Budget, Tax Rate, Utility Fees Receive Unanimous Approval From Sulphur Springs City Council
Ordinance Setting Master Fee Schedule Passes On 4-2 Vote
Sulphur Springs City Council made short work of Tuesday evening’s special meeting, unanimously approving ordinances setting the budget, tax rate and utility fees for the 2021-2022 fiscal year and one authorizing updated service credits. Ordinance No. 2783 establishing a master fee schedule passed on a 4-2 vote. Although public hearings were held for each, no members of the community attended the 7;30 p.m. meeting to voice opinions regarding the seven ordinances.
Master Fees, Utilities
When asked to consider approving a master fee schedule for costs, frees and rates associated with permitting, utility services and other services provided by the city, Mayor Johns Sellers said he still had reservations about the street maintenance fee being doubled from $5 on residential water bills to $10 for FY 2021-22.
He said he thinks there is a lot of misinformation among the community as to how that funding is spent and exactly how much it will actually fund. Some people, he said are still think the SMF has been in placed for 5 years or longer. That fee has only been charged for 2 1/2 years, and has helped extend the number of street the city is able to treat or provide small repairs on all across the city not part of downtown. This is funding above what had previously been allowed through the capital improvement budget. He said he believes it’d be good to have a fact sheet available to give to residents with accurate information, to help the city be as transparent with this as possible.
“I understand costs are going up. I fell like with everything going on in the world in the last year and a half, people are truly struggling, I feel like hte case needs to be proven better,” Sellers said.
Place 1 Councilman Jay Julian submitted as “food for thought” but not something that could potentially require immediate action an idea to perhaps charge the fee not city water bills but perhaps another place. He noted that practically every citizen within Hopkins County uses the city streets, driving into town to the store or for work or events, and commercial trucks and business vehicles also drive on city streets carrying loads or during the course of business. Perhaps, he said, a more equitable way to fund street repairs would be not exclusively on fees paid just by Sulphur Springs citizens who pay water bills.
Julian noted that based on his research Texas Department of Motor Vehicles in Hopkins County registered more than 42,000 vehicles in 2020. That would include those county residents who travel to Sulphur Springs to town or work or visit as well as plants, cooperatives and businesses. He said while he does not know the intricacies of doing so, perhaps it’d be worthwhile to take a different approach and see what it would involved to have say $1.50 a year fee added to vehicle registrations instead of on water bills. That, he said, would generate over $1 million. The funds generated from the street maintenance fee have been helpful, but aren’t enough to fix a road base. The city can’t afford to stop repairing streets.
City Manager Marc Maxwell said he has reservations about going that route, which would be a risk, but wasn’t prepared to say more about it until the matter can be better researched.
Based on information presented in recent months by Assistant City Manager/Community Development Director Tory Niewiadomski the city needs to move up its time table for repairs, to get on a schedule so that all roads receive some maintenance at least once every 15 years.
Currently, to do that will require the street maintenance fee increase. Julian proposed if that’s to continue, to regularly on a schedule evaluate the fee and consider increasing or lowering it based on need.
Sellers and Place 2 Councilman Harold Nash Sr. both voted against the master fee schedule as proposed. The motion passed, however, on a 4-2 vote.
Utility Fees
The City Council unanimously approved as proposed increases to city water, sewer and sanitation fees.
City water bills, according to Ordinance No. 2785, will not charge a minimum $8.02 monthly demand charge plus a $4.05 usage fee for each 1,000 gallons of water. For meters 4-inches or larger the fee will be $939.52 minimum for 0-230,000 gallons of water, then $3.78 per 1,000 gallon usage of water in excess of 230,000 gallons of water.
Ordinance No. 2786 increases the sewer use fee to $28.10 for 0-4,000 gallons, then $4.07 per thousand gallons in excess of 4,000 gallons of sewage. Customers who contribute higher concentrations of waste than normal domestic wastewater would pay based on a forma based on the chemical oxygen demand, suspended solids and volume of water used.
Sanitation rates are scheduled to go up 5 percent, less than the 6 percent increase charged by the contractors. The rate per dwelling unit, multfamily residential unit and mobilehome park is $13.07. The monthly charge for commercial collection will be $26.15 per commercial unit. Business rates would be charge per contain per yard and per day. Temporary dumpsters under Ordinance No. 2787 would be charged a $102.84 delivery fee and charged fees per cubic yards for roll-offs and compactors.
Budget, Tax Rate
The City Council unanimously approved a budget just over $35 million budget, with 14.5 percent of the revenue funded by ad valorem taxes. Expenditures are budgeted to match revenues, which will fund all debt requirements, operating city government, and capital improvements, according to Ordinance No. 2783 Appropriations for 2021-2022 as posted on the city’s website.
The City Council tax rate will be reduced from $0.44 per $100 property valuation to $0.42692 per $100 property valuation in FY 2021-22, with $0.36241 designated for city maintenance and operations and the remaining $0.06461 applied to pay the principal and interest on city debit.
While the tax rate is almost 1.5-cents lower, it’s still expected to bring in 12.96 percent more in tax revenues than in FY 2020-21. That’s $507,107 in additional tax dollars to be raised in fiscal year 2021-22; $52,715 is new property added to the tax roll. The rest will come from tax payers in the form of increased property values, assessed for tax roles by Hopkins County Appraisal District.
In other words, the taxable value on homesteads has increased over 9 percent, which means an “average homestead taxable value” of $105,229 in 2020 would now be appraised at $115,012. That means the tax bill on that property would increased by $28 in FY 2021-22 to $491.01, according to the Notice of public hearing on tax increase posted by the City of Sulphur Springs.
Updated service credits
The Council approved Ordinance authorize updated service credits. Essentially, this is the retirement plan for city employees, through Texas Municipal Retirement System. The city’s contribution rate is 7.84 percent without updated service credits and increases to a total rate of 8.17 percent with adopted updated service credits. The city funded portion that will decrease slightly from 95.3 percent to 94.8 percent for FY 2022. The updated service credits enhance each retirement account of current full time employees for inflationary factors above specific thresholds. The additional cost of USC are estimated at $30,209.97 for FY 2022, city officials reported at a previous meeting.
Lady Cats Volleyball Gets Fourth District Win, Sweeping Pine Tree On the Road
The Lady Cats volleyball team never quit in a 3-0 sweep of the Lady Pirates in Longview on Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021.
The first set proved to be the easiest of the three, as Sulphur Springs rode their momentum to a 25-19 set one win.
Set two proved to be more of the same, as even though the home Lady Pirates found their footing and made it competitive, Coach Bailey Dorner‘s squad pulled it out again 25-18 for a big 2-0 set lead.
The third set looked at many points as though Pine Tree could take the set and potentially avoid a sweep. 13 times set three was tied up between the district foes.
With Pine Tree trailing by one at 24-23, the Lady Pirates called a timeout to ensure that they could fight back and force a set four.
During the timeout, Coach Dorner said to her squad they “Just had to finish.”
In a back-and-forth set three, Coach Dorner said her team just had to stay true to who they are and finish, doing just that in a tight 25-23 set to complete the sweep.
Sulphur Springs has now won five of their last six contests.
The Lady Cats volleyball coach said she’s been most impressed with the way her squad works together as a team and when their backs are against the wall players step up.
The win increases Coach Dorner’s squad’s overall record to 17-11 (3-1 district).
Next up, the Lady Cats volleyball team will be on a bye this Friday before being back on the road next Tuesday, Sept. 28 when they take on the Hallsville Lady Cats.
Freshman and JV squads will get the action underway in Hallsville at 5 P.M. followed by the varsity teams at 6 P.M.
That game next Tuesday will be broadcasted over the radio on KSST 1230 AM.
KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
Chamber Connection – September 22, 2021: Jay Hodge Chevrolet is Hosting Their First Business Before Hours Networking Event
By Butch Burney
Jay Hodge Chevrolet is hosting the first Business Before Hours networking event from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 28.
Join us for coffee, juice and donuts as you connect with other businessmen and women.
Jay Hodge Chevrolet is located on Wildcat Way.
This is the first networking event of the fall, and will be followed by a Business After Hours in October.
Strong Town Seminar
Neal Barker, owner of Town and Country Cleaners has invited Charles Marohn, professional engineer and founder of the Strong Towns movement, to discuss with interested individuals how to improve the trajectory of our town and help us to become more resilient. He focuses on bottom-up strategies for making investments that will actually build wealth, all while improving quality of life for residents of our community.
The discussion is set for 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 23, at The Venue at 219. Registration is free at the website: sulphurspringsstrong.eventbrite.com
Marohn is the founder and president of Strong Towns. He is a professional engineer and a land use planner with decades of experience. He is the author of Strong Towns: A Bottom-Up Revolution to Rebuild American Prosperity (Wiley, 2019). He hosts the Strong Towns Podcast and is a primary writer for Strong Towns’ web content. He has presented Strong Towns concepts in hundreds of cities and towns across North America. Planetizen named him one of the 10 Most Influential Urbanists of all time.
Get Your Stew On
It’s not too late for stew cooks to get their registration forms in for the 52nd Annual World Championship Hopkins County Stew Contest, which will be held Saturday, Oct. 23, at Buford Park.
Come by the chamber office or send us an email and we will get the registration form to you. We are expecting a big turnout for this year’s event, so be sure and get your spot.
We will have the north and south sides of the park open for cooking, along with a vendor market. We are expecting a fully open stew.
Speaking of stew, tickets will be available next week at all local banks and at the Chamber office. The cost remains the same as in the past, $6 for all-you-can-eat stew and $10 for take-home quarts.
In addition, we have Stew+75482 tumblers at the office for $20 and T-shirts will be available soon.
Heart of Hope Fundraiser
Northeast Texas Heart of Hope has a Fall Fundraiser set for 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 5, at the Hopkins County Civic Center. It will feature speaker and recording artist Caitlin Jane. Register for free at SSHOH.com.
Ribeye Roundup
The Ribeye Roundup, kids zone and evening concert are coming to Celebration Plaza on Saturday, Oct. 2. You can purchase tickets at Texas Heritage National Bank.
You can also buy t-shirts to promote the event for $12 at the Chamber office, 110 Main St. Come by and pick up your shirt today.
Main Street Uncorked
Main Street Uncorked Wine and Music Festival is set for 1-7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9, in downtown. There will be Texas wineries, local vendors and great music. Music will be by Matthew Fiock, Lincoln Goodman and Twisted Whisky.
Tickets are available at Eventbrite.com.
Help A Child Benefit
The annual Help-A-Child Benefit keeps getting bigger and better. The 14th annual event is set for Saturday, Oct. 16, and will feature a chili cook-off, auction, livestock show, brisket cookoff, Dutch oven cobbler and corn hole competition.
All money raised will go toward Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, foster families and Northeast Texas Child Advocacy Center.
The livestock show starts at 9 a.m., followed by the ag mechanics show at 11 a.m. and chili, brisket and Dutch oven cobbler is served at 11:30 (for $10). The auction begins at 12:30 p.m. and corn hole competition at 1:30 p.m.
Call Wade Bartley at 903-348-1878 for more information.
Arts and Crafts Show
The 2021 Hopkins County Fall Festival Arts & Crafts Show will take place in the Sulphur Springs High School cafeteria and north entry way on Friday, Oct. 22 and Saturday, Oct. 23. This event is open to anyone with hand-made, hand-crafted items to sell. Unique items, including handmade soaps and lotions, greeting cards, Christmas and seasonal decorations, jewelry, wood carvings, and much more will be available for purchase. Contact Johanna Hicks at 903-885-3443 for more information.
Ribbon Cutting
Burke’s Outlet hosted a ribbon cutting at Thursday morning as the new store opened on Mockingbird Lane.
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Goes to the State Fair
By Johanna Hicks, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Family & Community Health Agent, Hopkins County
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service personnel will be on hand at the State Fair of Texas from Sept. 24 to Oct. 17 with teaching installations on food production systems, natural resource conservation, nutritious eating and youth education to improve Texans’ health. Our agency’s presence at the fair provides a great opportunity for outreach and to introduce Texans to the everyday solutions AgriLife Extension can provide.
If you are able to visit the fair, be sure to stop by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension exhibit. This will be AgriLife Extension’s fifth year exhibiting inside the Texas Department of Agriculture’s Go Texan pavilion at the State Fairgrounds. The Go Texan pavilion is designed to showcase Texas-made products and introduce people to the many ways that Texas agriculture is used by companies to produce food and beverages.
AgriLife Extension personnel, along with volunteers from the agency’s Texas Master Gardeners and Texas Master Naturalists, will be on hand to meet visitors. Fairgoers can stop in and ask questions or receive information on a wide range of topics including the agency’s Path to the Plate program, healthy recipes, tips on vegetable gardening, or how to be involved in 4-H programs. Videos will focus on topics ranging from healthy meal preparation and 4-H successes to the connections between agriculture, food and health.
AgriLife Extension works for the people of Texas, but many Texans are not aware of the breadth of the agency’s services. Did you know that Hopkins County has two Extension Agents? I serve as the Family & Community Health agent, focusing on nutrition, diabetes education, health & wellness, marriage education, and other topics. My co-worker, Mario Villarino serves as our Ag and Natural Resources agent.
People come from all over the world and visit the pavilion, so it provides a fun experience. Over 250,000 people usually come by the exhibit, so it’s a great opportunity for us to interact with people and let them know who we are and what we do.
Cooking Well with Diabetes
This 4-session series showcases recipes and cooking techniques that can be healthier for people with diabetes. The series will be held face-to-face at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Hopkins County Office, 1200 West Houston St., Sulphur Springs.
Dates are Mondays and Thursdays, October 4, 7, 11, and 14, 6 p.m. The cost is $25, payable at the first session. The fee covers materials, recipe sampling, door prizes, and great information on managing diabetes. Please call 903-885-3443 to reserve a spot. Limited to the first 10 people.
Closing Thought
Depend on yourself. Make you judgement trustworthy by trusting it.
– Grantland Rice
Contact Johanna Hicks, B.S., M.Ed., Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office, P.O. Box 518, 1200-B West Houston St, Sulphur Springs, TX, 75483; 903-885-3443; or [email protected]
2021 John Chester Dutch-Oven Cook-off and Indian Summer Day is October 2 in Heritage Park
The John Chester Dutch Oven Cook-off will take place Saturday October 2, 2021 starting at 9 a.m in Heritage Park, 416 North Jackson Street in Sulphur Springs. The annual Cook-off will be part of the Park’s Indian Summer Day, lasting til 2pm. The event is hosted by the Hopkins County Historical Society.
Parking is free and general admission into the Park is $3.00. Enjoy strolling around and viewing pioneer and artisan crafts and skills, with many participants costumed in period clothing.
Dutch-Oven delicacies will be served starting at 11:30 a.m. Samples can be enjoyed for $5.00 per plate. Servers will place your samples in cups which you will carry on your plate. Enjoy all you want of the different kinds of main dishes, vegetables, breads and desserts that were prepared by early Americans, and are still popular today. Also enjoy the music and the ambiance of the step-back-in-time during Indian Summer Day and the Dutch-Oven cooking event. All proceeds go to upkeep and maintenance of beautiful Heritage Park and Hopkins County Historical Museum.
For more information contact Rick Wilson at 903-335-2752
Thirteen Men Arrested On Felony Warrants Over Past Week By Local Authorities
Thirteen men were arrested on felony warrants by local authorities from Sept. 13-21, 2021, according to arrest and jail reports.
Sulphur Springs Police Officers Dustin Green and Sgt. Brandon Mayes spotted Jacob Thomas Ramsey walking at 9:18 a.m. Sept. 19, on the wrong side of Carter Street. They contacted him and conducted a records check. Communications operators advised the 26-year-old Sulphur Springs man had an outstanding parole warrant. The officers took him into custody and transported him to jail for violation of parole, which he was on for a felony cattle, horse or exotic animal theft conviction.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Deputies Drew Fisher and Josh Davis located and took Jessie Wayne Petrea was taken into custody at a Helm Lane address at 11:25 p.m. Sept. 17, 2021, on a warrant for violation of bond or protective order, two or more times, accordign to arrest reports. The 28-year-old Sulphur Springs man remained in Hopkins County Monday, Sept. 20, 2021, in lieu of $100,000 bond on the third-degree felony charge, according to jail reports.
Sulphur Springs Police took Richard Leon “Ricky” Howell, 57, of Fort Worth into custody Sept. 17, 2021, on warrants for violation of probation on a possession of a Penalty Group 1 or 1B controlled substance charge and a bench warrant, according to jail reports.
Darrell Ray Richards who is also known by Derrell R Richards was arrested Sept. 17, 2021, for failurte to appear on a criminal mischief warrant and a bench warrant for a Nov. 19, 2019, tampering with or fabricating physical evidence charge, according to jail reports. The 56-year-old Mount Vernon man remained in Hopkins County jail on a $10,000 bond on the criminal mischief charge, according to jail reports.
Jacob Allen Woolverton Jr. turned himself in 9:55 a.m. Sept. 16, 2021, to serve a commitment on a prohibited conduct with an ancestor or descendant. HSO Deputy Joe Hooten escorted him into the county jail, where the 40-year-old Como man was held Monday on the charge, according to arrest and jail rpeorts.
HCSO Deputies Zack Horne and Josh Davis, and Sgt. Tanner Steward took aaron Cole Bennett into custody at a Texas Street residence at 5:09 a.m. Sept. 15, 2021, on a warrat for insufficient bond on an aggravated assault charge. He remained in Hopkins County jail Sept. 20, 2021, in lieu of the $500,000 bond set on the charge, according to jail reports.
James Erik Weesner was taken into custody at 2:02 a.m. Sept. 16, 2021, by SSPD Officer Silas Whaley on Industrial Drive on a warrant for violation of parole, which he was on for evading arrest or detention with a vehicle. He was in a stopped vehicle. A records check showed the warrant. He was jailed on the charge. The 21-year-old Tyler man was held in the county jail Sept. 20, 2021, according to arrest and jail reports.
HCSO Deputy Joe Hooten traveled to Athens, where Jason Deshaun Norris was held on three Hopkins County warrants. Hooten took custody of Norris at 9 a.m. Sept. 14, 2021, and transported him from Henderson County jail to Hopkins County jail, where the 40-year-old Gun Barrel City man was booked on the outstanding tampering with evidence, evading arrest or detention with a vehicle and manufacture or delivery of 4 grams or more but less than 200 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance charges. The offenses, Hooten noted in arrest reports, are alleged to have occurred on July 16, 2021.
Bond was set at $150,000 on the controlled substance charge, $30,000 on the tampering with evidence charge, and $50,000 on the evading arrest charge. Norris, who is also known by Spider, Sticks and Stix, remained in Hopkins County jail until Sept. 21, 2021, according to jail reports.
HCSO Deputies Drew Fisher and Jason Lavender responded at about 8:45 a.m. Sept. 14, 2021, to reports of a disturbance at Midway Gas Station. Upon arrival at the store, deputies spotted a silver four-door car, which matched the description of an individual involved in the disturbance.
As the deputies approached the Infiniti, they saw a man making furtive movements while sitting in the driver’s seat. He claimed to have concealed a fake pistol beside the driver’s seat.
Deputies removed him from the car and placed him into custody as a precaution for officer safety. Due to what Fisher described as the man’s erratic behavior, the deputies asked to search the car. When he refused, the a deputy retrieved his canine partner from his vehicle. The police canine during an open air search around the vehicle alerted to the odor of narcotics, Fisher and Lavender alleged in arrest reports.
A records check showed the man, identified in arrest reports as 33-year-old Christopher Francis Matthews, was wanted in Henderson County for violation probation on a controlled substance charge. A probable cause search of the car allegedly revealed suspected methamphetamine stuffed into the gap between the center console and the driver’s seat. The substance weighed 2.7 grams, the deputies alleged in arrest reports.
Matthews was transported to jail, where he was booked not only on the warrant but also on a new charge for possession of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance. He remained in Hopkins County jail on the charges Sept. 21, 2021. Bond on the new charge was set at $10,000, according to jail reports.
While at the location, a man in a Chevrolet Silverado arrived to transport one person said to have been involved in the disturbance from the location. Before dispatchers could run a records check to notify the deputies the man was wanted, he left the scene in the truck.
Deputies Fisher and Elijah Fite located him on State Highway 19 south at County Road 1182 and initiated a traffic stop. Tracy Alan “TJ” Monkhouse Jr. was taken into custody. He was booked for bond forfeiture on a July 12, 2017, possession of controlled substance warrant out of Lamar County. the 46-year-old Paris man remained in Hopkins County jail until Sept. 17, 2021. Bond on the charge was set at $20,000, according to arrest and jail reports.
SSPD Sgt. Josh Shufeldt conducted a traffic stop on a Hyundai Sonata at 8:54 p.m. Sept. 13, 2021, on Bill Bradford Road. A records check showed occupant Jimmy Lee Eastman Jr. to be wanted in Titus County. The 34-year-old New Boston man was take into custody for violation bond or protective order two or more times. His car was left parked at the location.
Eastman, who is noted in jail reports to also be known by Love, remained in Hopkins County jail until the next day on the felony charge. Bond was set at $10,000, according to jail reports.
HCSO Deputy Steve Huffman traveled to Marshall, where Maximiliano Deveon Gomez was being held on a Hopkins County warrant for violation of probation, which he was on for an Aug. 16, 2021, driving while intoxicated with a child younger than 15 years of age in the vehicle conviction. He was taken into custody at 9:18 a.m. Sept. 13, 2021, and transported to Hopkins County jail, according to arrest and jail reports.
The 53-year-old Winnsboro man was held in the county jail on the charge Sept. 21, 2021, according to jail reports.
SSPD Sgt. Matt Glenn and Sgt. Joe Scott contacted 32-year-old Renaldo Deshaun Sykes-Moore of Dallas 6:47 p.m. Sept. 15, 2021, regarding a call for service on South Broadway Street. A records checks showed Sykes-Moore to be wanted in Collin County on two Lindale theft property valued at less than $2,500 with 2 or more previous convictions warrants and a Collin County theft of property valued at more than $2,500 but no more than $30,000 warrant. He was released from Hopkins county jail on Sept. 17, 2021. Bond was set at $20,000 each on the Lindale charges and $5,000 on the Collin County charge, according to arrest and jail reports.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
KSSTRadio.com publishes Sulphur Springs Police Department reports and news. The Police Department is located at 125 Davis St., Sulphur Springs, Texas. Non-emergency calls can be made to (903) 885-7602.
If you have an emergency dial 9-1-1.
The Sulphur Springs Police Department continues to serve its citizens with pride in its overall mission and will strive to provide the best possible police force in the 21st century.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
2021 New Landowner Program Series: Pond Management
By Dr. Mario Villarino, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Ponds located across the state have different water chemistry, caused by factors such as soil type, water sources, and watershed characteristics. The water chemistry in a pond affects primary productivity which determines the number of fish to stock as well as the pond’s fish carrying capacity.
One characteristic that controls the ability of a pond to produce fish is alkalinity. Alkalinity is the measure of buffering capacity, and is commonly described as milligrams per liter or parts per million calcium carbonate (mg/L or ppm CaCO3). A total alkalinity of at least 20 ppm is required for good pond productivity. Ponds located within pine-forested watersheds are especially susceptible to low alkalinity.
In ponds with low alkalinity, pH can vary widely throughout the course of the day, causing unnecessary stress on fish populations. In this situation, it is often difficult to establish a phytoplankton bloom, which is the base of the pond’s food chain. If you plan to fertilize, you should have the alkalinity checked. If alkalinity is less than 20 ppm and you want to fertilize, agricultural lime can be added to increase alkalinity. Do not use hydrated or quick lime, as rapid pH changes could cause a fish kill.
Agricultural lime is often available in bulk quantities and can be delivered to your site. Common application rates range from one to four tons per surface acre. The lime should be applied as uniformly as possible over the surface of the pond to ensure coverage. Distributing the lime from a plywood platform on the front of a boat is a common application method.
Check with local authorities or review the information found in the accompanying references to decide if liming is something you need to consider.
For more information on this or any other agricultural topic please contact the Hopkins County Extension Office at 903-885-3443 or email me at [email protected].
Final Public Hearings For Budget, Tax Rate, Master Fee Schedule To Be Held At 7:30 p.m. City Council Meeting
Sulphur Springs residents will have one final opportunity Tuesday evening to voice any comments or concerns they may have regarding the proposed budget, reduced tax rate, service fees and schedules before the council considers making them officials.
Unlike the regular meeting which was packed to include of a playground for Pacific Park and material for the College Street road improvement projec, among others, the Sulphur Springs City Council will only be asked to consider 7 ordinances at the called special 7:30 p.m. meeting Sept. 21 at the City Municipal Building.
A public hearing will be conducted along withsecond reading of each ordinance, from 2783-2788 and No. 2790. If the couci approvs them, the ordinances will pass a 2021-22 budget; tax rate; master fee schedule for costs, fees and rates associated with permitting, utility and other city services; setting sewer, water and santiation rates; and authorizing updated service credits.
Master Fees, Utilities
After several preventations over the past year regarding instrastructure needs, including to water, sewer and streets, the council approved increases to all three fees city utility fees as well as a master fee schedule to better keep up with costs of inflation and put raise funds to address more infrastructure needs in the coming year.
The master fee schedule, which includes utility services, permitting and other services passed only on a 5-2 vote at the Sept. 3 regular City Council meeting. Both Mayor Johns Sellers and Place 2 Councilman Harold Nash Sr. voted against the ordinance and fee schedule as proposed, due largely to the motion to double the residential street maintenance fee and the deposit required for rental of the new HW Grays Community Building in Pacific Park. The street maintenance fee will increase to $10 per residential utility bill to fund twice as much on road improvements, which will mean getting more done to slow the deterioration process, and the Grays building deposit will increase to $200, to be returned upon the renters completion of the checklist returning the property to its pre-rental state.
City water bills, according to the rate proposed in Ordinance No. 2785, will include an $8.02 monthly demand charge plus a $4.05 usage fee for each 1,000 gallons of water. For meters 4-inches or larger the fee wil be $939.52 minimum for 0-230,000 gallons of water, then $3.78 per 1,000 gallon usage of waterin excess of 230,000 gallons of water.
Ordinance No. 2786 would increas the sewer use fee to $28.10 for gallons 0-4,000, then $4.07 per thousand gallons in excess of 4,000 gallons. For customers who contribute higher concentrations of waste than normal domestic wastewater woudl pay based on a forma based on the cheical oxygen demand, suspended solids and voume of water used.
Sanitation rates are scheduled to go up 5 percent, less than the 6 percent increase charged by the contractors. The rate per dwelling unit, multfamily residential unit and mobilehome park is $13.07. The monthly charge for commercial collection will be $26.15 per commercial unit. Business rates would be charge per contain per yard and per day. Temporary dumpsters under Ordinance No. 2787 would be charged a $102.84 delivery fee and charged fees per cubic yards for roll-offs and compactors.
Budget, Tax Rate
The City Council will be asked to approve a $35.3 million budget, with 14.5 percent of the revenue from ad valorem taxes. Expenditures are budgeted to match revenues, which will fund all debt requirements, operating city government, and capital improvements, according to Ordinance No. 2783 Appropriations for 2021-2022 as posted on the city’s website.
As proposed the City Council tax rate will be reduced from $0.44 per $100 property valuation to $0.42692 per $100 property valuation, with $0.36241 designated for city maintenance and operations and the remaining $0.06461 applied to pay the principal and interest on city debit.
While the tax rate is almost 1.5-cents lower, it’s still expected to bring in 12.96 percent more in tax revenues than the 2020-21 budget. That equates to $507,107 in additional tax dollars to be raised in fiscal year 2021-22, 11.3 percet of that amount ($52,715) is new property added to the tax roll. The rest will come from tax payers in the form of increased property values, assessed for tax roles by Hopkins County Appraisal District.
In other words, the taxable value on homesteads has increased on average by 9.29 percent, which means an “average homestead taxable value” of $105,229 in 2020, now has been appraissed at $115,012. That means the tax bill on that property would increased by $28 in FY 2021-22 to $491.01, according to the Notice of public hearing on tax increase posted by the City of Sulphur Springs.
The City Council approved on first reading during the regular Sept. 7 meeting both the budget and tax rate, with the budget adjusted to reflect an increase in the street maintenance fee on city utility bills. An increase in the deposit fee to rent the HW Grays Building in Pacific Park from $100 to $200 too received approval of the council as part of Ordinance No. 2790, setting perits, utilty fees and services. The rental fee would remain $50 for the Grays Building; the $200 deposit would be returned, provided the renter completes the checklist to restore the facility to the original condition it was in when the renter assumed responsiblity for the new city building, paid part with the voter-approved bond taken out for that project, a new Senior Citizens Center and additional repairs in Pacific Park.
Updated service credits
The Council too will be asked to authorize updated service credits. Essentially, this is the retirement plan for city employees, through Texas Municipal Retirement System. The city’s contribution rate is 7.84 percent without updated service credits and increases to a total rate of 8.17 percent with adopted updated service credits. The city funded portion that will decrease slightly from 95.3 percent to 94.8 percent for FY 2022. The updated service credits enhance each retirement account of current full time employees for inflationary factors above specific thresholds. The additional cost of USC are estimated at $30,209.97 for FY 2022.
Student Activity at the Paris Junior College Sulphur Springs Center
GETTING INFORMATION
Students Owen Miller, Lucas Williams and Carson Voorheese of Sulphur Springs get the official information from PJC-Sulphur Springs Center Director Rob Stanley. 
Paris Junior College — located in Paris, Texas, about 100 miles northeast of Dallas — has been a part of the Lamar County community since 1924.
Paris Junior College offers Associate in Arts, Associate in Science and Associate in Applied Science degrees, as well as Certificates of Proficiency in technical/workforce fields. The college has expanded its academic curriculum through the years to encourage associate degree and university transfer candidates. Since establishing its first vocational program — jewelry and watchmaking in 1942 — the college has been aggressive in adding technical/workforce programs that will benefit students entering the workforce.
The campus of 54 tree-shaded acres includes 20 major buildings and residence halls and provides students a unique and pleasant environment for learning.
Paris Junior College also operates centers in Sulphur Springs, Texas, and in Greenville, Texas.
Vision
To be the educational provider of choice for the region.
Mission
Paris Junior College is a comprehensive community college serving the region’s educational and training needs while strengthening the economic, social and cultural life of our diverse community.
Lady Cats Volleyball in Longview For Fourth District Match On Gameday Tuesday
The Sept. 21 edition of Tuesday gameday will be something of a quiet one for Sulphur Springs sports teams.
Normally, Tuesdays in the fall bring Wildcats team tennis and Lady Cats volleyball, but team tennis is off today on a bye.
The tennis team, lead by Coach Tony Martinez has earned a much-needed bye on Sept. 21 since they have been heavily entrenched in district play since it began in late-August.
Last week Wildcats team tennis hosted Pine Tree in a do-or-die play-in game. Coach Martinez told his squad for weeks that Tuesday, Sept. 14’s match versus the Pirates would determine if his squad could potentially participate in post-season play.
Fortunately for Wildcats and Lady Cats tennis fans, Sulphur Springs was able to best the Pirates at the Wildcats tennis center last Tuesday to keep their playoff hopes alive.
After their much-deserved bye today, Wildcats team tennis will be in Hallsville next Tuesday, Sept. 28 when they take on the Bobcats.
Moving over to volleyball, Coach Bailey Dorner’s team has been rocking and rolling to start district play.
After losing a tough five set classic versus Texas High a week ago, Sulphur Springs hosted Marshall last Friday.
The Lady Cats lost a nice lead in set one and went on to lose the first set 26-24.
Sets two and three were won by Sulphur Springs, 26-24 and 25-23 to give Coach Dorner’s team a 2-1 set lead.
The fourth set showed this team’s character and tenacity as even though they trailed by nine, they came back to win set four on Friday, Sept. 17 26-24 and thus the match 3-1.
The win gave the Lady Cats volleyball team a 16-11 overall record (2-1 district). Sulphur Springs has won four of their last five matches, with their lone loss in that stretch being last Tuesday’s home classic versus Texas High.
Next up, Coach Dorner and her squad will be in Longview later today taking on the Pine Tree Pirates.
JV and freshman squads will get things underway at 5 P.M. followed by the varsity squads at 6 P.M.
The Lady Cats volleyball game will be broadcasted over the radio on to KSST 1230 AM.
KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
