Former Resident and Author Kate Park to be Honored During May 1 Winnsboro Festival of Books
The Winnsboro Festival of Books set for May 1, 2021
The event to honor the late Kate Park
WINNSBORO — Winnsboro Center for the Arts will host its annual Festival of Books Saturday, May 1, on the future site of the WCA’s new Center for Performing Arts at 206 Market Street. This year’s event honors Winnsboro’s own Kate Park who died last July at age 40 after a brave battle with Corticobasal Degeneration (CBD) and Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PCP), rare brain diseases.
Before she fell ill, Park had dedicated her career to the arts and non-profit work, including a successful stint as executive director of The Friends of the Dallas Public Library, organizing AuthorSpeak and The Big Read, along with a Friends book festival in 2017. She was the daughter of Mike and Judy Park.
“This year’s festival is dedicated to Kate, who inspired our festival and helped us during organization,” said Mary White, arts center president. “She also prompted several of her author friends from Dallas to be on our first panel in 2018. Her friends and colleagues Michael Merschel, Nancy Churnin and Michael Granberry will be returning this year to pay tribute to
her.”
The festival opens at 9 a.m. with author book signings. All published authors are invited to reserve a table. Visit www.winnnsborocenterforthearts.com for a registration form. Space is available for $45. Also at 9am, students from Alter Dance will perform. At 9:30,Grammy award winner and Cajun music legend Jo-El Sonnier will perform a children’s concert, hold a story time and will be available to sign copies of his book, “There’s Something in the Swamp, and It’s for Dinner.”
A children’s literature panel led by Churnin, author of 10 non-fiction picture books and former theater critic for The Dallas Morning News, will begin at 10:45. Churnin says she will never forget the excitement that Kate Park brought to the very first festival and looks forward to honoring Kate’s memory at this one.
“At a time when we need the healing properties of books, and how they bring us together more than ever, The Winnsboro Book Festival serves a deep need not only in the Winnsboro community, but in the larger community of our collective hearts,” Churnin explained. “I am so proud to moderate a panel at this event which honors Kate’s spirit — her love for people and the books that help us understand, celebrate and support each other.”
Joining Churnin will be: Mary Brooke Casad, creator of Bluebonnet the Armadillo series; Rosie Pova, a multi-published, award-winning author and writing instructor, including the upcoming picture book, Sunday Rain; and Michael Steele, a former writer for Barney & Friends and Wishbone. Steele has also published more than 120 books for various characters and brands, including Batman, Wonder Woman and Superman.
Author Michael Merschel, who spent 12 years as the book critic for The @ Morning News, will deliver the keynote address at 1 p.m. Merschel served on a panel at the first book festival and later spoke to students at MemorialMiddle School about his book, Revenge of the Star Survivors, which won the Texas Institute of Letters’ award for best middle-grade book in 2018.
Expect Merschel to be joined by a surprise guest who will talk about his upcoming book on the Dallas Cowboys. Merschel was delighted to be invited to honor his late friend.
“I would do just about anything to help celebrate Kate,” he said. “A lot of us were left with Kate-shaped holes in our hearts when she left us. She brought so much light and love into the world, and I am thrilled that Winnsboro is doing so much to keep that sparkling spirit alive.”
A mystery panel, led by Winnsboro’s own Melissa (Whitley) Lenhardt, will begin at 2 p.m. Joining Lenhardt will be: Harvey Hunsicker, former executive vice president of the Mystery Writers of America and author of eight books; Kathleen Kent, two-time Edgar Award nominee and New York Times bestselling author; and Reavis Wortham, a Paris native, author of The Red River series has won critical acclaim.
An installation at Kate Park Memorial Park, just south of the Gilbreath Memorial Library at 916 North Main Street, is scheduled to begin at 3:15 p.m. following the mystery panel. Underwriting this year’s event are: Chip and Terry Mathews; The Bowery Book Club; The Mrs. A.D. Francis Endowment Fund administered by East Texas Communities Foundation on
behalf of Winnsboro Community Foundation; and The Texas Commission on the Arts.
Pedestrian Struck By Vehicle On Mockingbird Lane
A pedestrian was struck by a vehicle and flown to an area trauma center Wednesday evening, according to Sulphur Springs Police Chief Jason Ricketson.
Emergency dispatchers received a call at 8:33 p.m. regarding a crash involving a pedestrian in the 1300 block of Mockingbird Lane. A 50-year-old Sulphur Springs man was reportedly walking east across Mockingbird Lane near Duckworth Street when a northbound vehicle, said to be a truck, struck him.
The pedestrian was care-flighted from the Sulphur Springs to a Tyler trauma center. The pedestrian struck by the vehicle, identified by police as Danny Keller, was reported to be in the ICU at the Tyler hospital as of the last report police had received.
The driver of the vehicle that struck the man had not been charged with any offenses as of midmorning Thursday. The pedestrian-vehicle crash is still under investigation by police, according to Ricketson. No additional details were available midmorning April 8, 2021.
Sulphur Springs City Manager’s Report – April 6, 2021
Sulphur Springs City Council received from City Manager Marc Maxwell the following monthly manager’s report during the April 6, 2021 council meeting:
April 06, 2021
TO: CITY COUNCIL
FROM: CITY MANAGER, MARC MAXWELL
SUBJ: MANAGER’S REPORT
COVID-19 RESPONSE
The number of active cases in Hopkins County decreased since our last meeting with 141 active cases as of April 5th. There are zero patients in the COVID unit at the hospital as of Monday.
GRAYS BUILDING –The framing and the plumbing top-out is finished. Electrical rough-in is complete. HVAC is installed. Insulation and sheetrock are installed. Brick is going up now. The roof is completed on the building, but not the covered area on the north side. Stainless steel furnishings for the kitchen are beginning to arrive. The walls will be painted soon. The Grays building will be open by Juneteenth.
SENIOR CITIZENS BUILDING – Construction drawings are still being prepared by REES Associates. We have hired Tandem Consulting to oversee the construction just like the Grays Building.
WOODLAWN STREET – Completed.
SAPUTO SEWER MAIN – Construction has finally begun. This $750,000 sewer project is funded entirely by a grant from the Texas Department of Agriculture.
The new main will supplement an older undersized main. The path of the new main begins at Saputo and continues under the interstate. It then continues South for 3,500 feet before connecting to an existing trunk line. The new main has a 15-inch inch diameter.
This grant is made possible because of a $50 million plant upgrade at Saputo and their cooperation with the Texas Department of Agriculture. Without their cooperation this project would not have been possible.
COLLEGE STREET – This will be the next project after the Saputo Sewer Line Project. The concrete crushing operation that will provide much of the road base for College Street is completed. They crushed 15,098 tons of concrete.
CLAIMS – We did not have any liability claims or workers compensation claims in March. We did file a claim on a towing company’s insurer. They were towing our new tow truck when it decoupled causing damage to the truck frame, bed and body.
REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES – Finance Director Lesa Smith will present a report of revenues and expenditures.
OTHER REPORTS – Elsewhere around the city, employees:
• Responded to 222 fire/rescue calls including 2 structure fires, 5 grass fires and 1 vehicle fire.
• Performed preventative maintenance on 82 fire hydrants.
• Pressure washed sidewalks downtown.
• Cleaned Hopkins County Veterans Memorial waterfall wall.
• Repaired multiple leaks in parks facilities due to the freeze.
• Served 3,658 meals at the Senior Citizens Center.
• Hosted a 53-team baseball tournament.
• Conducted 42 building inspections, 17 electrical inspections, 11 plumbing inspections 2 mechanical inspections and issued 37 building permits.
• Repaired 27 streets following utility repairs.
• Repaired 684 potholes.
• Replaced 1 stop sign and 3 street signs.
• Swept the streets (contractor).
• Repaired a drainage problem on Carter Street.
• Dug out the ditch between Carter and Lamar.
• Installed 840’ of drainage pipe in Pacific Park.
• Replaced curb & gutter at WA & Beckham, Weaver & Patton, 211 Beckham, and Beckham & Beckworth in preparation for the Street Improvement Program (Summer Paving Program).
• Cement-stabilized and replaced part of Reservoir Street after the freeze (contractor).
• Ordered a new generator for P.D. (grant funded)
• Designed installation for generator at City Hall.
• Repaired raw water pump at Cooper Lake pump station.
• Repaired scoreboard on field #2 at Coleman Park.
• Installed a fuel pump at the airport.
• Repaired water leak at the Police Department and the animal shelter.
• Performed preventative maintenance on various items at the wastewater treatment plant.
• Treater wastewater to a daily average total suspended solids reading of .51 mg/L.
• Repaired 8 water main ruptures.
• Replaced 21 water meters.
• Unstopped 37 sewer mains.
• Repaired 8 sewer mains.
• Treated 137 million gallons of potable water.
• Flushed 36 dead end water mains.
• Made repairs to 1-million-gallon clearwell.
• Installed a variable frequency drive on the air compressor at the water treatment plant.
• Sold 3,752 gallons of AvGas and 14,436 gallons of JetA fuel.
• Accommodated 1,811 airport operations (landings or takeoffs).
• Responded to 215 animal control calls and achieved an 86% adoption rate.
• Made 4 felony arrests in the Special Crimes Unit.
• Responded to 54 accidents, recorded 51 offences, made 51 arrests and wrote 576 citations in the patrol division.
• Checked out 2,729 items from the library
3 Jailed On Felony Hopkins County Warrants
Three men were jailed on felony Hopkins County warrants, according to arrest and jail reports.
Jeremy Brannon Conley was jailed Tuesday, April 6, 2021, on a warrant for surety off bond on an unauthorized use of a motor vehicle charge. The 39-year-old Montalba man was released from Hopkins County jail later April 6. His new bond on the felony stolen vehicle charge was set at $10,000.
Conley, who is also known to go by Jeremey Brandon Conley, was arrested on June 16, 2020, on the original UUV charge, after being stopped by Sulphur Springs Police Special Crimes Unit officers driving a Tahoe that had been reported to Palestine authorities as stolen; The Anderson County man was released from jail June 20,2020 after posting a $5,000 bond on the charge, according to jail reports. Conley was indicted in November 2020 on the unauthorized use of vehicle charge.
Gary William Genzel II turned himself in at 1 a.m. Wednesday, April 7, 2021, at the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office. Deputy Aaron Chaney was called in from patrol to take the wanted man into custody. Chaney escorted Genzel into the jail, where the 28-year-old Red Oak man was booked at 1:24 a.m. on the outstanding Hopkins County reckless bodily or mental injury to a child, elderly or disabled person charge.
The offense is alleged to have occurred on August 22, 2020, in Hopkins County. No additional information was available Wednesday afternoon regarding the alleged offense.
Genzel was released from Hopkins County jail later Wednesday. Bond on the felony charge was set at $25,000.
Sulphur Springs Police Officer Silas Whaley and Sgt. Matt Glenn contacted Sami Sami Jr. at 8:15 p.m. April 6, 2021, at his Industrial Drive residence. A records check by dispatchers showed the 21-year-old to have two outstanding warrants for his arrest.
The Sulphur Springs man was jailed on felony Hopkins County warrants for surety off bond on tampering with or fabricating physical evidence with intent to impair and possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance, the police officers noted in arrest reports. Sami remained in Hopkins County jail Wednesday afternoon, April 7, 2021, in lieu of the new $20,000 bond set per charge.
Sami was originally arrested June 12, 2020, on both charges, for allegedly throwing down a glass pipe of the kind used to smoke methamphetamine, removed another pipe from his sock and put it in his waistband, and had a baggy of suspected methamphetamine in his sock as well, according to the 2020 arrest and police reports. He was released from jail July 18, 2020, on $10,000 bond per charge.
Saltillo Academic UIL Team Ranks First Overall At District
The 29-member Saltillo High School UIL team swept the competition, amassing 369 points overall, securing their ranking as the overall first place team at the District Academic UIL contest, according to information released by Saltillo ISD.
The Saltillo students earned three first place and two second place team awards, and 30 individual placing first through sixth place wins in at least 14 different categories at the March 25 District Academic UIL competition hosted by Union Hill High School. Nineteen of those students scored high enough to advance to the Regional Academic UIL Competition to be held in Waxahachie on April 16-17.
The Saltillo UIL team did especially well in journalism, number sense, accounting, current events, and social studies events. A few students also placed in more than one event.
The accounting team consisting of Trinity White, Brianna Tawil, Gunner Tarver and Yadhira Alonso took top honors in accounting. White placed first, Tawil and Gunner Tarver tied for second and Alonso finished fourth.
Tawil also placed fourth in number sense, with Cristian Trejo finishing just behind in fifth, earning a first place team ranking.
Brittney Peeples placed third, Ridge Johnson fourth, Coy Collins fifth and Evan Andrew sixth in current issues and events competition, ensuring a first place team finish.
The Saltillo journalism team’s combined points in the various competitions – which include copy editing, editorial writing, headline writing and news writing contests – also secured a first place team finish.
Ryleigh Redar won first place honors, Maddy Smith second and Garrett Tarver third in headline writing.
Garrett Tarver also won first place honors in editorial writing and ready writing, and finished third in spelling and vocabulary. Amira Terry also placed sixth in spelling and vocabulary, which added to Tarver’s win garnered a second place team finish. Terry also went home with third in copy editing. Julianna Giles won second place honors and Cali Morris was recognized for placing fifth in editorial writing.
Smith also placed third in news writing. Recognized for placing second in feature writing and fifth in ready writing was Olyveah Allen. In feature writing, Katelyn Cline won first place honors and Gabby Ross placed fourth. In news writing, first place honors went to Anna Reed and Paisley Kastner second place honors in news writing.
Ethan White won third place in literary criticism while Luke Ritter placed third in persuasive speaker.
Ridge Johnson placed sixth in science and Jacob Sexton was named an alternate in chemistry. Caden McGill was recognized for placing sixth in mathematics.
The social studies team finished second overall.
The Saltillo Academic UIL Team also included Jordan Metcalf, Bianca Castro, Nora Martinez, Caitlin Bass, Drew Redburn and Anna Reeder, whose contributions helped Saltillo finish first overall at district.
Ordinance Restricting Parking On Tomlinson Street Approved By Council
Narrow Street Granting Access To Connally Corners To Be Named Patricia Lane
An ordinance restricting restricting parking on Tomlinson Street received approval of Sulphur Springs City Council Tuesday evening, as did a requests naming the narrow street granting access to Connally Corners and granting an easement at Coleman Park and a proposal for streetlight audit services.
Parking On Tomlinson Street
Sulphur Springs City Manager Marc Maxwell asked the City Council to consider restricting parking in the 200 block of Tomlinson Street, to provide accessibility for trash service pick up and for emergency vehicles on the narrow street which runs between Davis and Gilmer Streets. Maxwell asked the council to grant the ordinance prohibiting parking on the south side of the street, and no parking within a certain area on the north side of the street to provide ample access of sanitation collection trucks.
In response to Place 1 Councilman Jay Julian’s query regarding who brought the original complaint to city attention, Maxwell explained the issue of parking on Tomlinson Street stemmed from comment from the owner of one building that trash had not been picked up. Investigation into the matter revealed the trash truck was unable to get to the dumpster to empty the trash due to parked vehicles. Maxwell noted that some striping restricting parking had been painted, and that seems to have solved the issue. However, because there’s no ordinance designating the parking restriction one is needed so that city officials can issue citations enforcing the parking restriction.
“There is a dedicated parking place. There are a few buildings that have pull in parking. None of that’s affected?” Mayor John Sellers asked.
“That’s not going to affect this, parking on the street itself – it’s not on the south side and the first little bit on the north side.” Maxwell noted.
The City Council gave unanimous approval for Ordinance No. 2779 as written, to restrict parking in the 200 block of Tomlinson Street.
New Street Named
Community Development Director Tory Niewiadomski noted that when the council approved the plat for Connally Corner, a development being constructed at the corner of Connally, Easy and Atkins Street spearheaded by Patrick Chase and Carrie Nuckolls, the alley granting rear access to the lots was designed but not named. Patrick Chase asked that the narrow street or alley be named Patricia Lane to honor his wife, Patricia Chase.
Place 5 Councilman Gary Spraggins seconded the motion made by Place 4 Councilman Freddie Taylor to approved the request.
“I know Patricia very well. She’s an upstanding citizen. I’d be happy having her name on a street sign,” Spraggins noted.
“It is really exciting to seeing this kind of development being done this near downtown, living up to what we’ve been talking about for 10 years – living, eating and playing all within walking distance. I’m really glad we’ve gotten this street or alley,” Sellers said. “It would be an honor to name it.”
The proposal to name the new street in Connally Corner Patricia Lane received the unanimous approval of the City Council.
Coleman Park Easement
The City Council also was asked to consider approving a request from Oncor Electric Delivery LLC for an easement at Coleman Park.
Niewiadomski noted that city staff was approached by Oncor regarding a development across the street from Coleman Lake. In order to support the Grocery Supply Co. expansion across the street they need to access an existing transmission line in the parking lot on the northwest corner of Coleman Lake. They need to set a guidewire, which would encroach city property.
The City Council granted unanimous approval to grant the easement to Oncor.
Streetlight Audit
City Finance Director Lesa Smith explained that Mount Pleasant officials told Maxwell about a successful streetlight audit conducted in the Titus County city. The city pays Oncor for electricity used to power and to maintain approximately 1,100 streetlights, but has never conducted an audit to make sure Sulphur Springs is getting what is paid for.
The company would go out into the field and conduct a physical examination of each streetlight.
“They’ll go to each street light that we have and they’ll look at it and see if the light is working, if it exists. Then, they’ll go back and look at our billing and see if we are due any refunds, if we have any overbillings or under-billings, all of that,” Smith explained.
The company would provide the service for 45 percent of any amount the city might receive as a refund. If the company does not find anything and is not due any refunds following the audit, the city will not owe the company conducting the streetlight audit anything.
Place 5 Councilman Doug Moore asked if the lights were metered or the city pays a flat fee or per light?
“The way we pay for the lights is based on the type of light it is,” Smith said. “The LED is a different rate than the halogen.”
She affirmed to Sellers that the audit would evaluate fees over a period of years.
Place 3 Councilman Oscar Aguilar said the audit would be good if nothing came of it except seeing if all the lights work or if some need repairs, so repairs can be made to get them going, making that area safer.
The City Council approved the proposal for streetlight audit services.
Como-Pickton Baseball Team Explodes For 25-0 Win Over North Hopkins Tuesday Night
It’s hard to imagine that the Como-Pickton Baseball Team could play any better than they did Tuesday at North Hopkins as the Eagles took an lopsided, 25-0 win.
The Eagles scored in every inning of the 4 inning game with 6 runs in the first, 10 more in the second, 2 in the third and 7 more runs in the fourth. The Eagles had 16 hits and committed no errors.
The Panthers were the victim of a perfect game, twelve up and twelve down, and they made 8 errors. Karson Jenkins got the pitching loss and Tate Myers also pitched.
The Eagles Dalton Morgan threw the perfect game striking out 8. Eagle Taylor Ford was incredible with the bat going 3 for 3 with a grand slam home run and 7 RBI’s, with a double and 2 runs scored. Maverick Asbery was 3 for 4 with 3 RBI’s, a double, 3 runs scored and 2 stolen bases. Kevin Hernandez was 1 for 2 with 3 RBI’s,a run scored and a stolen base. Morgan was 4 for 4 with 2 RBI’s 4 runs and a stolen base.
C. Thomas was 2 for 3 with 2 RBI’s a home run, a double and 2 runs scored. Flemens was 2 for 5 with 3 RBI’s and 2 runs scored. Braxton Andrews had an RBI and scored 2 runs. Kobie Wright was 1 for 3 with 2 runs scored and a walk. Christian Gilbreath scored a run. Jackson Monk scored 4 runs and had a walk. Braden Miller scored a run. Hayden Pots scored a run and had a walk.
Lady Cats Softball Wins at Longview, 6-0
The Lady Cats softball team keep on rolling as they beat the Lady Lobos in Longview on Apr. 6, by a score of 6-0.
Coach David Carrillo’s squad looked like they might be entrenched in another pitchers duel, but the tide turned in the top of the third inning when Sulphur Springs scored 3 runs to take a 3-0 lead.
Grace Magnuson got the scoring going for the Lady Cats, singling on a fly ball to left field to get Jayden Harper home to break the 0-0 tie.
Catcher River Hulsey for Longview committed two costly errors in the bottom frame of the third which allowed Nylah Lindley to cross home, and then another wild throw allowed Addison DeSmet to advance home to make it a 3-0 ball game.
But the Lady Cats weren’t done there, though. 1B Lindley doubled in the top of the fourth to get SS Parris Pickett home to take a 4-0 lead. Magnuson got another RBI when she doubled on a line drive to deep center field to get Lindley home, making it 5-0 in favor of Sulphur Springs.
Nicole Higgins made a stellar tag on second base in the last at-bat for the Lady Cats to get home en route to a 6-0 victory over the Lady Lobos.
The Lady Cats have completed their regular season sweep of Longview, first winning in Sulphur Springs on Mar. 9 by a score of 1-0, then beating the Lady Lobos on Tuesday by a score of 6-0.
Crimson Bryant got the win over Longview, pitching the entire 7 innings while only allowing 3 hits over the course of the game. Bryant struck out 15 and walked one Lady Lobo.
With the win, the Lady Cats have now won 8 straight games, with 7 of those victories coming against district foes. The Lady Cats softball team season record is now 17-3 overall (6-1 district).
Next up, the Lady Cats will be back on the road Friday as they’ll travel to Mt Pleasant to take on the Lady Tigers. That game is set to tee off at 6 PM.
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.
Customers Behind On City Utility Bills Due To COVID-19 Have 24 Months To Pay Amount Owed
Sulphur Springs City Council determined Tuesday night that customers who are behind on city utility bills due to COVID-19 will have up to 24 months to pay off the amount owed on their bills without fear their water service will be turned off.
As of Tuesday morning, April 6, a total of $157,384 in past due amounts is owed by city utility customers. Of the 503 accounts behind by 30 days or more, 29 are 12 months or more past due. City staff asked the City Council to consider approving a resolution establishing a payment plan for utility customers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
As the city manager indicated in previous months’ reports would likely be recommended to the council, City Finance Director Lesa Smith proposed having those who are behind due to COVID-19 pay the current month’s pill plus 1/12th of the past due amount each month. That should allow the customer to get caught up in one year and avoid disconnection of water service. She said letters could potentially go out today to those utility customers who are behind due to COVID-19 to make them aware that the city will begin requiring them to start paying the amount.
As an incentive, Smith recommended having customers who come in and sign an agreement with the city establishing a plan to pay off the balance within the approved time frame would not face any additional financial penalties for the amount they are behind on and as long as the customer makes the payment as stipulated in the agreement on time each month. She recommended penalties for arrears be added and resuming service disconnects starting with May utility bills for those who do not visit the city to sign an agreement with a structured payment plan.
Place 2 Councilman Harold Nash asked if there was a plan in place for those who may not financially be able to come in and pay that amount. He said he is aware of some who can not.
Smith said the resolution as proposed does not include anything that would address that situation.
“I feel like what we are doing to the folks on this that have already been struggling is we’re making them now pay two payments in one month if we do it at just 1/12th the amount,” Place 5 Councilman Gary Spraggins said. “I would like to propose that we let them do it in 24 months. They would pay their current bill pay and also 1/24th of their balance. “I talked to Lesa this afternoon about it and she said of the people involved, about 10 percent of them went the whole 12 months, go back on the whole 12 months of it. So we’re figuring affecting quite a few of the people so I would like for us to make it 1/24th that they that they pay on their arrears and their current payment. I believe that might help them out on that. I agree. That’s going to be tough. They need to pay this, to do both. I believe this is something that could handle instead of making two payments at one time.”
“That’s a nice compromise,” City Manager Marc Maxwell noted.
Place 4 Councilman Freddie Taylor asked if the plan means that the letters would go out April 7 with the agreement going into affect with the percent of past due and current amount of city utility bills due with the May payment, or if it would be on the May bill with payment due starting in June. Smith noted that the customers who have arrears would have one month to come in, make a payment plan and pay the first payment amount agreed upon.
“So you want to give them two months to set up a payment plan?” Smith asked.
Taylor indicated a desire to send the paperwork to give them time to come in and be able to make that first payment.
Place 3 Councilman Oscar Aguilar also indicated a preference to give customers a little bit longer than the original 1 month proposed to come in, sign up and work on funding to make the payment.
The city manager noted that some will receive the first letter, discard it without reading or paying attention to it, then have their water shut off before they pay attention and decide to visit the city to make a payment agreement. The resolution, he noted needs to be structured in a way that it still allows them to come in and set up an agreement., perhaps with a warning if one is not made initially.
Sellers noted the some customers have had over a year of accumulated arrears without fear their water would be shut off due to the suspension of fees and serve being cut off for those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to Spraggins, of the 236 accounts that are behind, 10 percent, or about 29 accounts have been behind for 12 months or more during the pandemic.
Spraggins made the motion to accept a resolution establishing a payment plan, allowing up to 24 months for utility customers who are behind on their bills due to COVID-19 to pay 1/24th of the owed amount plus the current bill each month if they wish. Letters would be mailed on Tuesday by the city, notifying those utility customers who owe back amounts that the grace period due to COVID-19 is being lifted, that they must visit the city offices to sign an agreement in order to avoid penalties and having their city water service disconnected. Cutoffs, Spraggins proposed, would not begin until water bills are issued for June.
That means, beginning June 10, 2021, the City of Sulphur Springs will resume disconnections and penalties for accounts that are past due. To avoid disconnection and penalties on balances accumulated through May 31, 2021, the account holder must go to the city’s Business Office, located at 125 South Davis St., where they will then complete and sign a payment agreement before June 7, 2021. While the payment plan can be for up to 24 months, the payment amount will be determined by the customer provided the account is caught up at the conclusion the 2 years. Utility customers should also be aware that only the person identified on the city account as the account holder will be able to discuss issues regarding an account and enter into a payment agreement. If a payment plan has not been established before June 7, 2021, the account will be subject to penalties and/or disconnection, and be required to pay the entire balance in full along with the $30 reconnection fee in order to restore service.
The City Council unanimously approved the resolution as proposed by Spraggins.
City Of Sulphur Springs Is Hiring
City Posts Listings For Job Opportunities
City workers were busy Wednesday morning putting up a “Now Hiring” sign outside the City of Sulphur Springs Service Center on Hillcrest. Several positions are open including full-time with benefits. You can check the latest opportunities on the city’s website by clicking here: City of SS Jobs. Applications can be picked up in person at 125 S. Davis Street in Sulphur Springs (water department). It appears that multiple positions are available in the Parks department, as well as the Capital Construction department.
