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DDT Planning City Hall Renovations, Seeks Community Support

Special to the Free Press
By TIM BEATY

Developing DeLeon Today (DDT) is a local economic development corporation incorporated in 1998 for the purpose of helping DeLeon grow. The Terrill Car Museum is an example of a project DDT has been involved in.

DDT is currently working toward restoration of the old depot building and renovations to DeLeon City Hall.

The City Hall project started as remodeling the restrooms, adding lights and sound to the stage area, and construction of a dressing room to the north end of the stage.

The scope of the project has increased significantly due to the interest of former DeLeon resident, Ben Barnes, as a memorial to his mother, Ina B. Barnes, who passed away in 2007.

Mr. Barnes contacted DDT in late 2007 wishing to do something for DeLeon to honor his mother who was a long time DeLeon resident. When informed of the pending City Hall project, Barnes requested bids on what was planned along with anything else DDT thought was needed on the project.

Consequently, painting the outside of the building, redoing the kitchen, and refinishing the auditorium floor was added to the original remodeling project.

DDT believes local involvement is vital in order for the town to have some sense of community. A meeting hosted by DDT was held at Hwy. 6 Café on June 19, 2008, to discuss different plans and various ways the people of DeLeon can become more actively involved in the community.

Representatives from the DeLeon Chamber of Commerce, Women’s Division of the Chamber of Commerce, Lions Club, Industrial Development Foundation, Masonic Lodge, ESA, Study Club, Order of the Eastern Star, Shakespeare Club, DeLeon High School Student Council, LULAC, Monday Night Dance Group, Theatre Group, DeLeon City Council, First National Bank, Farmers and Merchants Bank, and Citibank were in attendance.

Everyone present was excited about the ideas and many suggestions offered for the City Hall project. Each club agreed to discuss plans, along with a commitment of money and/or time with their respective group. This is an excellent opportunity for our town to come together on this project and improve our City Hall.

If you would like to have a part in this very worthwhile and important project please contact DDT at PO Box 395, DeLeon, Texas 76444. You may also call Betty Lowery at 893-5795 or Hiram Smith at 893-2262.

Commissioners Reinstate Total Burn Ban;

Approve Floodplain Permitting Requirements

By JERRY MORGAN, Reporter

COMANCHE -- Comanche County is once again under a total outdoor burn ban, along with roughly half of the counties in the state.

The burn ban, declared by the Commissioners Court on Monday, prohibits all controlled burns, all trash burns, even in enclosed containers, and open cooking fires.

The total burn ban is effective for 90 days or until earlier lifted. Outdoor cooking exceptions are allowed only for enclosed grills and cooking containers.

Outdoor welding is allowed only if a spotter with fire suppression is in attendance.

Also, beginning on October 1, all new construction and some remodeling and land development will be required to have a Floodplain Permit. The permit will cost $10, unless the site is located in an actual floodplain, when additional costs will be involved.

Commissiners Meeting

The Comanche County Commissioners Court met in regular session on Monday, July 14, with all members present. Judge James Arthur presided and Commissioners Garry Steele, Kenneth Feist, Bobby Schuman and Jimmy Dale Johnson attended.

Other officials present included County Clerk Ruby Lesley, County Auditor Joey Boswell, Sheriff Jeff Lambert, County Attorney Craig Willingham, Justice of the Peace Bill Koenig, County Treasurer Billy Ruth Rust, County Emergency Services Coordinator Ray Helberg, Assistant EMC Trish Grimshaw, Deputy Brian Robertson and Central Dispatch Supervisor Tammy Poteet.

Precinct 3 Commissioner-elect Sherman Sides was also present, along with Precinct 1 candidates Corky Underwood and David Rogers.

Joining the Buy Board Purchasing Cooperative

The first item of non-routine business was a proposal by Garry Steele for the county to join the so-called "Buy Board", which is a state sponsored agency named the Local Government Purchasing Cooperative.

Steele noted that the Buy Board solicits and approves bids for a wide range of equipment and commodities, including fuel, that are used by governmental entities.

There is no charge for membership, and all items listed may be purchased without the necessity of going through the otherwise required public bidding process. Fuel, in particular, is available.

Steele proposed that Comanche County again join the Buy Board cooperative and could consider it as a possible alternative source for fuel supplies when the existing contracts expire in September. He noted that the current price was less than five cents per gallon over the daily published price, whereas the county was currently paying 12-15 cents over the same price. The fuel would be delivered out of Fort Worth and there would be delivery charges involved.

"I'm going to recommend to this Court that we become a member of this Buy Board," Steele stated.
Joey Boswell noted that if the county joined the Buy Board that it would have a means of purchasing fuel without having to go through the public bidding process.

Garry Steele added that by joining, the County was not committing to purchasing fuel or anything else through it, but that it broadened the purchasing alternatives available on a lot of things, not just fuel. He added, "I don't see a downside to this."

Kenneth Feist made a motion to join, Jimmy Dale Johnson seconded, and the vote of approval was unanimous.

Burn Ban Declared

Ray Helberg was asked to speak regarding the burn ban. Before he began on that subject, however, he introduced the new Lake Manager for Proctor Lake, Titus Hardiman, a Corps of Engineers employee who has previously been working in Arkansas.

Hardiman noted that he was pleased to meet the Commissioners. They in return asked for copies of his business card.

Helberg then stated that the state-published drought index has Comanche County in the 500-600 range, on a scale that topped out at 800.

"It's not good, and it doesn't look like it's going to get any better," Helberg opined.

After discussion of dry, windy weather conditions and recent large and aggressive fires in the county and area, Bobby Schuman offered a motion to institute a total outdoor burn ban, allowing only cooking in enclosed containers and welding only with a fire spotter.

Garry Steele seconded and the vote of approval was unanimous.

Floodplain Permitting

Trish Grimshaw asked the Commissioners if they had studied the floodplain development permit application forms distributed at the previous Commissioners meeting.

Jimmy Dale Johnson asked if he was building outside a floodplain area if it would only cost $10 and was answered affirmatively.

For full article, subscribe to the DeLeon Free Press. E-mail edition is only $20/year.

Council Members Renew Contracts for Cemetery Maintenance,

Discuss Swimming Pool Situation

By LAURA KESTNER, Editor

A decision was made to renew contracts with Riggs Cemetery Service for maintenance at the DeLeon Cemetery, and with Donny Hardin for maintenance at the Gardens of Memory Cemetery during the regularly scheduled council meeting, Thursday, July 10, 2008.

It was noted that the new cemetery contracts reflected an increase in the monthly fees to help offset the rising cost of fuel. In response to a council member’s question on how Riggs Cemetery Service was “working out” it was noted that the city had received no complaints.

Council members present and participating in the meeting included Gayle Stroud, Avery Carlisle, Pauline Villarreal, Lee Childers and Mayor Danny Owen. Councilman Roy Dale Freeman was absent.

Also participating in the meeting were City Administrator Karen Wilkerson, Police Chief Ralph Dickey, Public Works Administrator Rob Duncan, Emergency Management Coordinator Ray Helberg and Sgt. Dustin Paulsen.

Chief Dickey discussed with council members the possibility of his officers pursuing on-line classes for their required training. After a brief discussion council members voted to table any action, pending further information.

In other business, council members:

• Approved the minutes for the June 26, 2008 meeting.

• Approved the tax statement for June 2008.

• Approved the second and final reading of Ordinance #006-08, regarding high weeds, accumulation of garbage, trash and debris, stagnant water and the discharge of sewage; and setting fees for brush pick-up.

• Approved, after a brief executive session, an increase in salary for Karen Wilkerson, who was recently appointed city administrator.

• Approved “going forward” with a contract with the Xerox Company for the city’s copying needs, depending on fees associated with termination of a previous contract.

• Approved the second and final reading of Ordinance #007-08; regarding flood damage prevention in the city.

• Approved, after a brief executive session, removing city worker Salvador Arenas from a probationary status.

• Approved accounts payable and payroll.

During the open discussion between city officials and city employees, Mayor Owen noted that the bridge was in place at the new community park, and that work was in progress to get the flooring back on the bridge. Since that process is costly, city officials, including Rob Duncan, discussed “possible ideas.”

“Karen was going to check and see if we could not totally deck the whole thing, which is 14-foot-wide, and see if we could make a 6-7-or 8 foot wide,” Duncan said. “It would cost us half as much money.”

It was noted that Wilkerson had received a bid of $25,000 for work on the bridge, “without the railings.”

"With the decking and the railings it would cost $47,000,” Wilkerson said.

“And I think we can do it for a lot less,” Duncan said, “if we can do it as we want. But she has to find out from TxDOT if we can do that.”

Mayor Owen also noted that the Peach and Melon Festival committee members were busy trying to get the fencing up at the new park, and that positive remarks regarding the park continue to be relayed to him.

Council member Gayle Stroud discussed the Developing DeLeon Today (DDT) organization, and noted that DDT member Tim Beaty had written a press release regarding the organization, and recent activities regarding proposed City Hall renovations, sponsored in part by the family of Ina B. Barnes.

Council member Pauline Villarreal said she’d had several citizens approach her regarding the city swimming pool situation.

“They would like a place for their children to go swimming,” Villarreal said. She added that although some people drive to the pool in Eastland, gas prices were making that more difficult, and that the prices for small backyard pools had gone up also, making them a less attractive option.

“I was just wondering if there was anything you could do about the situation,” Villarreal said.

“We checked into it last year,” Mayor Owen said, “and that time, to update our pool to (state) specifications, it was going to cost us right at $300,000. We looked at some other options, like possibly a splash pool, but that would have been $100,000. We had some citizens who were talking about trying to help us raise money.

For full article, subscribe to the DeLeon Free Press. E-mail edition is only $20/year.

Councilman Roy Dale Freeman Resigns

By LAURA KESTNER, Editor

The DeLeon City Council met in a special called session, Monday, July 14, 2008 to accept the resignation of Roy Dale Freeman, Council place 4. In a separate vote, council members agreed to wait until the May elections to seek a replacement.

Although no reason for the resignation was provided at the meeting, Freeman later told the Free Press that time constraints and health concerns were the primary reasons for his decision. He explained that on Thursdays (the day that regularly scheduled council meetings occur) he has a long-standing commitment to perform at area nursing homes. “There’s just too much to do on Thursdays,” Freeman said, “and I can’t give them old folks up.” He also acknowledged that he has recently suffered from health problems.

Freeman said he enjoyed his time on the council.

“I enjoyed serving with all of the council members,” he said. “They work hard, and do it for nothing. We need more folks doing that.”

Police Report More Abduction Attempts

DeLeon Police have reported yet another DeLeon area attempted abduction -- last week on CR 480 -- as well as one at the roadside park east of Dublin on Tuesday, July 8, bringing the area wide total to almost a dozen.

An investigation is underway, but no arrests had been made as of the Free Press print deadline.

The intended victim in the CR 480 incident was an adult female, while the roadside park incident involved two children and an adult female, with the suspect using his vehicle in an attempt to block their vehicle. Although the suspect has been unsuccessful in his abduction efforts thus far, law enforcement officers expressed concern that his attempts might grow violent.

So far, there appears to be only one incident where he’s used force, while at other times he’s attempted to coerce females into his vehicle.

The suspect is described as a white male in his 20s, driving a black 4-door Dodge pick-up, with Utah license plates.

Based on these incidents, the DeLeon Police Department urges all female citizens to use caution when alone and dealing with strangers until the suspect is apprehended.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the DeLeon Police Department at 893-3244, or the Comanche County Crime Stoppers at 325-356-3737.

Drowning at Proctor Lake

On Saturday, July 12, at around 6:30 p.m., Deputy Christina Pounds responded to a possible drowning in the Copperas Creek Day Use Area in front of the Dam at Lake Proctor.

Sheriffs Deputies along with the Comanche, Promontory, and Proctor Fire Departments and Texas Game Wardens searched the area where friends of the drowning victim last saw him.

After approximately two hours of searching, the victim was located. The victim, whose name is not being released for official notification of the family, is a 27-year-old Mexican national employed by a local farm and ranch.

The investigators believe that alcohol and the level of intoxication are causes of the accidental drowning.

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