Mother Accused Of Shaking Her Baby
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Investigators Wade Sheets and Michael Russell arrested a 23-year-old Sulphur Springs woman Sept. 2 on an abandoning or endangering of a child-criminal negligence charge. The mother is accused of shaking her baby.
The sheriff’s investigators reported contacting Rachael Marie Joslin at her residence after receiving information the woman shook her baby. Joslin allegedly admitted to being frustrated while feeding the baby about a month ago and shaking the child twice while at a Helm Lane address. She admitted the baby’s head moved forward, back, forward and back again at the time, the sheriff’s investigators alleged in arrest reports.
The woman was taken into custody at 10:45 a.m. Sept. 2 at her residence and transported to Hopkins County jail on the third-degree felony child endangerment charge. She remained in the county jail Sept. 3, according to 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.
Sulphur Springs Man Arrested On Sexual Assault Of A Child Charge
A 23-year-old Sulphur Springs man was arrested Sept. 2 on a sexual assault of a child charge, according to police reports.
Chasen Lane Beaver was taken into custody at 9:48 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. at Sulphur Springs Police Department, after he “admitted to having sexual intercourse and performing oral sex on” a 16-year-old female on or about July 15, 2020, at a Duckworth Street address, SSPD Det. Sgt. David Gilmore alleged in arrest reports.
Beaver was released from Hopkins County jail on Thursday, Sept. 3. The 23-year-old Sulphur Springs man’s bond was set at $25,000 on the second-degree felony sexual assault of a child charge, according to jail reports.
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.
Channel 18 Marks 30th Anniversary
Channel 18 has been there for all of the community events, happenings and special occasions. Today, the station marks a milestone of its own — the station’s 30th anniversary of operation.
The brainchild of Dwayne and Kelly Bradford Grimes, Channel 18’s official ribbon cutting was Sept. 3, 1990.
The station was created with the purpose of keeping Sulphur Springs informed of everything that was going on, everything that people needed to know, and continued to expand.
Channel 18 has continued to be your hometown station, documenting the events and news of Hopkins County as it develops. Featured local programming has included news, sports and weather events as they developed. For more than 25 years, Channel 18 carried educational and religious programming.
Bill Bradford, in addition to his news reports, made keeping the community informed of major weather events as they are developing a tradition.
In the early days, Peavine Pinion had a daily hunting and fishing show on Channel 18.
Bradford hosted an annual Halloween Costume event at Brookshire’s, assisted in the beginning by Jim Thompson, then, by KSST Morning Show host Enola Gay Mathews.
Initially, live broadcasts were only conducted at the studio. One of the first was the Symphony League’s radio/TV auction, held each year in the Channel 18 studio and is planned for November 2020.
Wildcat football games have been carried on Channel 18 all 30 years, with plans to do the same for the 2020 season with videographer Doug Haston and Sports Director Don Julian. The station now has the capabilities of doing live-stream games.
Channel 18 TV has also served the community by hosting live political forums, provided a live format for local residents and voters to call in and ask officials questions about topics on election ballots such as construction of a new library in the 600 block of Davis St. and Coleman Park. Some of the fun coverages have included interviews with youth players on summer ball teams, 4H Club events, elementary school assemblies and colorful segments of life in Hopkins County.
When Channel 18 was not live, pages would show obits, birthdays, anniversaries, lost animals and other community announcements.
Programs have been recorded on more than one medium, first on S-VHS, and changing with improvements in technology, including on DVDs and digital mini cassettes.
Channel 18 has had four news directors, who also served as sports announcers. The original news director was Cecil Savage. Jimmy Rogers and Don Julian are also among the news directors. Doug Haston has been with Channel 18 almost from the beginning; he was hired within a week of the station’s launch on a part time basis, but within a short time was hired full time as videographer.
Bill and Patsy Bradford bought out all other partners for KSST and Channel 18 in the mid-1990s. He continued as owner/operator until his death on Dec. 9, 2013. Dwayne and Kelly Bradford Grimes continued to operate Channel 18 and KSST for a short time after Bradford’s death.
In June 2014, Chad and Rhonda Young announced their intent to purchase both KSST Radio and Channel 18 TV station, pending FCC approval. They recently added KRVA-FM to the studio property as well.
Suddenlink Cable subscribers in Sulphur Springs and Como are viewers of Channel 18 TV. The 30th anniversary is being observed with the replaying of the 1990 ribbon cutting on Channel 18 today (Sept. 3, 2020).
Genealogical Fall Seminar To Be Offered Virtually and In-Person on September 19
Due to popular request, the day-long Genealogical Research Seminar to be presented by John Sellers on Saturday September 19, 2020 now has an added dimension to accommodate everyone interested in attending. The Seminar, a project of the Hopkins County Genealogical Society, has been expanded from an in-person setting to also include a virtual setting. Four topics to hone your researching skills will be covered, between 8:30am and 3:30Pm, with free time for lunch from 11:30am til 1pm.
A NOTE FROM ORGANIZERS: For those of you wishing to attend virtually, we will send a link to you via email on Friday, September 18, 2020, so that you can view and hear everything on your computer. Also attached to that email with the Zoom sign-in link will be the course syllabus. Cost of the seminar, whether in person or virtual, is $30.00, and virtual registration will end at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 17, 2020, so that we can send out the necessary sign-in email the next day. Please contact us at [email protected].
Registration for attending in person can be done up until the start of the first session, provided there is space available – we have to limit the number of attendees for social distancing, and attendees will need to wear masks.
Session topics are:
1. Researching Your Ancestors’ Plot of Dirt: The Adventures of Courthouse Land Research
2. What Do You Mean it Burned? Is All Your research Up in Smoke?
3. Women,That Gender You Can’t Do Without In Your Research
4. I Got a Match, What Now?
Cost to attend is $30 person whether in-person or on Zoom.
The seminar will be held inside the Winniford Building inside the Hopkins County Heritage Park, located at 416 Jackson Street. Registration can be done through the Hopkins County Genealogical Society Research Library by phone at 903-885-8523 or at [email protected]. Checks may be mailed to Hopkins County Genealogical Society Fall Seminar at P.O. Box 624, Sulphur Springs Tx. 75483.
John Sellers, a fifth-generation native of Hopkins County has been featured speaker at more than 60 all-day seminars located in Texas, Louisiana,Arkansas, New Mexico and Oklahoma.
4 Men, 1 Woman Jailed On Controlled Substance, Related Charges
At last five people, four men and 1 woman, have been jailed over the last 3 day on controlled substance or related charges, according to arrest and jail reports.
Lamar County Warrant Arrest
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputy Bobby Osornio contacted the occupants of a GMC Sierra 1500 early Monday morning, August 31, on Mulberry Street at Houston Street. A records check showed 21-year-old Heston Blaze Golightly of Sulphur Springs to be wanted in Lamar County, according to arrest reports. Deputy Nick Marney assisted with the traffic stop.
Golightly was taken into custody at 1:03 a.m. August 31 and jailed on the warrant for violation of probation, which he was on for a possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance; the offense, according to arrest reports, was alleged to have occurred on August 27, 2020. The truck was reportedly released by Golightly to a female passenger. He was released from Hopkins County jail later August 31.
Arkansas Warrant Arrest
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office was alerted that Divante Dvon Marbray was in custody at Dallas County jail in Arkansas on a Hopkins county warrant. Deputy Elijah Fite traveled to Fordyce, Arkansas, where he took Marbray into custody at 10:30 a.m. August 31, 2020.
Fite transported the 26-year-old El Dorado, Arkansas man to Hopkins County jail, where he was booked for violation of probation, which he was on for a 2018 possession of less than 2 gram of a Penalty Group 2 controlled substance. Marbray remained in Hopkins County jail September 2 on the felony charge.
Interstate 30 Methamphetamine Arrest
Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Britain Marlow reported stopping a Chevrolet Avalanche just before 7:30 p.m. August 31, on Interstate 30 at mile marker 127, for driving 80 miles per hour in a 75 mph speed zone.
The other occupants of the blue pickup reportedly kept talking to the trooper while he was trying to talk to the driver, so he asked the driver to step out of the truck so he could speak without interruption. The driver complied.
As he did, Marlow alleged seeing a baggy containing a crystal-like substance in the 18-year’s seat. Consequently, 18-year-old Gage Michell Cogswell of Eaton Rapids, Michigan was detained, and after admitting the substance was methamphetamine was arrested for possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance. Cogswell was issued a warning for the speeding violation.
Cogswell remained in Hopkins County jail September 2. Bond was set at $5,000 on the felony controlled substance charge.
Bond Revocation Arrest
Sarah Michelle Cline, 19, of Winnsboro turned herself in at 10:51 a.m. September 1 in the lobby at the sheriff’s office and was escorted into Hopkins County jail by Investigator Dennis Findley.
Cline was booked for bond revocation on manufacture or delivery of 4 grams or more but less than 400 grams of a Penalty Group 2 controlled substance and possession with intent to distribute 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 2 controlled substance charges.
She was on bond for the March 10, 2020 controlled substance charges; she allegedly arranged to sell Ecstasy online via a social media platform, then got caught attempting to deliver 8.5 grams of MDM. She also allegedly had 3.6 grams more of the substance, sheriff’s deputies alleged in the March arrest reports.
Cline remained in Hopkins County jail September 2.
Bond Forfeiture Arrest
HCSO Deputy Elijah Fite traveled to Edinburg, where Don Cornelius Aubrey was being housed at Segovia Unit. Fite transported Aubrey to Hopkins County jail on September 1. The 50-year-old Paris man was booked into Hopkins County jail for bond forfeiture on a tampering with or fabricating physical evidence with intent to impair charge.
The original tampering with evidence offense, according to arrest and jail reports, occurred on May 31, 2017. Aubrey remained in Hopkins County jail on September 2, 2020.
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.
Three Men Jailed in Hopkins County On Assault Charges
September 2, 2020 – Three men were jailed in Hopkins County from August 28 – September 1 on assault charges, two on felony offenses and one on a misdemeanor charge, according to arrest and sheriff’s reports.
A 59-year-old Saltillo man was taken into custody at 10 a.m. September 1 at his Saltillo residence by Hopkins County Sheriff’s Sgt. Shea Shaw and day shift deputies on warrant. Calvin Roy Helton was booked into Hopkins County jail on the aggravated assault of a date, family or household member with a deadly weapon warrant. The offense, according to arrest reports occurred on August 28 at a County Road 3432 residence.
Helton remained in Hopkins County jail Wednesday, September 2. Bond on the charge was set at $100,000.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Cpl. Todd Evans, Sgt. Richard Greer and Investigator Dennis Findley located Loren Lance Horner, who they knew to have an outstanding warrant for his arrest, in the front yard of a County Road 2215 residence at 11:07 a.m. August 28. The 36-year-old Sulphur Springs man was taken into custody and jailed on the outstanding family violence assault impending breathing charge. The offense, according to arrest reports, occurred on August 20, 2020.
Horner was released from jail August 29 on a $30,000 bond on the felony warrant.
A 50-year-old Sulphur Springs man was arrested by police at 11:14 p.m. August 28, at his Helm Lane residence on a Class A misdemeanor family violence assault causing bodily injury charge, according to arrest reports. He was accused of assaulting his wife, who was wearing a shirt that appeared to have been torn and had redness on her back, police alleged in arrest reports.
The Sulphur Springs man was released from Hopkins County jail Aug. 31 on a $2,000 bond.
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.
Hopkins County Sept. 2 COVID-19 Update: 3 New Positive Cases, 47 Active Cases
Hopkins County/Sulphur Springs Emergency Management officials reported 3 new positive COVID-19 cases, increasing the total of active cases to 47. No new recoveries were reported by the emergency management team during the Hopkins County Sept. 2 COVID-19 update.
The cumulative total of COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began in midMarch is 249, including 202 Hopkins County residents who have recovered from coronavirus.
Four patients were reported to be in the COVID-19 unit at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs, two less than on Tuesday, Sept. 1.
The emergency management officials reported 25 additional COVID-19 tests were conducted Sept. 1, for a total of 573 free tests conducted on-site at Hopkins County Regional Civic Center from Aug. 20-5 p.m. Sept. 1. Testing at the site ended at 5 p.m. Sept. 2. Anyone looking for a COVID-19 testing site should contact their physician for advisement or go online to GoGetTested.com to see locations outside of Hopkins County where free testing is being offered.
No new COVID-19 deaths were assigned to Hopkins County on the Texas Department of State Health Services COVID-19 Case Counts and County Trends reports on Sept. 2.
Texas Health and Human Services reported no active cases among the five child care centers listed for Hopkins County as of Sept. 1.
There have been no reports of COVID-19 resident cases at local nursing homes and no active cases among staff as of Aug. 19, according to HHS.
Only one assisted living facility in Sulphur Springs continued to report 6 active resident cases, 1 resident recovery and three employee recoveries as of Aug. 19, according to the HHS report.
Sulphur Springs ISD To Receive Additional Funding For Connectivity
Sulphur Springs ISD and Sulphur Bluff ISD are among many school districts across Texas that have taken advantage of money funneled through the state to help with technology and connectivity purchases related to COVID-19. Sulphur Springs ISD will receive additional funding for connectivity.
SSISD trustees this summer agreed to the purchase of 600 iPads and 100 AT&T hotspots to ensure district students have access to technology and to provide connectivity for more students who do not have internet for distance learning. The district already had 100 Verizon hotspots. The hope is that the additional hotspots will help provide service for students who do not have internet service at home and for whom the Verizon hotspots won’t reach.
The state has already agreed to pay half the cost and the district will pay the other half. SSISD officials have since learned that if other local entities are willing to help with the cost by contributing some of the CARES Act funding awarded to that city or county, the state also will match that amount dollar for dollar provided the connectivity request is COVID-19 related, SSISD Superintendent Michael Lamb explained to Sulphur Springs City Council Tuesday night.
SSISD officials have contacted both City of Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County officials to see if each would consider contributing CARES Act funding.
Sulphur Springs ISD asked the city for $31,950. Sulphur Springs City Council gave unanimous approval to designate the requested city CARES funding to help SSISD provide the needed technology and connectivity for students.
“Guys, I can’t say thank you enough. You guys are awesome, appreciate it very much,” Lamb said.
SSISD is seeking funding help from the Hopkins County as well.
“The county is considering doing the same things, but the county has 6 other schools as well SSISD to consider,” Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom County said Wednesday.
Lamb Tuesday acknowledge that while the county may not be able to contribute as much as the city because any available county CARES funding likely will be divided between the seven school districts in Hopkins County, any additional funding the county can provide will be appreciated.
At SSISD, 834 students were enrolled Monday in Virtual Academy, offered for families who opted for out of face-to-face instruction on the school campuses this semester.
Enrollment as of Monday, Aug. 31 at SSISD, for each campus was as follows:
- Douglas ECLC – 141 face-to-face students, 47 VA students (25 percent)
- Bowie Primary – 257 face-to-face, 55 VA (18 percent)
- Barbara Bush Primary – 274 face-to-face, 61 VA (18 percent)
- Lamar Primary – 230 face-to-face, 49 VA (18 percent)
- Travis Primary – 225 face-to-face, 66 VA (23 percent)
- SSES – 544 face-to-face, 119 VA (18 percent)
- SSMS – 911 face-to-face, 197 VA (18 percent)
- SSHS – 240 VA students (20 percent)
Yantis Man Caught With Heroin, Pills, Marijuana, Methamphetamine
A 36-year-old Yantis man allegedly lead officers in a foot pursuit before being caught with heroin, pills, marijuana and methamphetamine, according to Sulphur Springs Police Department Special Crimes Unit investigators.
The SCU officers had been investigating Adam Joshua Hodges for suspected illegal distribution of controlled substances. Methamphetamine was allegedly purchased from Hodges during an undercover buy, SCU Lt. Mark Estes reported. Officials then obtained a warrant for Hodges’ arrest and were conducting surveillance Wednesday, watching for his vehicle in an effort to make an arrest, according to the SCU investigator.
Estes and SCU Sgt. Joe Scott reported first seeing the vehicle being driven by Hodges around 1:25 p.m. September 2 on College Street. Officers attempted a traffic stop, but the car continued into the 200 block of Morris Drive before stopping. The driver, identified by officers as Hodges, then jumped out of the car and ran. Estes and Scott, along with SSPD Officer Sean Hoffman who had responded to assist, chased after the man. Hodges ran through a yard and jumped two fences before being caught in a field behind a residence.
The 36-year-old Yantis man allegedly had a baggy containing what were believed to be 4.54 grans if hydrocodone pills in his pocket and had a bag containing smaller bags that had 18.73 grams of suspected methamphetamine and 1.38 grams of suspected heroin in them. A 5-gallon bucket found in the trunk of the car reportedly contained 4.85 pounds of marijuana as well, according to the SCU officers, according to the SCU officers.
Consequently, Hodges was arrested at 1:51 p.m. September 2 on the manufacture or delivery of 4 grams or more but less than 200 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance warrant, as well as possession of 4 grams or more but less than 200 grams of a controlled substance with intent to distribute it, possession of marijuana and evading arrest with previous conviction charges, according to the SCU officers and arrest reports.
The Sept. 2 arrest marked the second time in less than 2 weeks and third time this summer that Hodges has been booked into Hopkins County jail on a controlled substance charge.
He was most recently arrested Aug. 21 on a possession of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance. On August 21 authorities went to a Georgia Street residence to investigate suspected selling of narcotics. Officers reported seeing a methamphetamine pipe and several pieces of a crystal-like substance suspected to be meth on the night stand in the front bedroom. Authorities also found 3.23 grams of suspected methamphetamine in the top drawer of the night stand, according to the Aug. 21 arrest report. Hodges was released from jail Aug. 22 on a $10,000 bond.
Hodges also was arrested July 23, 2020 on possession of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance, tampering with evidence with intent to impair and evading arrest or detention charges. He was allegedly spotted near a Georgia Street back yard and took off running when deputies approached him. Officers found him in a garage down the street, but he again ran and was apprehended on Lee Street. A bag with more than one pill later determined to be morphine was allegedly found along the path Hodges had attempted to elude officers. He was released from jail July 24 on a $10,000 bond on that controlled substance charge, $10,000 bond on the tampering with evidence charge and $2,000 bond on the evading arrest or detention charge.
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.
3 Ordinances Receive Final Approval, 4 Ordinances Introduced At Sulphur Springs City Council Meeting
Three ordinances received final approval following public hearings and four additional city ordinances were introduced at the Sulphur Springs City Council meeting Tuesday night, September 1, 2020. A “commercial-industrial” reinvestment zone; involvement in Sulphur River Basin Authority; and contracts for masonry, concrete and steel for the new Grays Building were also considered.
Ordinances Approved
The City Council approved, on the second and final reading, amendments to zoning ordinances which define and establish eligibility and design standards for accessory dwelling units. This effort will maximize available space and infrastructure while providing additional housing within the city limits. The amendments will also define permanent makeup and cosmetic tattoos as services which salons and beauty shops in multifamily dwelling and certain commercially zoned districts will be allowed to provide as ancillary services without requiring a special use permit.
Also approved on the second and final reading is an ordinance amending the 2019-20 budget ordinance. The total budget appropriation change is for $1,065,528, this includes adjustments for CARES Act grant funding, fees and funds associated with the park improvement projects, as well as debt service adjustments.
Introduced Ordinances
The Council approved on first reading four ordinances, which will be heard again at a future meeting before a final vote is taken.
After a public hearing regarding the proposed city property tax, the council heard on first reading an ordinance to set the tax rate at 44-cents per $100 property valuation.
City Finance Director Lesa Smith said the wording of the proposed ordinance may seem like the tax rate is being increased, but it is not. Property value increases account for a 0.16 percent tax revenue increase, which requires a public hearing as worded. This is the same tax rate the city has had for at least 18 years, according to the city manager.
The Council also heard the first reading of the appropriations ordinance for the 2020-21 budget as proposed by city staff. The budget is very similar to the 2019-2020 budget approved last year, with a few capital construction projects changing, but no other major changes. This year, the budget reflects funding related to the planned construction of the Grays Building, Pacific Park improvements and Senior Citizens Center projects in the works, according to city officials. The proposed 2020-21 budget is available for download on the city website, sulphurspringstx.org, by selecting the Required Tax Rate and Budget Posting link from the main page.
Also introduced was Ordinance No 2272, which authorizes updated service credits, which enhance each retirement account of current employees for inflationary factors above specific thresholds. This is designed to help balance the lower amounts paid earlier in the city employee’s career with inflation increases over time.
City officials reported this simply updates service credits for all current full-time city employees. The city’s 2021 TMRS contribution rate is 7.76 percent without updated service credits and increases to 8.12 percent with the adoption of updated service credits. The funded ratio will decrease from 94.8 percent to 94.2 percent. The cost for the updated service credits is estimated at $32,690.63 for the 2021 funding year.
Community Development Director Tory Niewiadomski presented on first reading a proposed ordinance which established the 4,857-acre coal mine property now owned by the city and annexed into the city limits as a commercial-industrial reinvestment zone. Establishing a reinvestment district would allow the city to issue time limited tax abatements on properties within the district if substantial enhancements or upgrades are made to the property in the area that help promote economic development in the city. This would serve as placeholder help initiate investment potential. Approving the reinvestment zone would not, however, guarantee issuance of a tax abatement; it would simply give the city the ability to grant one if desired in the future, the city officials noted.
EDC Budget
The $2 million Sulphur Springs-Hopkins County Economic Development Corporation budget, presented by Executive Director Roger Feagley, was also approved.
Feagley reported the budget has very little change, but does include the $200,000 approved by taxpayers to go to the city for the senior center and Pacific Park improvements. Most line items, he reported, will stay the same. Personnel will continue to account for 22 percent of the budget, promotions 5 percent (allowable is 10 percent), 23 percent to debt service. There are no budgeted capital projects this year. A 1 percent increase is budgeted for operations, but the “unallocated” fund was adjusted by 1 percent. Unallocated funds include “everything left over from the budget coming in, which can be used to pay incentives out of.
Grays Building
The City Council also approved contractors for masonry construction, building concrete and structural steel materials for the new Grays Building in Pacific Park.
The city and Tandem Consulting sent out notices to more than 50 potential bidders for four work categories and received 5 responses. Two were considered “non-responsive” because they did not meet bid specifications, particularly the requirement to submit a bid bond for amounts over $100,000. They did not.
Sulta Manufacturing’s bid of $60,310 was approved for steel materials. These bids came in a little higher than anticipated. Potts Concrete’s bid of $136,887 was accepted for concrete construction. J&J Masonry’s bid of $39,685 was accepted for masonry work.
Executive Session
The City Council, after an executive session, reconvened. A motion was made giving the city manager authorization for an agreement with a consulting firm for future economic development services.
Sulphur River Basin Authority
A resolution authorizing $25,000 a year for 5 years in fees and dues for involvement in the Sulphur River Authority was presented for City Council consideration.
“I think we should support the Sulphur River Authority, which regulates the affairs of the Sulphur River basin. If there’s a future water project on river, and I believe will be, they’ll have a great deal to say on how that gets managed. I expect see movement in 3-5 years. That means we pledge membership to the organization,” City Manger Marc Maxwell said. “This will show local support for the organization to avoid sun-setting and give more clout on how water should be managed in the basins.”
The resolution received council approval. This is listed as dues and membership in the city’s utility billing budget.
Other Items
The City council also approved a resolution calling for the annual review of Investment Policy as required by the Public Funds Investment Act. It is unchanged, Smith said.
Transfer of an airport ground lease agreement for Lot 1220-15b from Steve Hudson to Brian and Mattie Jacobs was approved.
An emergency mutual aide agreement between the cities of Sulphur Springs and Commerce was approved. Sulphur Springs Fire Chief David James reported the cities have had an unofficial agreement in place for sharing resources if needed. This would make it official. This would allow the each department to send additional apparatus or staff to assist in emergency situations if requested.
The city also agreed to allow the police department to spend $22,500 from the asset forfeiture fund for department purchases.
A resolution approving a negotiated settlement between Atmos Cities Steering Committee and Atmos Energy Corporation, Mid-Tex Division was approved by the council. This is something that comes up annually, which shapes the amount of rate increases the company charges. Atmos had proposed a $141.2 million settlement largely due to significant repairs to the system, but the committee negotiated it down to $90 million. The approximate impact on the average residential bill will an increase of about $5.15 or 9.9 percent and for commercial use by about $15.48 or 6.56 percent per month, according to Maxwell.
