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Rains Prompt Burn Ban Lifting

By JERRY MORGAN, Reporter

COMANCHE -- The numerous calls that have been coming in to various members of the Commissioners Court concerning the status of the previously declared total burn ban was the first topic of discussion at their most recent meeting.

The Commissioners met on Monday, August 18, for the primary purpose of working on the county's budget for the next fiscal year which begins in October.

All members, Judge James Arthur and Commissioners Garry Steele, Kenneth Feist, Bobby Schuman and Jimmy Dale Johnson were present to take care of a few action items prior to sharpening their pencils for budget work.

It only took around one minute for Emergency Services Coordinator Ray Helberg to inform the Commissioners that the Texas Forest Service considers Comanche County to be in an area of very low wildfire danger and for Bobby Schuman to make a motion to lift the burn ban.

Jimmy Dale Johnson immediately seconded and the vote of approval was unanimous.

Judge Arthur then requested Ray Helberg to immediately call the radio stations and advise them that burning was once again allowed in the county.

Information on the burn ban status may be found at www.comanchefire.com.

The next order of business involved a letter received in the preceding week from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Temple regarding an earlier application by Comanche County for assistance in dealing with flood damages to roads, bridges and utilities in 2007.

The letter advised that the NRCS is committing $412,745 to Comanche County as a 75% match to cover flood damage repair costs for projects that have not already been completed and funded from other sources.

The letter stipulated that the list of priority repair sites be provided to the local NRCS office by August 29.

The Commissioners noted that the August 8 letter was received at the courthouse on August 13, and that very little time was allowed for response. It was also noted that much flood repair damage work had already been completed with Federal Emergency Management Agency funding. Several instances of unrepaired bridge damage were discussed, however.

There was uncertainty about how the county should proceed in seeking the available NRCS funds, however, the Commissioners unanimously approved a motion by Jimmy Dale Johnson, seconded by Garry Steele, to pursue the grant funds.

Commissioners agreed among themselves that an early visit to the Comanche NRCS office was needed.
The next matter considered was the terms of renewal of the county's group medical insurance policy.
County Treasurer Billy Ruth Rust commented that the cost to renew the existing policy with the same level of benefits had increased by $12.54 per month per employee to a total of $576.29. The percentage cost increase is 2.2%.

Garry Steele offered a motion to renew the policy, which is offered through the Texas Association of Counties, as is. Kenneth Feist seconded and the motion was approved unanimously.

Rust noted that the county would receive a credit of $82,577 from TAC and that it would be credited back to the precincts and various county offices pro rata to the expense incurred.

The final item of new business considered involved another presentation by Billy Ruth Rust, this time concerning the county's retirement benefits plan.

Rust noted that the cost for the same level of retirement benefits would involve an increase of .11% to 9.09% of employee pay, up from 8.98% in the current year. Employees also contribute another 5% of their pay toward the plan.

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Council Discusses Tax Rate and Trash Disposal

By LAURA KESTNER, Editor

Tax rates and trash disposal were among the topics discussed at the most recent regularly scheduled meeting of the DeLeon City Council, Thursday, August 14, 2008.

Council members Lee Childers, Pauline Villarreal, Gayle Stroud and Mayor Danny Owen were present, with Councilman Avery Carlisle absent. Also present were City Administrator Karen Wilkerson, Police Chief Ralph Dickey, Sgt. Dustin Paulsen and Public Works Administrator Rob Duncan.

After addressing several routine agenda items, Mayor Owen asked Wilkerson to clarify the agenda item regarding the effective tax rate.

“The tax rate for this past year, for 07-08, was .60 (60 cents per $100 valuation tax rate), and our tax revenue was $321,804.45,” Wilkerson said. “The effective tax rate for 2008-2009 would be .5616 with an increase of $1,239.12.” Wilkerson noted that that was an increase of .38 percent.

“We can stay at the .60,” Wilkerson said, “and have an increase of $23,327.57 which is an 6.76 percent increase. It would just require us to hold two public hearings like we did last year. I just need to know if you want to go with the effective tax rate, or stay at the .60.”

“I would encourage council to consider the .60,” Mayor Owen said, “due to the simple fact that we’ve had so many price increases in materials, and fuel, and so forth. I know our citizens are hammered in every way possible, but I don’t want our city to get to the point that we have to cut services. We’ve operated on such a shoe-string budget the last few years that we have a dire need to replace some equipment. And I’m afraid if we hold back anything here we’re not going to be able to accomplish some stuff that we need to do over the next year. That’s just my input to you as council members. That’s just the way I feel. You have your right to vote and disagree with me if you want to.”

All council members indicated their agreement.

“We had a few years where we didn’t do anything (on the tax rate),” Owen said, “and it’s good that we didn’t do it at the time, but it really created a hardship for the city, as far as having additional income, since we are so limited in the area where we do generate revenue for city operations. I’m not pleased to have to pay more taxes either, but we’ve got to keep our head above water.”

Council members then voted unanimously in favor of the .60 tax rate, and set public hearing dates for August 28 and September 2, both beginning at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall.

Mayor Owen also discussed problems at the DeLeon City Park. “I had a grandparent mention to me that we had some broken playground equipment at the City Park,” Owen said. “I asked Chuck to go over and make a list.”

Owen then listed some needed repairs, including broken swing seats, see-saws “that don’t see-saw anymore” and a slide “with some issues.”

After some discussion, council members voted to let city officials pursue the necessary repairs.

Mayor Owen then noted that council would take a 10 minute break for a small reception.

“Several meetings ago we were discussing some things and it came to our attention that when we moved Karen up to city administrator that Council wanted to show some appreciation to her for doing such an excellent job,” Owen said. “So Karen, on behalf of the City, and myself, (reading from a plaque) With thanks and gratitude to Karen Wilkerson for all you do to make DeLeon a great place to live and work.”

Wilkerson then expressed her appreciation and cake and punch were served in the city office.  See photo below.

In other business, council members:

• Approved the minutes of the July 24, 2008 meeting.

• Approved the July 2008 Tax Statement.

• Voted to purchase the current City Hall copier, move it to the Police Department, and pursue a lease agreement with Xerox for a City Hall copier.

In the open discussion between city officials and city employees Mayor Owen noted that Cpl. Ben Rowell and the new drug dog, Pepper, were at K-9 training school in Abilene and would be back soon. Mayor Owen noted also, among other things, that budget workshops would start the next week for council members.

Council member Pauline Villarreal then discussed citizen concerns presented to her regarding 18-wheelers and whether they could be parked in front of the truck driver’s “own home.”

There was then a general discussion regarding truck parking, and it was noted that parking in front of homes was a violation of both local ordinances and state laws.

During the ensuing conversation on parking possibilities and difficulties, Chief Dickey noted that he’d recently published the most current state and local laws (which is reprinted here): For the drivers of commercial motor vehicles (CMV). State Law: Transportation Code Sec. 545.307, states: Parking a CMV on or adjacent to a residential subdivision, or within 1,000 feet of a residence, school, place of worship, or public park between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. is prohibited with a fine up to $200.

City Ordinance #006-04: states, among other things:

• Trailers and Commercial Vehicles shall NOT be parked upon any public way in the City.

• Diesel powered tractors and truck-tractors shall NOT be left with the engine running inside the City limits for an extended time, except in designated parking areas (the truck parking lot in about the 200 block of W. Almante.)

• Commercial Vehicle Parking. It shall be unlawful for any person or any owner to leave, park or stand any commercial vehicle, truck-tractor, road tractor, semi-trailer, bus, truck or trailer with a rated capacity in excess of one ton, according to the manufacturer’s classification, upon any public street or highway within the City Limits. This shall not prevent the parking or standing of the above-described vehicles in said areas for the purpose of expeditiously loading and unloading of passengers, freight or merchandise, but not otherwise.

A violation of the City Ordinance on truck parking can result in a fine up to $500.

Councilman Lee Childers then discussed possible safety concerns at the tractor pull area.

“When you go to a football, baseball, or basketball game, you’ll see around the sides they’ll have...(advertising) signs all the way around,” Childers said. “And I was thinking that at the tractor pull we could get some 4x8 sheets of plywood and figure out a way to sell (and erect) signs all the way around it” adding that if “something happens, and something breaks” out there the consequences would be bad.

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

Grand Jury Returns Indictments
No DeLeon Residents Named

COMANCHE -- The Comanche County Grand Jury met and returned a total of 29 indictments on August 15.

On Tuesday, August 19, District Clerk Brenda Dickey released a list of 25 separate indictments naming 19 individuals. Four indictments remained sealed until the persons named are arrested.

Indictments released are:

Paul Richard Bullard, Denton, DWI with Child Passenger

Jose Guadalupe Sanchez, Stephenville, DWI, 3rd or More

Javier DelaCruz, Lingleville, Unauthorized Use of Motor Vehicle

Brandon Kemalle Williams, Abilene, Burglary of Habitation

Rocky Dee Hidrogo, Jr., Comanche, Burglary of Habitation (three indictments)

Edward Duane Ray, Jr., Comanche, Burglary of Habitation (four indictments)

Anthony Wayne Byrd, Comanche, Manufacture or Delivery of Methamphetamine

Mario Alberto Gonzalez, Comanche, Unauthorized Use of Motor Vehicle

Leslie Daniels, Comanche, DWI with Child Passenger

Joe David Flores, Fort Worth, Possession of Methamphetamine

Derek Avery Guill, Comanche, Possession of Methamphetamine

Ricky Lynn Deaver, May, Possession of Methamphetamine

Maria Michelle Standefer, May, Possession of Methamphetamine

Tye Truett Scribblen, Comanche, Possession of Methamphetamine

Colton Shane Colcleasure, Stephenville, Burglary of Building

Kenneth Ray Robinson, Jr., Comanche, Failure to Register as Sex Offender (two indictments)

B.J. Hines, Comanche, Burglary of Habitation

Jose Anthony Lorta, Proctor, Burglary of Habitation

Andrew William Ward, Comanche, Theft of Firearm

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