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By JERRY MORGAN, Reporter

If there is a recession in our national economy, it is not showing up in the sales tax receipts in the area.

Most economic observers agree that a slowdown, if not a recession, is currently underway. A recession is defined as six months of continuing economic contraction.

Many economists agree that sales tax collections are one of the better indicators of local area aggregate economic activity.

Therefore, most economists would agree that our area has thus far managed to escape the economic slowing that is plaguing many parts of the nation, since sales tax collections for 2008 for this area are all up.

Sales tax collections for four months in 2008 are $58,168, up 2.7% over the prior year¹s $56,661. Sales tax receipts for the same periods for Comanche County are up 13.9%, powered by a whopping 24.5% increase in the City of Comanche.

Dublin's sales tax receipts are basically flat, yet up slightly at .8% over the prior year. Gorman's receipts, however, are strongly up, runnng animpressive 26.3% ahead of last year.

Statewide, sales tax collections are up 6.4% in the first four months of 2008.

Sales tax receipts reported in a given month are based upon sales tax collections two months earlier, thus the four month figures in April actually reflect activity in November through February.

By JERRY MORGAN, Reporter

COMANCHE -- The non-profit corporation that provides treated water to many rural areas in the county held its annual membership meeting last Friday evening.

The Comanche County Water Supply Corporation board and a small crowd of members met on April 18 at the Comanche Community Center.

Board president Norman Williams opened the meeting by declaring the voting closed in the directors election. He appointed Board secretary/treasurer Sam Robinett as election judge to count the votes.

Later in the meeting, Robinett announced that current board member Willem Terpstra had been re-elected as a board member, and Justin Chandler, who had earlier been appointed to fill a vacancy created by a resignation, was elected for the first time. Both were elected for three year terms.

Other Board members Williams introduced in addition to Robinett, Terpstra and Chandler, were vice president David Ward and members Connie Keith and Jerry Morgan.

Newly hired office manager Barbara Helberg was introduced to the meeting.

System engineer Randy Beyer with Jacob & Martin in Abilene was the first to make a presentation to the meeting.

Beyer said that the second phase of a major water system expansion was nearing completion, and was expected to be fully placed into service in June or July. He noted that the southeastern portion of the expansion, centered along Highway 36 between Gustine and Comanche, was virtually complete with meters in place.

Beyer referred to a large map of the water system as he described how the original expansion plans had to be curtailed as rising costs and growth in water meter demand pushed against a fixed amount of funds available.

Funding for the $2.5 million phase II expansion was provided by the USDA’s Rural Development agency $1.8 million grant and $700 thousand loan made on June 11, 2007.

Phase II expansion construction began in the fall on the Comanche/Gustine section, and is now continuing in the Sidney and Sipe Springs areas along Highway 36.

Beyer noted that the original phase II plans called for the installation of 90 meters, and that thus far an additional 82 meters have been installed.

Water system manager Joe Williams spoke briefly stating that the system was working well. He displayed and passed around a water system meter and pointed out the small turning wheel in the middle of the dial that would reveal if the water user had a leak in their home plumbing.

Board president Norman Williams then spoke. He noted that phase II construction had begun in October and that he was very well satisfied with the contractor.

Williams further discussed how that rising fuel and materials costs and a fixed amount of available funding had caused the elimination of some closed loops that would be beneficial for water system operation. Service to some isolated potential customers also had to be eliminated.

Williams then described steps that he and the board were taking to secure additional loan and grant funding to reach additional customers and close system loops. He had met with the Comanche County Commissioners Court on Monday of that same week and secured their approval for the county to sponsor grant applications and to administer any funds awarded.

The board is currently interviewing grant writers and expects to know by year end whether additional funds might be available. Williams added that Comanche County should score well in grant competitions due to its water needs and modest income levels.

Williams noted that the annual financial audit had recently been completed with a clean opinion and said that a copy was available if anyone wished to review it.

An earnings statement for 2007 was included in the meeting information packets. True to its legal status, the CCWSC did not earn a profit, but lost $65,000. Non-cash depreciation expense more than accounted for the loss.

Although Williams did not touch on the subject during his presentation, during the preceding year the Comanche County Water Supply Corporation has purchased and remodeled the property at 800 S. Texas Street to serve as its corporate offices.

As a matter of regular business during their monthly meeting held April 21, 2008, in the Board Room of the District Support Center, the DeLeon ISD Board of Trustees set the start date for the 2008-09 school year as Monday, August 25, 2008.

Teachers and staff will begin school on Monday, August 18 with staff development activities and administrative meetings. Time will also be provided for staff to prepare their rooms for the first day with students. The calendar is similar to this school year’s, except for ending the semester after Christmas and working the exam schedule with the local county livestock show to be held on January 12, 2009.The last day of school for students will be May 28 and graduation for the Class of 2009 will be held on Saturday, May 30 at 2:00 in the high school gymnasium.

The adoption of math materials for the grades kindergarten through fifth was approved. The “Envision” math series was selected by the teaching staff from the state adopted textbook list following review of all series and input from the educational service center. The new series will be used beginning next school year.

Proposals for possible repairs for the high school gymnasium roof were reviewed by the Board. Leaks on the south end of the facility in the dressing room area led the administration to seek proposals to deal with the problem. After discussion of the age of the building, the Board directed the administration to see if any warranty still existed on the original roof. The Board will revisit the issue next month once the administration determines what warranty might exist on the roof.

Revised cheerleader constitution/guidelines was presented to the Board for consideration and approval. The new guidelines will be effective for the coming school year and the selection process that will occur next month. The guidelines will increase the number of cheerleaders to 12 for both the high school and middle school squads. The middle school squads will include six students from both seventh and eighth grade, while the high school squad sets no specifications for student representation from each grade. Eligibility requirements will follow the standards set by the University Interscholastic League. The final change affects the selection of the high school mascot which will now be selected by a panel of judges, in the same manner as cheerleaders.

The Board was briefed on the remodeling/renovations of the District Support Center. The facility is nearing completion with the final punch list now being attended to by district maintenance staff. The overall cost of the renovations to the district will be approximately $52,000, with the total cost of renovations being $127,000.

The remaining $75,000 is being paid by entities that are taking space to be occupied in the facility, including the Comanche Special Services Coop/SSA and Educational Service Center Region 14. The district is also utilizing state monies made available through its credit recover program to cover the cost of locating that program in the facility. Originally, the administration budgeted $50,000 in local funds for renovations/remodeling cost for the facility, so the target was exceeded by only $2,000.

The Board was briefed on staffing patterns for the coming school year. Overall, the teaching staff will be reduced by two slots due to resignations. The responsibilities of these positions will be absorbed in other parts of the schedule. The administration also noted that there would be a reduction in clerical staff by one position by the beginning of the new school year due to reorganization plans that are being implemented.

A report was given on the current status of the various property acquisitions of the district. The property located at 301 Manchaca now belongs to the school district. The property will be used as a teacherage in the short term, with long term plans being reviewed. The transaction transferring ownership of the city baseball/softball field to the school district is nearing completion, with a closing date at the end of the month now being considered.

A waiver application for instructional days missed due to the illness outbreak in February was approved by the Board for submission to the state educational agency. The state allows districts to waive days lost for such purposes with proper application as required.

Test scores for the most recent administration of the state assessment in the area of reading and math were presented by the administration. Overall scores in reading are up for the district with 98% of third graders, 86% of fifth graders, and 92% of eighth graders meeting state standards. In math, 70% of fifth graders and 73% of eighth graders meet state standards. Plans for assisting students that did not meet standards in reading and math were reviewed. Students in these grades have two more opportunities to pass these particular tests in order to meet state requirements for promotion to the next grade. The next major round of testing occurs next week and will affect students in grades 3-11.

A Candidates Forum, hosted by the Womens’ Division Chamber of Commerce, is scheduled for Friday, April 25, 2008 at the DeLeon City Hall auditorium beginning at 7 p.m.

Any candidate who is running for public office for the May 10 City Election is invited to participate in the forum. Event organizers encourage all voters to “Come out and meet the candidates and listen to what they have to say.”

Womens’ Division members will furnish cookies, tea and coffee for candidates and the general public who attend the forum. Marsha England will serve as emcee for the event and Ruby Park will be the official timekeeper.

Candidates include Danny Owen and Cameron Canterbury for Mayor; Marion Quade and Pauline Villarreal for City Council Place 2, and Lee Childress, running unopposed for City Council Place 1.

There are two seats up for re-election on the DISD Board of Trustees, and candidates include Dr. Brandon Gilmore (incumbent), Lisa Nowlin (incumbent) and Zachary Paul. The two candidates with the most votes will win.

For the Comanche County Medical Center Hospital Board both Gayle Easley (incumbent) and Dr. Larry Damron have filed for Place 3, and Charles Mazurek, (running unopposed) has filed for Place 4.

At press time there was no word on how many of the contestants would be participating in Friday night’s Forum, but organizers were hoping for 100 percent participation.

The Comanche County Grand Jury returned a total of 20 indictments Friday, April 18. The indictments that can be released at this time are: James David Tyler Gardner, DeLeon, evading arrest with vehicle; Fernando Anthony Rangel, DeLeon, DWI third or more; Adriel Alfonso Tobar, DeLeon, injury to a child; James Lee Dyer, Brownwood, DWI, third or more; James Isaac Ray, Crowley, possession of methamphetamine; Mario Gonzales Frausto, Comanche, forgery; Mario Gonzales Frausto, Comanche, burglary of a habitation; Daniel Anthony Sims, Dublin, credit/debit card abuse; LaJane Davis Sheldon, Ft. Worth, theft over $20,000; Kenneth Ray Robinson, Jr., Comanche, indecency with a child by contact; Jimmy Ray Padilla, Comanche, hinder secured creditors; Aaron Bradley Patrick, Comanche, possession of methamphetamine; John Dawson Hicks, Comanche, possession of methamphetamine; Juan Rosas, incarcerated in Comanche, DWI w/child passenger; Tony Aldape, Comanche, evading arrest with vehicle; Emily Deloera, incarcerated in Comanche, possession of cocaine; and Lynsey Erin Lewis, Cisco, fraud possession of prescription.

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