summer.
LOCUST STREET – The utility work (water, sewer, gas) is complete. Cement stabilization and concrete work continues to progress from north to south. Cement stabilization is 60% complete, and concrete work is approximately 25% complete.
MOORE STREET – Utility work continues on Moore Street. The Capital Construction Division is currently installing sewer lines while Atmos is replacing the gas main. We have installed 1,200 feet of sewer main, or about half the total distance.
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT – Work continues at the wastewater treatment plant. The contractor is laying the foundation for three large clarifiers and the aeration blowers.
CLAIMS – We did not receive any liability claims or workers compensation claims in April.
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT – Total suspended solids (TSS) came in at 2.49 mg/L, well within the limit of 10 mg/L.
REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES – Budget Analyst, Lesa Smith will present a year-to-date summary of revenues and expenditures
Elsewhere around the city, employees:
- Made 12 extensive street repairs following utility repairs.
- Replaced or reset 8 traffic signs.
- Repaired 78 potholes.
- Installed a concrete pad for a kennel at the animal shelter.
- Cleared 6 fallen trees from the road.
- Sold 1,736 gallons of AvGas and 8,020 gallons of JetA fuel.
- Checked out 2,537 items from the library, plus an additional 441 eBooks.
- Responded to 133 fire/rescue calls including 2 structure fires.
- Performed preventative maintenance on 87 fire hydrants.
- Fertilized athletic fields.
- Removed several dead trees from parks.
- Made repairs at Kids Kingdom.
- Responded to 23 accidents, recorded 65 offenses, made 67 arrests and wrote 528 traffic citations.
- Repaired Mockingbird school zone lights.
- Repaired 7 water mains and replaced 10 water meters.
- Unstopped 25 sewer mains.
- Repaired 15 sewer mains.
- Washed 85,000 feet of sewer mains.
- Flushed 35 dead end water mains.
- Reset and restarted water treatment plant after recent storm.
- Treated 121 million gallons of potable water.
- Conducted 27 building inspections, 15 electrical inspections, 11 plumbing inspections, 7 mechanical inspections and issued 19 building permits.
Wind Advisory From 1 PM Until 8 PM Wednesday
The National Weather Service in Fort Worth has issued a Wind Advisory which is in effect from 1 PM Wednesday afternoon until 8 p.m. Wednesday evening. Wind speeds will increase behind the passing cold front this afternoon and will remain gusty into the evening hours.
Sustained northwest winds of 20 to 25 mph and gusts of 30 to 40 mph are expected. Crosswinds on east-west oriented roads will make driving difficult at times for high profile vehicles. Lightweight outdoor objects will be blown around in the strong winds. Boaters should use extra caution when venturing onto area lakes. Residents may wish to take action to secure trash cans, lawn furniture and other lightweight outdoor objects that may be blown around in strong winds.
Reds, Whites, and Brews Downtown-May 6th-Benefits Local Animal Shelters
In the continued search of the City of Sulphur Springs for an organization to manage and produce the “Reds, Whites, and Brews” event on Main Street and Celebration Plaza each May, the City has turned to a new organization, the Buried Bones Foundation. City Manager Marc Maxwell said the city does not wish to run an event but to provide a venue and have another staff, plan, and promote the event. He believes Buried Bones is a great fit.
Last year the Hopkins County Fall Festival Board was responsible for the event. The city decided not to continue with the Festival Board. Enter Art Foster, Jr. and Matt Dunn who quickly formed Buried Bones Foundation. Foster is well known in the area for his knowledge of craft beer. Foster owns Foster’s Place, a popular pub for Hopkins and Wood Counties residents. Some would say that Foster knows more about craft beer than anyone in the area. His venue provides music and “stout” conversations every weekend. Both have stated they will take no paycheck on their part. The money made on the event will go to both the Sulphur Springs Animal Shelter and Hearts of Life Animal Rescue.
Along with Buried Bones, the local Rotary Club will be involved this year. They will sponsor and work “canine corner”. Neva Mohesky and other Rotary members will be in charge of that addition. Mohesky said, “The Rotary Club had been in discussions to do a dog festival and when we found out about the Buried Bone Foundation, we offered to help bring dogs to their event. The groups will set up on Main Street in front of Muddy Jake’s, whose mascot is a dog, and the Sulphur Springs Animal Shelter will be combining their regular adoption events into this event exclusively.”
According to a representative of Hearts of Life, they, too, will host adoptions for animals in their care.
Also, the new chapter of Love On a Leash Pet Therapy will be set up with information regarding pet therapy recruitment and potential agencies needing services. Lake Country Ladies rescue group will also have dogs available for adoption.
Last year some 20 craft beers were offered. This year over 40 craft beers from 11 breweries, five wineries offering a variety of wines and one cidery with various hard cider options will be represented. Popular local music artist Dubb Williams has agreed to perform. Williams has performed at a number of venues from Dallas to Oklahoma to the local area.
A local blogger, formerly affiliated with the Fall Festival Board, began using social media to attack the event this week. He raised questions regarding Buried Bones stating that they are a nonprofit foundation. City Manager Maxwell pointed out that having a nonprofit organization has never been a criteria for Red, White, and Brews. He stated that the foundation’s decision to give the proceeds from the event to animal care is their choice. The city is only a source for the event and the place where the event is held. He stated that the city has only looked for someone to produce a good event that will provide a successful event year after year. The city has already provided the legal requirements and will guide in providing a public place within the bounds of state and local laws for the event.
Hopkins County VFW Post 8560A, Ladies Auxillary Donates to Senior Center and Meal A Day
Local Hospital to Celebrate Hospital and Nurses Week During the Week of May 8th
Christus Mother Frances Hospital in Sulphur Springs will be celebrating Hospital and Nurses Week throughout the week of May 8th. Festivities begin on Monday with a celebratory dinner and award time at Arturos, followed by a Scrub Fair, Associates Picnic, and a Cake Walk on Wednesday, then Nursing Trivia on Thursday!
Director’s Notes on “Touchstone” Concert
Excitement is high for every member of the Northeast Texas Choral Society as they prepare for their 20th Spring Concert this weekend in the SSHS Auditorium at the Civic Center. Director Carol Allen says this is a joy-filled, “feel-good” concert which marks her 20th year as founder of the community chorale. Carol Ann O’Dell, a 3-year board member, is also an alto singer. You are invited to bring the family and enjoy the “touchstone” pop and rock n roll hits from the 60’s and 70’s by talented singers and soloists you know. There will also be special surprises onstage for the audience at each performance, arranged by member Dawn Doyle-Jones. All ages are welcome. Tickets to “Touchstone” are available at local banks, from any Choral Society member, at the door and online at netchoral.org. Performances are at 7 pm Saturday May 6 and at 2 pm on Sunday May 7. Plans are already in the works for an over-the-top celebration of music at the Society’s Christmas concert in December 2017.
NETCS Board member Carol Ann O’Dell and Director Carol Allen
PJC-Sulphur Springs Campus Students, Staff Discussed Concealed Carry on Campus Monday
Paris Junior College officials conducted a public meeting on the PJC-Sulphur Springs Center campus Monday to discuss and receive input on the concealed carrying of handguns on campus.
The general provisions of the state law, passed by the 2015 Texas Legislature, requires all community colleges to develop a policy allowing for “reasonable restrictions” on locations where guns may be carried on college campuses.
PJC President Dr. Pamela Anglin said it is important that the college inform the students of all the provisions of the law, which will allow individuals holding a valid Texas Concealed Handgun License (CHL) or the new state designated License to Carry (LTC) certificate, to carry their handgun, concealed on their person, on the campus of Paris Junior College beginning August 1 of this year.
“This meeting that we are conducting on each of the three campuses is to seek the input of the students, faculty and staff as we develop and establish our policy on the issue,” Dr. Anglin said. “We want our campuses to be a safe place for our students while they pursue their education.”
The large crowd of students, faculty and staff attending the meeting asked questions and provided comments and concerns on such things as carrying a concealed weapon in classrooms and in the office spaces on campus.
Dr. Anglin told the audience that there are specific exclusions to the concealed carry of handguns on campus. Under the Texas statutes outside of Texas Government Code Section 411.2031, concealed carry is prohibited from the following premises or locations:
- Where a high school, collegiate, intramural, or professional sporting events are taking place, such as a PJC athletic event; Board of Regents meetings, UIL sanctioned competition, and any disciplinary hearing; Also
- Where official governmental meeting or judicial proceeding is being conducted, polling places (local, state or national), and on the premises of any religious worship.
Dr. Anglin said that comments regarding the concealed carry of handguns on campus can be made by sending an email to [email protected]. With the comments obtained from the meetings and from emails, the Campus Carry Committee will draft policies that will be posted on the college website at www.parisjc.edu.
Video Story: Saturday’s Crawfish Festival
Despite rainfall before the event of .32″ (at KSST studios), die-hard crawfish fans turned out for the event. See video story below. Heavier rain followed throughout the day. Before the end of the storms over 1.5″ fell in most parts of the city and county.
SSHS Sports Banquet Honors Announced
Wildcats’ baseball and track athlete Mason Buck won the Forrest Gregg MVP Award for a Wildcat and volleyball and basketball players Tori Moore and Sheretta Hill shared the Forrest Gregg MVP Award for a Lady Cat at the 2016-2017 Sulphur Springs Wildcat All-Sports Banquet Monday night.
Basketball player Dane Rutherford and football and baseball athlete Easton Silman shared the James Cameron Fighting Heart Award for a Wildcat and soccer player Kamryn Wimberly received the James Cameron Fighting Heart Award for a Lady Cat.
Team MVP’s announced during the banquet included Bailey Haggerty in softball, Mason Buck and Ryan Humphries in Wildcats’ track, Abbi Baier in Lady Cats’ track, seniors Alex Motes, Matt Calhoun and Caleb Lewis in Wildcats’ golf, Morgan Landers in Lady Cats’ golf, Jaspyn Johnson, Karolina Espinoza, Tyler Stout, Jesse Allen and Harrison Harbin in Wildcats’ tennis, D’Idrec Dugan and Cor’Tavius Pruitt in powerliftng, the seniors in Wildcats’ soccer, the senior class in Lady Cats’ soccer, seniors K’Ontae Dunn and Dane Rutherford in Wildcats’ basketball, the entire team in Lady Cats’ basketball, senior Lauren Helm in Lady Cats’ cross country, Peyton Vickery in Wildcats’ cross country, all seventeen seniors in Wildcats’ football, seniors Tori Moore and Sheretta Hill in Lady Cats’ volleyball, and athletic trainers Montana Hatley and Danielle Petty. Wildcats Baseball Coach Jerrod Hammack did not name an MVP since his team’s season is still going on.
Wildcats Athletic Director Greg Owens presented the Special Olympics Award to Zach Pearson. Coach Owens also recognized members of the cheerleaders, Blue Blazes Drill Team and the band.
