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Glasscock County News
Eggemeyer Responds to Criticism of Long
GCISD’s School Board President Jimmy Eggemeyer opened the Sept. 8 board meeting by responding to criticism of School Superintendent Steve Long at last month’s meeting for his handling of the school’s bank depository bids. Eggemeyer said when Long was hired three years ago, his primary job was to handle personnel first and school finances second. But he said Long has done an excellent job of overseeing school funds, especially considering that he came from a Chapter 42 (“poor”) school district to a Chapter 41 (“rich”) district. Eggemeyer said that in the five years before Long was hired, the school operated at a deficit, drawing from its reserves. He said in each of the past three years, the reserves have increased due to Long’s budgeting skills. He said the school board accepted the bank depository bid from First National Bank of Sterling City for the 2001-2003 term not realizing the minimum bid would make so much difference. “If we could have foreseen interest rates falling so rapidly, we would have definitely gone with State National Bank’s bid,” he said. “Hopefully, the board and superintendent will watch certificate of deposits and bank bids more closely,” he added. Eggemeyer listed five grants, totaling $414,000, which Long has obtained during the past three years, plus two more totaling $350,000 which are pending. Eggemeyer said that for most of the past two years, Long was filling two jobs, his own and that of high school principal, due to Faith Scott’s illness. He said Long has “always put the best interest of the school first.” Say Goodbye to Soft Drinks at SchoolLong reported that due to new regulations from the Department of Agriculture and Health which go into effect Nov. 1, hard candy and soft drinks will no longer be available in the school’s vending machines. Chips, some candies, water, sport drinks and juice will be offered. The regulations actually permit soft drinks at the secondary level, but not in the elementary school. But Long said because of the way the local schools are laid out, there will be no soft drinks in any vending machines. Students may bring soft drinks to school in their lunches, he said. Long said he thinks the school qualifies for a National Fitness grant of $200,000 for weight training equipment, treadmills, etc. which would also be for public use. He has also applied for a regional Technology on Wheels grant ($150,000) which would equip a bus with computers and other technology to go to rural schools in the area. Grounds Maintenance Bid AcceptedThe board agreed to accept the bid for care and maintenance of school grounds to James Schwartz for $10,920. The only other bid was from Oscar Trevino for $12,000. Long said the maintenance, using school equipment, will include such things as mowing, edging and weed-eating, and that an agreement releasing the school from liability will be required. High School Principal John Petree reported that new school web pages should be online in a week. He said the address is the same, but there’s a new look. The address is gcisd.esc18.net. Petree said Students of the Month will no longer be recognized at board meetings, but the principals will have an assembly at the end of each six weeks to recognize these students, plus those on the honor roll, and others. Enrollment Down from Last YearEnrollment was reported to be 271 in grades K-12, down from 303 last year and 378 in the 1998-99 school year. There are 143 students in grades K-6, 128 in grades 7-12 and 88 in grades 9-12. Dana Cook demonstrated the hand held computers that her fifth-grade class will be using in an experimental program. Ten are in use now, with 33 more on order, all paid for with grant money. They can be checked out for use at home on special projects. Parents will have to agree to pay a $170 replacement cost if the unit is damaged or lost when taken home. After many years’ absence, FFA has reappeared at GCHS. At the request of Rusty Hollingsworth, the school board accepted the Glasscock County FFA Constitution and Program of Activities.
Water District Modifies Management Plan
The Glasscock Underground Water Conservation District voted Aug. 19 to add both drought and conservation goals to its currently certified1998-2008 management plan, as required by the Texas Water Development Board. With these changes, GUWCD manager Rick Harston is to provide water conservation information to the public by publishing a conservation article at least once each year. Also, GUWCD will check the Palmer Drought Severity Index by Texas climatic divisions every three months and will notify the two public water supply systems in the district if the Index shows the district is in a severe drought. Harston said each of those systems (the St. Lawrence Co-op and the Garden City Water Supply System) should have its own plan for conservation, which would be enacted in the event of a severe drought. State: Set Pumping Limits in Severe Droughts Regarding the state-mandated changes to the district’s management plan, Harston said, “We’re not willing to do what they [the state] actually want us to do. ” [Set agricultural pumping limits when there is a severe drought]. GUWCD board member Mike Hughes asked, “Then are we going to do what is best for agriculture regardless of our mission? There is the impact of quality water for citizens, and the impact of quality water on the economy. Is there a balance?” Board member Dennis Seidenberger said, “When do we reduce pumping to save water levels? Now, we’re pumping out more than the aquifer is recharging. Would it recharge if we didn’t pump for a year, or every other year?” He added that, considering the price of electricity and the price of cotton, the rate of water being pumped now is not economically feasible. Board member John Phillips commented that he would always favor the landowner’s right to control his own groundwater. A discussion of whether drip or furrow irrigation uses more total water produced no definitive answer. Board president Kenneth Braden said he uses less water with drip, and thinks the high cost of electricity has stopped the heavy drip watering of a few years ago. But, he said it depends on the individual, with some farmers watering more than others. Harston said experience with drip has helped farmers reduce the amount of water they use. Donnita Coats reported that monthly medical insurance premiums for her and Harston are increasing by a total of $99 to $411 each per month. The board approved the increase with no change in coverage.
County Employees to Get Raises
At its meeting Sept. 8, the Glasscock County Commissioners’ Court indicated that it will add $600 per year to the salaries of all the county’s full-time employees and elected officials (27 people in total). The salary increase will cost the county a total of $19,300 including benefits, according to County Treasurer Alan Dierschke. The court is required to publish public notice of its intention to raise elected officials’ salaries at least 10 days prior to doing so. Therefore, the court will meet Sept. 19 to adopt the official budget and to set the tax rate. The budget will likely project $2.3 million in revenues and expenses of $2.6 million. The tax rate will probably be increased three percent and set at .59252 (including a 5-cent bond tax). After hearing a report from Sheriff’s Deputy Keith Burnett, the court added $8,000 to the sheriff’s department’s equipment budget to provide $14,000 for two video cameras to be used in patrol cars. Burnett said the state now requires that the department check for racial profiling, and without the cameras, there must be daily written reports of each traffic stop. He said grant money had been available for the cameras, but it was not applied for soon enough to qualify. Sheriff’s Department Car Postponed The court removed $26,000 for a new car from the sheriff’s department budget, deciding to postpone purchase of that vehicle for a year, putting it into a four-year rotation with two other sheriff’s vehicles and the agriculture extension agent’s pickup. The budget contains $30,000 for a new pickup for ag agent Steve Sturtz. The total budget for road crew salaries now stands at $301,000, plus benefits and taxes of $63,000. There are nine full-time and four part-time road crew employees, compared to thirteen full-time and two part-time five years ago, according to Dierschke. John Kinnibrugh, on behalf of the volunteer fire department, asked the court for $6,500 for a pump and motor, plus the cost of sandblasting and seal coating the tank of a 5-ton tanker truck donated by the Forest Service several years ago. Kinnibrugh said this would complete the necessary work on the truck, which would then be ready for service. He said he missed a deadline for spending a grant that the department had obtained, but said he would reapply for that grant and for others as well. Agent’s Old Pickup May Become Rescue Vehicle Kinnibrugh also asked the court to donate the used, 4–door, ag agent’s pickup to the fire department to be made into a rescue vehicle, which the county doesn’t have at this time. The high mileage on the pickup wouldn’t matter, he said, since as a rescue vehicle, it would only be used a few times each year, and then for short distances. He said such a vehicle would be used to transport both personnel and the “jaws of life” equipment to assist EMS volunteers at serious accidents. The pickup could later be rigged with a self-contained “slip-in unit” consisting of pump, motor, water tank and hoses that would enable the rescue vehicle to assist with fires that might break out at accidents, he said, as well as small grass fires along roadways. The court subsequently increased the fire department’s equipment budget to $7,500, but made no decision regarding the used pickup. County Judge Wilburn Bednar reported that the county’s emergency medical service has been awarded a $10,400 Homeland Security grant. There is no word as yet regarding how the money will be spent. Suit Against Oil Companies Considered The county commissioners discussed whether to follow the lead of Midland and Ector counties in suing several oil companies for allegedly under-reporting the market value of oil between 1987 and 1998, thereby reducing its taxable value and causing the counties to lose tax revenue. The court agreed that the matter should be explored, but that County Tax Appraiser Royce “Booger” Pruit and the Austin-based appraisal company (Capital Appraisals), which the county hires, should make a recommendation. According to County Judge Wilburn Bednar, Pruit has been in touch with the appraisal company, which was not aware of the suits. Bednar said the matter will be on the court’s next agenda. The court voted to allow Justice of the Peace Marilee Jost to charge an optional $4 technology fee as provided by the state legislature. The funds would be earmarked for technology expenses in the JP’s office. Community Center Problems Discussed Steve Sturtz and Warren Multer reported their respective extension service activities to the court, and Sturtz reported on the Texas Railroad Commission’s inspection of the Community Center, which he said showed only minor infractions. Those involved a small propane leak outside and improper tagging of gas heaters, which were installed by a now-defunct company. He said Wayne Cypert may inspect and tag the heaters, charging the building contractor to do so. Sturtz reported problems with the floor of the “livestock holding area” of the Community Center being too slick. He said rubberized materials used as floor coverings have not worked well. He said some livestock have fallen and been injured, and the county livestock association wants to find a way to remedy the problem without making the floor hard to clean. Once again, there was no word from roofer Kirby Hartmann and no action was taken regarding a new courthouse roof, but the court left last year’s $40,000 in the new budget for that purpose. The court approved a committee to look into a new fence at the Garden City Cemetery. The committee, consisting of Joe Calverley (chair), Deanie Craft, James Cypert, Mark Halfmann, Betty Pate and Helen Wilkerson, will make recommendations to the commissioners’ court. The court declined the request of a tool company to rent space in the Community Center for a discount tool sale, since it would cost the county more in utilities and labor than the $100 rental fee being paid.
Water District May Raise Tax Rate
The Glasscock Underground Water Conservation District’s Board of Directors on Aug. 19 reviewed a proposed $135,000 balanced budget for 2004 based on a three percent tax increase. The proposed rate is .035812. The effective tax rate, that which would raise the same revenue as the previous year, is .034769 per $100 valuation. At the effective tax rate, the district would need approximately $3,800 from its $132,000 reserves to balance the budget. Manager Rick Harston said the district has increased taxes each of the last four years. He said before that, the district kept taxes at the effective rate for too long and “dug a hole.” Board member Mike Hughes asked when the district will be out of that hole and can stop the increases. To which Harston replied, “We’re almost there.” Proposed Salary Increases for Employees The proposed budget includes raises of $2,000 for Harston and $1,000 for secretary/bookkeeper Donnita Coats. There is no increase planned for the per-acre assessment paid to West Texas Weather Modification. Significant budget items include: $59,000 for salaries and benefits, $27,000 for weather modification, $13,500 for insurance, $11,000 for office rental, office supplies and equipment and postage and $4,500 for conventions and travel. Projected revenues include: $131,000 from taxes, $2,100 from interest, and $1,600 from a combination of water testing, equipment rental, and well permits. The district’s board will vote on the proposed budget and set the tax rate at its Sept. 16 meeting.
Briefly• GCISD’s Homecoming will be Sept. 19 and 20, with the class of 1953 being honored. A meal will be served from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19 in the school cafeteria. The school library will be open for those who want to visit after 7 p.m. On Saturday, Sept. 20, an ex-students’ gathering will be held at the Glasscock County Community Center beginning at 10 a.m. A barbeque meal will be served at noon for $10 per plate. To make meal reservations, call Jenny Gandy Shumake, (361) 790-9304 or Doralee Schafer Newell, (432) 354-2265. Payment for the meal may be made at the door. • Glasscock County Senior Citizens are asked to bring snack foods to the Sept.16 meeting. The group will meet Oct. 7 and fried chicken will be furnished. Bring a vegetable or dessert to go with the chicken. Anyone 50 years or older is invited to attend.
• Notice to Creditors: Notice is hereby given that original Letters of Administration for the Estate of Allya Faith Scott, deceased, were issued February 12, 2003, in Cause No. 344, pending in the County Court of Glasscock County, Texas, to: Samuel Lynn Homsey. All persons having claims against this Estate, which is currently being administered, are required to present them to the undersigned within the time and in the manner prescribed by law. Samuel Lynn Homsey c/o: Alan G. Moravcik, Attorney at Law, 4305 N. Garfield, Suite 231, Midland, Texas 79705; Dated the 9th day of Sept., 2003.
• Many thanks to all those who responded to our request for confirmation of mailing addresses, and to those who switched to e-mail delivery of the Glasscock County News.
Fall Festival Set in St. Lawrence The Annual St. Lawrence Fall Festival will be Oct. 5 on the church grounds. A lunch of barbequed brisket, homemade German sausage and all the trimmings, with homemade cakes and pies for dessert, will be served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at a cost of $ 7 for adults and $5 for children under 12. Sausage sandwiches, tea and dessert will be served from 5 – 6:30 p.m. Plates to go are available for the noon meal only. Uncooked sausage will be sold for $4 per pound beginning at 10 a.m. in the “Smokehouse.” The Kountry Kitchen, featuring homemade baked and canned goods and local handcrafts, will open at 10:30 a.m. Game booths for the kids will be open from l0:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. Bingo begins at noon and closes at 4 p.m.; an auction starts at 2 p.m. A concession stand will be open throughout the day. DJ Michael Peterson will be featured at the dance, which begins at 7 p.m. and concludes at 11 p.m. Tickets are $5 per person over 12. For more information, contact Martha Schwartz, 397-2268.
Sgt. David Garza guards U.N. in Baghdad
Sgt. David A. Garza, son of Ramiro and Rosa Garza, husband of Mandi Turley Garza, brother to Patti Barron, Anthony and Vikki Garza, is still in Baghdad, Iraq. Right now he and about 100 other soldiers are guarding the U.N. building. He thanks everyone for the care packages, letters and cards. It means a lot to him to hear your words of encouragement. He was chosen Soldier of the Month out of hundreds of other soldiers of the 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment. He is also up before the board for a promotion next month. Hopefully, he will be promoted to Staff Sergeant. He is also up before the board for the Bronze Star for the Battle of Al Samawah. The Bronze Star is one of the highest medals you can get in the Army. He still needs your prayers and letters, because he will not be coming home until sometime in February. Thanks for supporting our soldiers. ------ From The Garza Family
In The Spotlight
• Adam Frysak, son of Mark and Linda Frysak, received an associate degree of science from Midland College in May. He graduated from the Midland College radiography program in July and is employed by Midland Memorial Hospital.
• Tommy Dalton, son of Stewart & Martha Dalton, received his Master of Public Administration in Emergency Management on May 10, at the University of North Texas. He is employed by the city of Flower Mound as a city planner.
• Sgt. David Garza is proudly serving his country as part of the 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment in Iraq. Garza is a1998 graduate of GCHS. (See letter, above)
• The GCHS boy’s cross-country team won Division 1-A at the Concho Valley Classic meet Sept. 6 at Carlsbad. Bearkats finishing in the top 10 were: Shaun Maxie 4th, Jason Flores 5th, Logan Willis 6th, Robert Lopez 9th, and Alex Halfmann 10th. K. C. Smith, Trey Hillger and Colby Hirt also competed. Shana Kirkland is the coach.
• Allison Jansa took first place individually in high school girls’ Division 1-A at the recent Concho Valley Classic cross-country meet in Carlsbad. Victoria Ortiz also competed for the Lady Kats.
• Chelsea Schwartz was recently named first alternate to the crown and title at the Texas National American Miss Pageant in Dallas. She was also named first alternate to the community service and sportswear awards, and is eligible to compete at the national pageant. A 2003 graduate of GCHS, she will attend West Texas A & M University this fall.
School Sets Tax Rate
The GCISD school board on Aug. 25 approved the 2003-2004 budget and set the new tax rate at $1.50. Projected revenues will be approximately $5.9 million and budgeted expenditures are $6.1 million. School Superintendent Steve Long anticipates holding expenditures to 95 percent of the budgeted amount. There was mention of a new shop building. In order to pay for such a building, Long said there is $20,000 in the budget for building improvement and $60,000 could be taken out of reserves. There was discussion of looking at Midland College’s shop facility and scaling down from it. The board discussed cafeteria losses, which run approximately $85,000 per year, and discussed how money can be saved without sacrificing food quality. Some savings will come from having a smaller enrollment. Long said approximately 52 percent of meals served are “free lunches.” Long suggested that the school bid out a grounds maintenance job. He said two of the maintenance staff are now working a lot of overtime to get everything done.
Water System Sets Budget
The Garden City Water System’s new budget will likely show income of $54,000 and expenses of $56,000, according to figures presented to the Glasscock County Commissioners’ Court by County Treasurer Alan Dierschke Sept. 8. Major budget items are: system manager’s salary $15,600, insurance $12,000, electricity $7,000, and repairs and upkeep $6,000. Revenues are projected to be $53,000 from water sales and $1,000 from interest and miscellaneous income. The water system had $49,000 in its investment account in June 2003. County Investment Report Dierschke gave his quarterly report of the county’s investments. In June 2003, the county’s operating funds were drawing .05 percent interest, while both the investment account and the interest and sinking fund for the bond to fund the Community Center were drawing .86 percent at the First National Bank of Sterling City, Glasscock County branch. Funds invested in TexPool were earning 1.197 percent. In June, the county had an average daily balance of $18,000 in its operating account, $1 million in its investment account, $39,000 in TexPool, and $154,000 in its interest and sinking fund.
From the Schoolhouse
The Bearkat Booster Club wants all you Bearkats to check out the new signs on the tennis courts and the new football sign. GO KATS!!! We also want to especially thank the following for donating their time and talents to installing the football sign: Mitchell Jansa, Rusty Hollingsworth, Rory Niehues, Scotty Hillger, Michael Hoch, Pam Hughes, and Tibby Niehues.
Football Film Night Coach Hoskins will show films of the Friday night football games on Tuesday night of the following week at 7 p.m. in the school cafeteria. Anyone who is interested is welcome to attend.
Cheerleaders Place in Competition GCHS cheerleaders and mascot placed third in the cheer division and third in the dance division at the Battle of the Cheerleaders in Big Spring in August. Cheerleaders are Brecklyn Hughes, Amanda Hirt, Megan Niehues, Kayla Medrano, Julie Hirt and K’Lann Niehues. The mascot is Katie Schmitz, and the sponsor is Jan Holland. The girls have been busy practicing, attending cheer camp, fundraising, painting signs, hosting the mini-cheer camp, planning special events and pep rallies, getting ready for a fun and exciting school year. Thanks to all who attended the Battle of the Cheerleaders to support the girls. GO KATS!
Library News The Garden City Library will be hosting children's authors Dave and Pat Sargent on Thursday, September 18th at 9 a.m. They will have their books to sell at a discounted rate since they are retiring. They will autograph two per purchase. Everyone is welcome to hear their exciting stories. Also, the Scholastic Book Fair will be at our library from Monday, Sept. 29 thru Friday, Oct. 3. It will be open from 8:30 a.m. until the close of school each day. Volunteers should call Kara Hoelscher with the PTO at 397-2658. Next Issue Date and Deadline
The next issue of the Glasscock County News will be Oct.15. The deadline for that issue is Oct.13, but earlier material is helpful. Send information to: P.O. Box 98, Garden City, TX 79739; phone or fax: 432/354-2221; e-mail: gcnews201@aol.com. The Glasscock County News is published by Joe Melanie Calverley, P. O. Box 98, Garden City, TX, 79739. Phone or fax: 432/354-2221; e-mail: gcnews201@aol.com; web site: http://glasscockcountynews.com/
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