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Glasscock County News
County Discusses New
Budget With
Glasscock County’s 2001 taxable value at $448 million, according to figures
from Chief Tax Appraiser Royce Pruit, up
$114 million from last year, the Glasscock County Commissioners’ Court
began work on the 2001-2002 budget at its regular meeting Aug. 13. Based on a
preliminary tax rate of 41 cents per $100 valuation, estimated revenues are
$2.1 million, with projected expenditures of $2.6 million. Water system
revenues are expected to be $54,000, with expenses of $53,000. The
county’s effective tax rate, the rate required to raise the same monies as
last year, is .4180; the maximum rate without publishing notice and holding a
public hearing is .4306, and the roll-back rate is .4449. Budget
figures at this point are preliminary, and will be discussed again at a
special meeting at 9 a.m. Aug. 20. County Treasurer Alan Dierschke said the
budget should be final by the end of August. If increases in salaries,
expenses or allowances are to be given to elected officials, notice of such
increases must be published 10 days before the budget is set.
Raises Requested Dierschke
reported that Sheriff Royce “Booger” Pruit has requested raises of $2400 each
for himself and two deputies, and raises of $1200 for each of the two clerks
in his department. Pruit now is paid
$34,100 as sheriff and $12,500 as the county’s chief appraiser. Deputy Zunker
is now paid $26,100, and Deputy Burnett now makes $22,100 plus $1200 as jail
custodian. Valeria Hoelscher is paid $23,300; Nancy Hillger makes $21,800.
Commissioner Hugh Schafer said he would be more comfortable with an increase
of $1500 each for the sheriff and deputies, and said the sheriff’s clerks
each got a $1200 raise last year. Constable Leroy Hoelscher, who makes $7800
(plus $1200 as a jailer), has asked for a $2400 increase in his constable’s
salary. Tisha Burnett is listed as a sheriff’s office dispatcher at a salary
of $8200 for 30 hours work weekly, plus $1200 as a jailer. Three jailers’
positions are listed, but the commissioners were unsure who the third jailer
is, and asked County Judge Wilburn Bednar to check with Sheriff Pruit. Custodian Salary Increases Commissioners
decided to raise the courthouse custodian and grounds keeper’s salary from
$20,300 to $24,000, and to include cemetery grounds keeping in the job. That job will ultimately include the
community center building and lawn. County
Agent Steve Sturtz requested a raise for his secretary, Karen Cox, from
$19,200 to $23,000, which he said would put the job more in line with others
in the courthouse. Schafer also objected to that increase, saying he thought
it was too large. The
county pays $20,000 for its part of Sturtz’ salary, up from $11,700 in the
last fiscal year. $8000 has been budgeted for another county extension
agent (FCS), but that position may
not be filled. Current
commissioners’ salaries are $19,200; county judge $22,620 (plus a $10,000
state supplement); county clerk $27,500; deputy county clerk $23,300; county
treasurer $22,200 (plus $6,000 water system administrator salary) and water
system manager $15,000. Health Insurance Costs Rise Dierschke
said that new state law requires that only eight percent, rather than the
previous ten percent, of ad valorem taxes be set aside for indigent health
care expenses, a total of $147,000 this year. He budgeted $350,000 in health
insurance costs, up 15 percent from last year, and $15,000 for community
center electricity, water, supplies, equipment, etc., saying that was a
guess. Landfill expenses are set at $30,000, including $21,000 for Charles
Pechacek’s salary and the remainder for transporting materials from the west
dump to the north landfill at a cost of $250 per load. Commissioners
budgeted $320,000, the same amount as last year, for road crew salaries. Dierschke said there are 12 full-time and
3 part-time people on the crew, with salaries ranging from $22,000 for truck
drivers to $25,500 for heavy equipment operators. Road equipment has a
budget of $100,000, as do each of the line items for road repairs and road
building materials. Seal coating and paving is funded at $225,000, and fuels
at $70,000. School Raises Cafeteria Prices The
GCISD school board, with Tina Flores and Karla Hoelscher absent, voted Aug. 6
to raise prices for meals at the school cafeteria. The increase is 25 cents
for each category of lunches, and the salad bar is now priced
separately. The new prices are:
elementary student $1.25; high school student $1.50; teacher lunch $2;
teacher salad bar $1.50; visitor lunch $3; visitor salad bar $2. Several changes were made to both
the elementary and high school student handbooks, including making girls’
visors and caps off-limits inside school buildings. Previously, girls were
allowed headwear inside, but boys were not. Other changes include a provision
that detention will no longer be rescheduled; failure to show up on the
assigned date will result in two more detention days. Also, a new state rule
is that truancy may result in assessment of penalties by a court of law
against both a student and his/her parents. There are other additions and
changes; parents and students should carefully review the new student
handbooks. Changes to Auxiliary Staff The board hired Melissa Schmitz as
an aide, replacing Beverly Pruit, who has retired. Schmitz was previously
working in the school cafeteria, and will not be replaced, according to
School Superintendent Steve Long.
Rosalinda Martinez will move from a part time to a full time cleaning
job, replacing Lillie Trevino, who has resigned. Long said he will eliminate
the part time job. Other cleaning staff are Christina Montez, Kathleen
Schniers, and Linda Salgado. Oscar Trevino has resigned from the school
maintenance staff, but Long said that vacancy is also one that may not be
filled, saying he will wait and see how things work out. Trustees approved an updated
employee housing agreement which adds language that yards and other outside
areas are to be maintained in good condition, and if the school mows a lawn,
a $40 fee will be charged. The board voted to pay $200, the
same as last year, toward each employees’ group health insurance, but will
not pay the money to those who choose insurance outside the group plan. Long
said to do so would defeat the purpose of a group plan. Valuations Up; Tax Rate to Hold Long told the board that with
increased tax valuations, the tax rate necessary for the school district to
raise the same monies as last year is $1.24 per $100 valuation, but he
suggested the school’s tax rate be set at $1.30 for the next year, which is
the highest possible without a roll-back election. The present rate is $1.30,
after a rollback election which approved the rate. Long said he didn’t think a rollback rate was necessary this
year, but he would probably recommend one in the future. He said the money
raised from the rollback election last fall enables the school to meet its
WADA payments without spending reserves. He said 43 percent of the school’s
tax dollars are sent out to other schools in these payments, amounting to
approximately $2.3 million for the next school year. Long reported there are still
problems with the Bearkat bus. He said he would price a “travel bus” from
Bluebird Bus Company. The Bearkat bus, a 1980 model Greyhound-type, was
purchased in May, 1998 for $53,400. A
new engine was installed late in 1999 at a cost of approximately $9,000. The
bus holds 46-passengers, has air conditioning, restroom, reclining seats,
individual overhead lights and special paint. Long reported that $7000 has been
spent to replace the cast iron plumbing under the high school with PVC lines. Community
Calendar Ready for Input An
online community calendar now needs countywide input, according to County
Extension Agent Steve Sturtz, who also chairs the county technology
committee. The calendar, which will go on-line in mid-September, will be
posted on the county’s web page at http://www.glasscockcountytx.com,
and will attempt to list all activities, such as meetings and various events
of interest in the county. The
calendar is intended to be complete enough to be the entire community’s
primary source for scheduling and planning information. But in order to fulfill that purpose, it
must contain current, accurate information from every group and organization in the county. Such groups include
the school, government entities, churches and all the various clubs and
organizations. Information should be submitted to
the county extension office, where the online calendar will be updated. Send
your schedule of events for the next six months or longer to that office at
P.O. Box 299, or send it e-mail to: s-sturtz@tamu.edu Each group ideally should
designate a person to be responsible for submitting the group’s information
to the extension office, and for making sure that any changes are submitted,
so the information is kept current. County
to Hire Custodian/Grounds Keeper The
Glasscock County Commissioners’ Court decided Aug. 13 to advertise for a
courthouse custodian and grounds keeper. The job will be a full-time one,
with a planned salary of $24,000 per year and full county benefits. The
job will entail: daily cleaning and routine maintenance of the courthouse;
maintenance of courthouse grounds, including trees, shrubs and watering
system; maintenance of highway beautification project’s grass and trees;
coordinating major maintenance or repair projects with outside contractors;
ordering cleaning and lawn supplies; grounds keeping at Garden City cemetery;
periodic cleaning and maintenance of scout house and EMT building bathrooms;
maintain a pesticide license and supervising community service workers. At
a later date, scheduling events for the community center and routine cleaning
and maintenance of that building will be added to this job. Applications
will be taken through Aug. 31, and a person hired Sept. 10 according to
County Judge Wilburn Bednar. Application forms and a more specific list of
duties are available at Bednar’s office from 8 a.m. to12 noon, Mon.– Fri. In
The Spotlight •
Carolyn Sullivan was named
an All-American Scholar at Large by the United States Achievement
Academy. Carolyn, who is in the top
ten percent of her junior class at GCHS, is the daughter of Robert and Ila
Sullivan. •
Paula Braden represented
the Department of Agricultural Economics of Texas A&M University at the
2001 American Agricultural Economics Association Quiz Bowl competition in
Chicago. She was a member of the first place team competing with 41 teams
from universities in the United States and Canada. Paula, a senior
agribusiness major, is the daughter of Charles and Janet Braden. •
Members of the Garden City High
School cheerleading squad were awarded seven Superior ribbons at a camp
at Texas A&M in July. Brecklyn Hughes was named Varsity All-Star Cheerleader and Marianne Halfmann, who won Most
Improved Mascot, was named Varsity All-Star Mascot. •
Justin Hillger, son of Mike
and Nancy Hillger, was recently named recipient of the 2001 Roger Lange
Memorial Scholarship from Cap Rock Electric. Hillger will attend Angelo State
University, with a major in kinesiology with an emphasis on athletic
training. The scholarship is awarded each year in honor of the late Roger
Lange, who served on Cap Rock’s board for many years. •
Chelsea Schwartz was named
“Overall Kid” at the All Star Kids National Pageant in Dallas recently. Of the 75 contestants, ages 4–21, she
received the highest total points in talent, modeling, beauty, photogenic,
and portfolio. Chelsea, a junior at GCHS, was awarded a trophy, crown, banner
and $2500 Junior
Gardeners Plan Project Andrea
Hillger, accompanied by Darren Hillger and Keith Batla, asked the commissioners’
court at their special meeting July 31 for permission to do a 4-H Junior
Master Gardeners’ project of landscaping under trees around the courthouse
and the area north of the community center. The group plans to install drip
irrigation, plus grass, plants and shrubs. The court gave the project its
approval. Hillger, a Master Gardener herself, subsequently obtained a $3755
grant from the Permian Basin Master Gardeners for the project, which will
begin in January. Susie Hillger has been hired as
the deputy county clerk, replacing Doris Hoelscher, at Hoelscher’s salary of
$23,000. County Clerk Rebecca Batla reports there were 15 applicants for the
job. Hillger’s former job of part
time courthouse custodian and grounds keeper is to be filled Sept.10 (see
separate article). Materials for a fence around the
shooting sports area at the county’s west dump ground will cost $1,000,
according to a figures provided by Steve Sturtz, with the labor to be
provided by 4-H youth, 4-H leaders and county road crew. Dierschke told the court he does
not believe that a woman who was injured in an automobile mishap in Glasscock
County in June is a resident of Glasscock County, and he does not think the
county will have to pay her medical expenses. He said the woman is now in a
Lubbock hospital undergoing treatment for injuries sustained in that
incident. Community
Technology Grant Possible School
Superintendent Steve Long has applied for a $25,000 Telecommunications
Infrastructure Fund (TIF) Grant for Collaborative Community Networks. The
grants are intended to involve a broad range of community residents and
organizations in a multi-purpose and community-based network. Ten percent in
community matching funds is required if the grant is approved. The grant, if
approved, could have a major impact on the community’s use of computers and
other related technology. The grant application proposes
technology centers that would use volunteer staff and other consultants to
provide training, technical assistance, continuing education and workforce
development. These centers would be equipped with high-speed internet access,
laptop work stations, desktop workstations, printers, scanners, digital
cameras and high-speed projectors. The centers would be available, without charge,
to everyone in the community. In addition, over the two years of
the grant period, four wireless labs would be created, which would be
internet accessible by using wireless satellites at each location. The
application proposes that these labs be located in the community center,
senior citizens building, St. Lawrence Hall, and the school. Other aspects of the grant
application are too lengthy to be covered here, but a copy of the application
may be obtained at the school administration office. Long should know later
this month whether the grant has been approved. Round-up
for Rehab Begins Butch
and Tammy Halfmann are the local community chairmen of the Forty-Second
Round-up for Rehab, a program through which friends in the agriculture industry
raise funds for the West Texas Rehabilitation Centers in San Angelo, Abilene
and Ozona. Local
folks can help by either donating livestock to be sold at one of the special
auctions this fall, sending a cash gift, bidding on livestock or novelty items
at one of the special sales, or by notifying Rehab or a local chairman now of
the intent to have an auction house issue a check to Rehab for one or more
animals sold later in the year. The
fall schedule for Round-up sales includes cattle sales Sept. 20 at Producers
Livestock Auction and Sept. 25 at Abilene Auction. Specialty sales are set
for October and November in Coleman, Stephenville, Junction, Dublin and
Ranger. For more information, contact a local chairman or one of the WT Rehab
centers. Extension Changes Name, Hours The
Texas Agricultural Extension service has changed its name to Texas
Cooperative Extension. The fact that agriculture is no longer in the name
acknowledges the fact that Extension has been providing educational programs for
all segments of the population on a wide variety of topics for many years. Extension’s
mission has always been to help farmers and ranchers be more productive,
encourage families to grow stronger, empower young people to become good
citizens, and help communities develop economically. Some people never
realized Extension offered all these opportunities because the name seemed to
emphasize only one area. Despite the name change, Extension leaders affirmed
the agency’s commitment to the Texas agricultural industry will remain as
strong as ever. Established by Congress in 1914, the
national Cooperative Extension program was designed to extend to the people
the educational opportunities and the scientific research of the nation’s
land-grant universities. Texas Cooperative Extension (part of the Texas A
& M University System) is founded on the cooperation and funding of the
commissioners’ courts in each county, the Texas A & M System,
and the United States Department of Agriculture; thus the word, cooperative.
It is also part of the national Cooperative Extension System found in every
state and U.S. territory. (This
material was taken from a press release from the Extension service.) The
local Extension office is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, including the
lunch hour. Water
District Sets Budget Workshop The
Glasscock Groundwater Conservation District’s Board of Directors will meet in
special session Aug. 28 at 1:30 p.m. for a budget workshop and discussion of
possible tax rates. The tax rate will likely be set at a Sept. 11 meeting. The
District’s current tax rate is .0330, but with a $114 million increase in tax
valuations this year, its effective tax rate is .0247. The District’s
traditional three percent increase would be .0254, and a 7.99 percent increase,
which GGCD Manager Rick Harston says is the maximum without a rollback
election, is.0266. At
its meeting Aug. 14, Kenneth Braden, Mike Hughes and Dennis Seidenberger were
sworn in as directors. The board
re-elected the same officers: Braden as president of the board, Seidenberger
vice-president, and Zane Eoff secretary. The
board voted to renew a $105,000 certificate of deposit at First Bank of West
Texas for three months at 3.45 percent. They also approved new health
insurance rates of $310 per month each for the District’s two employees, an
increase of $49 each per month. Briefly
• Glasscock County is hiring a courthouse custodian and grounds
keeper. (See separate piece, page 2) The
planned salary for the full time job is $24,000. Job applications and a list
of detailed duties are available in County Judge Wilburn Bednar’s office in
the courthouse, which is open 8 a.m. to 12 noon, M – F. •
All county residents are urged
to be very careful with burning trash or other materials because of the
extremely dry conditions. The county commissioners’ court has decided against
putting a burn ban into effect at this time, but is concerned that everyone
is aware of the high risk of wildfires and if any burning is necessary, that
it be done responsibly. • Reminder: a mini-cheerleading camp will be conducted by GCHS cheerleaders
for kids in grades K-6 Aug. 28 and Aug. 30 at the school complex starting
immediately after school until 6 p.m. The cost of $25 (with a $5 discount for
each additional family member) includes a camp T-shirt and refreshments.
Contact Brecklyn Hughes (354-2694) or any cheerleader for more information. • Senior Citizens will meet Tuesday,
Aug. 21 at 6 p.m. for snacks and dominoes. The regular meeting will be
Tuesday, Sept. 4 at 6 p.m. and the fare will be potluck. • “Thank
you for your many expressions of care and concern following my
hospitalization. Your prayers have
been especially appreciated. I am
gaining strength and hope to be back to my “old self.” Steve and Rene want to express their
gratitude. God’s blessings,” Katherine
Sturtz. •
Twenty folks are needed to form a
Weight Watchers group in St. Lawrence.
For information, call Belinda Weishuhn, 397-2346. •
This week marks the Glasscock
Groundwater Conservation District’s twentieth anniversary. •
The 4-H Junior Master Gardeners
will begin a landscaping project around the courthouse and community center
in January. Andrea Hillger says she and the 30 kids involved will need
volunteer adult help! Contact her for more information. •
The high school cheerleading
squad thanks the community for its support of the car wash in July. • The Glasscock County
Emergency Medical Service thanks the local First Baptist Church for the use of the church activity building
for its training sessions. •
Reminder: we encourage all those who have internet
access to read this newsletter online rather than having it sent through the
U.S. Postal Service, thus saving us postage. If you can do so, go to http://wscope.com/glasscock/ and
register. We will notify you each month via e-mail when the newsletter is
posted online. You will be able to print hard copies, and view past issues of
the newsletter from the site, and will find links to web pages of the county,
water district and school there as well. Insurance Woes
Continue
Having voted July 23 to pay $19,000 to settle its account with West Texas
Rural Counties Association Medical Pool, Glasscock County on Aug. 13
reluctantly agreed to pay another $1325 toward that same effort. Having
thought it had paid all it owed, the county was served notice that it, and
all other entities in the WTRC pool, owed the extra money. Commissioners also discussed
whether to join the newly revamped Texas Association of Counties health
insurance pool, or to seek independent coverage through Blue Cross Blue
Shield. County Treasurer Alan Dierschke said he thought it useless to try for
independent coverage, since the court had done that last year, and found that
no one but TAC would insure the county’s retirees, which the county court
considers essential. Nevertheless,
the court asked agent Shelby Hall to check again with BCBS, since they
believe the TAC pool coverage is too expensive for the benefits it offers. The court also will have to decide
whether they want to use an insurance agent, at an increased cost of seven
percent in their new insurance plan, or do without one.
Extension Agents’
Reports Steve Sturtz and Warren Multer
presented reports of their organizations’ activities in recent months.
Highlighting the reports were increased numbers of kids in 4-H programs, 325
animals vaccinated at the summer rabies clinic, community center progress, a
planned seminar on alternative income through wildlife, a possibility for a
district agronomist, a Sept. 11 crop tour, research into conservation
tillage, salinity management and better use of water. Multer reported that
some 90,000 acres of cotton were originally planted in the county this year,
and only 23,000 irrigated acres still exist, in varying degrees of quality. The court discussed continuing
problems with an ambulance which has too little power, but has no other
problems. A turbo-charger for the engine was considered, but Dierschke said
his research indicates that is not a good solution. Commissioners seemed to
agree that a new Ford power stroke engine is the best option, but no action
was taken. Three used county cars were
discussed, and Dierschke is looking into selling or trading them for a used
car for general use. Commissioners,
at an earlier meeting, discussed problems with keeping up with road crew
hours worked and vacation time, since the men now move between precincts. From
the Schoolhouse
Meet
the Bearkats Night Come meet the faculty, administrators,
and coaching staff along with the junior high and high school football teams,
managers, cheerleaders, mascots, twirlers, cross country runners, and the
high school band and flag corps on Friday, Aug. 17 at 7 p.m. in the
auditorium. The evening will begin with a Kickoff
Pep Rally, followed by introductions, and end with an ice cream and cookie
supper. Everyone is invited, so come
and show your Bearkat Spirit. Parents of students participating in
the above activities are asked to bring homemade ice cream or cookies. Booster Club News Everyone is invited to attend the
Bearkat Booster Club meeting Sept. 10 at 6 p.m. in the school cafeteria.
Prior to the meeting, a highlight film of last year’s game against Forsan
will be shown. Film of each varsity
game will be shown at 6 p.m. on Monday following the game on Friday. Bearkat Booster Club dues are $10
per family. Please send checks made
payable to Bearkat Booster Club to Tibby Niehues, 1550 CR 125, Garden City,
TX 79739. Your support would be
appreciated. About This Publication The next issue will be Sept.12. The deadline for
that issue is Sept. 10. The Glasscock
County News is published by Joe Melanie Calverley, P. O. Box 98, Garden
City, TX, 79739. Phone or Fax:
915/354-2221; e-mail: gcnews201@aol.com. Website: http://wscope.com/glasscock/ |
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