The Odem-Edroy Times (Odem, Tex.), Vol. 91, No. 5, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 5, 1998 Page: 1 of 6
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: Odem Area Newspaper Collection and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Odem Public Library.
- Highlighting
- Highlighting On/Off
- Color:
- Adjust Image
- Rotate Left
- Rotate Right
- Brightness, Contrast, etc. (Experimental)
- Cropping Tool
- Download Sizes
- Preview all sizes/dimensions or...
- Download Thumbnail
- Download Small
- Download Medium
- Download Large
- High Resolution Files
- IIIF Image JSON
- IIIF Image URL
- Accessibility
- View Extracted Text
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Industry Expansion Slated For
County; Area Workforce Sought
Shortly after commencing, the
San Patricio County Commissioners
held a public hearing Monday, as
part of the overall business for the
day. .
Dean Hulsey, Assistant Plant
Manager for the OxyChem
Ingleside plant, spoke to the court in
favor of their consideration for the
adoption of a resolution authorizing
a tax abatement for his company.
OxyChem is planning a co-gen
facility in the county, and the com-
pany is seeking a tax abatement
between their entity, the Ingleside
Cogeneration Limited Partnership
(which also includes DuPont), and
San Patricio County. John Crowley,
Manager of Property and Excise Tax
for Occidental Petroleum Services,
Inc., told the court that the $150
million project would initiate a "rip-
ple effect" for local economy-con-
struction activities would boost
restaurant and lodging services
here. Once completed, the facility
would have a workforce of only 25;
however, Crowley assured commis-
sioners that at least 50% of the
employees would be sought from
county ranks.
"[OxyChem] will look at San
Patricio County residents first; if the
skill level is there, [they'll be
hired]," Crowley said.
County Judge Josephine Miller
spoke to the issue of local unem-
ployment rates, which are higher
than Texas state averages; these, in
turn, are higher than national aver-
ages currently.
While there is not yet a specific
figure that the abatement will bring
to San Patricio county coffers, Judge
Miller estimated that the tax value
of the project, without an abate-
ment, would have been about
$790,000.
With little further discussion, the
commissioners approved the abate-
ment.
In other abatement business,
commissioners cancelled an abate-
ment agreement between San
Patricio County and OxyChem for a
proposed Chlor-Alkali expansion
project in Ingleside, which was
abandoned due to economic infeasi-
bility. Also, a resolution authorizing
an amendment to the tax abate-
ment agreement between the coun-
ty and OxyMar was approved-
thereby allowing a change in the
total number of years included in
the agreement, which will make an
allowance for a delay in the com-
mencement of the project in ques-
tion. The vote was not unanimous,
however; Judge Miller opposed the
amendment, stating that she had
always favored a six-year abate-
ment agreement, rather than a
seven-year abatement length.
Brooke Sween-McGloin, of the
architectural firm McGloin &
Sween, was in court Monday to
address some problems recently
encountered on the second floor of
the courthouse.
Sween-McGloin's firm has been
working on some remodeling-recon-
figuring projects throughout the old
and new portions of the courthouse.
During some ceiling repair work on
the second floor, her staff discov-
ered an old asbestos-containing
boiler flue. If left in place, the duct-
work currently underway may
require some expensive and ineffi-
cient installation modifications. If
the flue is removed now, the duct-
work will be greatly simplified and,
according to Sween-McGloin, save
the county expensive re-work in the
future.
"Where are we ultimately going-
with all of this?", asked Precinct 2
Commissioner Fred Nardini. His
rhetorical question was representa-
tive of some frustration expressed
by Precinct 4 Commissioner Gordon
Porter as well. One of the problems
is the fact that an old elevator no
longer meets current code require-
ments, as regulated by the
Americans With Disabilities Act.
The plans for a historical staircase
also conflicts with simplifying third-
floor access. Commissioners chose
to put off a vote on the agenda item
until after they had an opportunity
to tour the area in question and see
the problematic flue themselves.
A grant application approving
the sponsorship of a grant applica-
tion on behalf of the Seaboard
Water Supply Corporation was
passed on Monday; the water sup-
ply group has also requested that
they have the ability to actively
administer some basic decisions
regarding the project, which will
bring water service to one-acre lots
near County Road 31A.
After the approval last week of
an increase in matron's and trans-
fer staff pay for the Constable's
Department, the San Patricio
Sheriff's Department brought to the
commissioners' attention the fact
that staff in their area also provide
the escort function to various state
detention and treatment facilities.
To this end, the commissioners
approved a similar increase in
See Commissioners, Page 4
Date Hi Lo Total
02/4 Wednesday 70° 45° .00”
02/3 Tuesday 63: 460 .00”
02/2 Monday 62° 53° .57"
02/1 Sunday 69° 58° 1.73"
01/31 Saturday 76 54° .00"
01/30 Friday 76° 51° .00"
Temp. Avg, to Date (Hi-lo).......69° - 49*
tain Total To Date...-..................... 2.30”
Courtesy GlBIW Dratfceofrerg
and F.S.A. Office Staff
San Patricio County
rA-
ORT ❖
Pasture and rangeland is currently rated as fair to good; soil moisture is short.
Livestock is in good condition, but winter pastures could use additional mois-
ture. There has been little to no precipitation, and temperatures are at or
above seasonal levels.
Local producers are preparing fields for planting, which may begin this week
insomeareas.
Courtesy of your local Agricultural Extension Service Office
TOOTH DAY
Kindergarten classes at Odem Elementary celebrated their 100th day of school last Friday in the multi-
purpose room. Students participated in a variety of activities where they used their math skills. Here
Corina Parlamas puts 100 fingerprints on a puppy. Corina is in Ms. Rosas' class. (Jennifer Johnson Photo) '
TEAM SPIRIT
Odem Junior High students showed plenty of zeal during last week's pep rally for the Odem Owlets. The
7th grade team is undefeated for the season; they will play in Sinton this Thursday at 5:00 p.m. (Jennifer
Johnson Photo) >. -
City Council Accepts Insurance
Settlement Check For Fire Truck
During Tuesday's regular meet-
ing, city council members voted to
accept the insurance settlement on
the fire truck that was involved in
an accident back in August.
City Secretary Billie Jo Tennill
informed aldermen, as she did at
the last meeting, that the insurance
company was offering $19,041.42
for the totaled vehicle. She also
informed council members that if
the decision was made, instead, to
salvage the truck, the city would
receive a payment of $18,041.42.
However, volunteer firemen present
during Tuesday's meeting assured
council members that the majority
of the truck was unsalvageable. The
pump had to be overhauled to
begin with, and it was in bad shape
at the time of the wreck. According
to them, the accessories were all in
bad shape and would be impossible
to repair.
Alderman Charles Smith
motioned to accept the settlement
for $19,041.42; his motion was sec-
onded by Billy Huerta. The vote car-
ried 4-0-1 with Tony Perez abstain-
ing.
City council members also voted
to approve a request made by the
volunteer fire department for the
purchasing of equipment.
According to Chief David Metting,
the majority of this equipment,
including a folding ladder, nozzles,
and hose clamps, is for the purpose
of bringing the current fire trucks
ETJ Public
Hearing
Slated
"up to standard" with the new regu-
lations set forth. The rest is general
equipment that must be replaced
every few years.
On a motion by Smith, and a sec-
ond by Audon Aleman, council
members voted unanimously to
approve the request totaling
$15,784.
Tennill then recommended that
council members approve to contin-
ue the tax exemption for tax payers
age 65 and over. In the past, tax
payers in this particular age bracket
have received a $6,000 exemption
on their properties.
Alderman Aleman motioned to
approve this exemption for the cur-
rent tax year; Alderman Huerta sec-
onded his motion. The vote carried
unanimously.
Next, council members took
action on designating an election
day for the upcoming city election.
According to Tennill, this year, seats
one, two and three are up for re-
election. Seat one is currently being
held by Tony Perez, seat two is held
by Audon Aleman, and seat three is
held by Billy Huerta. Tennill says
that anyone can run for the election
and packets may be picked up at
city hall.
Smith motioned to set the elec-
tion day for May 2, 1998. Huerta
seconded his motion and the vote
carried unanimously.
Then council members voted to
designate the polling place, appoint
an election judge, set wage scales,
set the number of clerks and
appoint an early voting ballot
board. Alderman Smith made a
motion to designate the polling
place at the community center
located at 701 Cook St., appoint
Nan Tally as election judge, set
wage scales at $5.00 an hour for
election clerks and the judge, plus
an additional $25 to be given to the
election judge for the purpose of
handling all paperwork and the
delivery of records and set the num-
ber of clerks at four. Aleman sec-
onded his motion and the vote car-
ried unanimously.
The decision to waive a one-time
fee to Odem-Edroy I.S.D. for sewer
connection to the new baseball com-
plex was also approved at Tuesday's
meeting. Alderman Perez motioned
to waive the $848 fee, and Huerta
seconded his motion. The vote car-
ried 3-1 with Armando Ortiz voting
against it (Alderman Aleman was
not present at the time this particu-
lar item was voted on).
Public Invited
To Reception
The First Baptist Church
deacons and their wives invite the
public to a Farewell Reception for
Pastor Larry Holden and his
family.
The reception will be from 3
to 5:30 p.m. at the church
Fellowship Hall Sunday, Feb. 8.
Information To
Be Discussed
Odem Junior High School will
hold an informational session on
Friday, February 13, at 10:00 a.m. in
the OJH Library. The topic is family
health and nutrition; extension
agent Felecia Ortiz will provide
information about dietary sugar
and fat.
A public hearing will be conduct-
ed Wednesday, February 11,. 1998 to
consider amending the City of
Corpus Christi's Comprehensive
Plan. The proposed plan amend-
ments pertain to Northern
Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETf) of
the City of Corpus Christi and the
County of San Patricio.
The hearing will be held at 6:30
p.m. in the Portland Community
Center located at 2001 Redwood.
ATI interested citizens are invited to
comment on this draft plan.
Additional information may be
obtained by calling the Corpus
Christi Planning and Development
Department at (512) 880-3560.
Registration, Mail-In Ballot
Applications Now Available
All San Patricio County residents are reminded that a Democratic and
Republican Primary election will be held March 10, 1998.
If you have moved from the address shown on your voter registration
certificate, you have until February 8 to notify the voter registrar's office
and become registered. If you have not registered, you have until February
9 to register at the voter registrar's office.
In addition, the county clerk's office is distributing applications for vot-
ing by mail-an option for those 65 years of age or older, or disabled indi-
viduals. County residents who expect to be out of the area on election day
may also be eligible for mail-in ballots; call the county clerk's office at 364-
6290 for more information about these options.
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
The Odem-Edroy Times (Odem, Tex.), Vol. 91, No. 5, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 5, 1998, newspaper, February 5, 1998; Sinton, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1044774/m1/1/?q=%22%22~1: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Odem Public Library.