The Baytown Sun (Baytown, Tex.), Vol. 80, No. 307, Ed. 1 Sunday, September 29, 2002 Page: 4 of 29
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4A
The Baytown Sun
Sunday, September 29,2002
Sunc
Opinion
A
k
Wanda Gamer Cash, Editor and Publisher
David Bloom, Managing Editor
Eagle Pointe audit
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Letters
The city uses both the gas chamber
animals. The gas chamber is an
rienJ
campuses all day long for this situa-
Last week my wife volunteered me
Today’s editorial was written by
or working on school work.
coi
When I finished this letter, I proof
Officials .
About Us
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who thought Saddam’s regime
wasn’t that bad. People who ,
get — yet City Council will not
release how tax dollars are specifi-
cally being spent.
The usually secretive — and
combative on the issue of public
openness when it comes to the $3.5
enough for preventative
— De Telegraaf, Amsterdam
assure proper stewardship of tax
dollars.
What’s needed here, and what our
editorials have called for, is a thor-
ough, public review of Eagle Pointe
spending. Any audit must look at
done at the time the schdbls combine,
not on a rotating basis like they are
now.
song, uniforms for athletic teams,
drill team, cheerleaders, band and
B.C. Hud man and Gabby
Baytown
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Let us hear from you
The Baytown Sun welcomes letters of up to
300 words and guest columns of up to 500
words on any item of public interest. Guest
columns should include a photograph of the
' YOUNG >
LADY... IF
THERE WEREN’T
SURVEILLANCE
cameras,
. I'D- >
Fred Hartman, Publisher Emeritus
1950-1974
281-424-9289
District 4 - Don Murray
281-424-2300
District 5 - Ronnie Anderson
281-427-9084
District 6 - Coleman Godwin
281-422-4733
Members serve a twoyear term.
Council meets on second and fourth
Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall.
Board of Trustees
District 1 - Phelitria Barnes
281-4264256
District 2 - Rosa Rodriguez
281-420-2550
District 3 - Weston Cotten
281-4265384
District 4 - James Lewis
281-4267360
District 5 - Clarence Albus
281-421-5896
District 6 - Jepp Busch
281-422-8898
District 7 - Steve Fischer
281420-1370
Members serve a 3 year term.
Board meets on second and fourth
Mondays of each month at 6:30 p.m.
these animals are recycled back on to
the street.
The BACCR is howling about the
$10
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and
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Jack
stacl
Texa
Beal
Friel
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Chy of Baytown
City Hall
2401 Market Street
Baytown, Texas 77520
281422-8281
Interim City Manager
Gary Jackson
2814206503
Mayor
Pete Alfaro
2814206500
City Council
District 1 - Mercedes Renteria III
281420-9796
District 2 - Scott Sheley
2814226008
District 3 - Calvin Mundinger
Goose Creek CISD
1415 Market Street
Baytown, Texas 77522
2814204800
Superintendent
Barbara Sultis
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Our editorial board
The Baytown Sun’s editorial board meets
weekly at 2 p.m. Wednesday. Individuals are
encouraged to visit the editorial board to dis-
cuss issues affecting the community. To
make an appointment, contact Managing
Editor David Bloom, (281) 4226302.
Members of the editorial board include:
Wanda Gamer Cash, editor and publisher;
David Bloom, managing editor Meredith
Darnell, news editor; Dee Anne Navarre, busi-
ness manager, and Jim Finley.
writer. We publish only original material
addressed to The Baytown Sun bearing the
writer’s signature. An address and phone num-
ber not for publication should be included. We
ask that submissions be limited to one per
month. All letters and guest columns subject
to editing
The Sun reserves the right to refuse to pub-
lish any submission.
Letters endorsing or opposing political can-
didates or issues will not be published within
two days of an election, except in direct rebut-
tal to a letter previously published in The
Baytown Sun. Please send signed letters to:
Wanda Gamer Cash or David Bloom, The
Baytown Sun, P.O. Box 90, Baytown, IX
77522.
Or, fax them to: (281) 427-1880. Or, email
us at: sunnews@baytownsun.com.
accused the Americans of being
hysterical. People who argued
that, left alone, the problems
would disappear.
They have been helped out of
their dreams by Blair, if they are
willing to listen to him and the
facts.
Those who won’t listen either
aren’t willing to think about the
problem in good faith, or are sim-
ply stupid.
Iraq must get rid of its
weapons, preferably voluntarily
but, if necessary, ihvoluntarily. If
not, it will eventually be tempted
Netherlands, there are well-mean- to use them and not think of the
ing but dangerously naive people consequences. That is reason
mation about Eagle Pointe, on the
general principle of public access
and on behalf of taxpayers who
clearly deserve to know how their
money is being spent.
At issue is the council’s lack of
million-a-year city-owned complex openness and accountability.
— City Council broached the topic
of a “dollar for dollar” audit last
week, before concluding it needed
more time to weigh the cost and
scope of the audit as well as a list
of outside agencies capable of con- Council accepts its responsibility to
laws.
The Baytown Sun is suing Mont
Belvieu to require the city to
third of the Mont Belvieu city bud- release every bit of financial infor-
animal control facility. Some people
think we don’t care about animals in
Baytown, but the truth is, we build
between BACCR, City and pUt into use a control facility for
I sure am glad the dog days of sum- animals before we did one for people.
start asking these kinds of questions
and the Rezoning CpmmiT ’ -
Administrators need ro start
the problem of eliminating some
A dmittedly losing a couple
/\ million dollars — and pos-
X jLsibly truckloads more —
Mont Belvieu’s Eagle Pointe Golf
Club and Recreation Complex
should receive a complete financial
audit of operating expenses.
It’s a course of action that’s long
and inexplicably overdue.
accounts and appropriated money
that belonged to the city.”
Now, the city is hiding specific
expenses at Eagle Pointe, stating
that Strong’s management company
is a private company and not sub- *
ritish Prime Minister Tony
Blair has given clarity:
JL^Iraq has chemical and bio-
logical weapons that can be ready
for use against other nations or
his own people within 45 min-
utes. He also has ballistic mis-
siles, and may soon have nuclear
weapons to arm them with.
The message is clear. With
Saddam Hussein in charge, Iraq
is a danger to its own people, to
its region and, finally, to the
entire Earth.
Everywhere in the world, and
unfortunately also in the
Evergreen, the former managers at
Eagle Pointe, cost the city
$125,000 and the city did not take
bids and a new management firm,
opting to simply hand the reins
over to Jeff Strong, who previously
worked for Evergreen.
The city alleges that Evergreen,
the first managers of the property,
City budget estimates indicate the “unilaterally established bank
complex will lose between
$600,000 and $1.1 million for
2002-2003. Losses in 1999-2000
totaled $781,659 and more than
$500,000 for the current year. And
that’s what the city will admit to.
There’s no telling what other losses ject to public records disclosure
are being withheld from taxpayers.
Next year, Eagle Pointe’s yearly
budget accounts for roughly one-
We are convinced the city’s
financial reporting on Eagle Pointe
is in disarray. And we wonder how
many serious financial problems
must be pointed out before City
ducting such a financial investiga-
tion.
The proposed Eagle Pointe audit
comes on the heels of a failed $24
million bond that would have
raised property taxes 14 cents to
upgrade the city’s water and waste- capital spending, departmental
water systems.
The proposed audit also follows
$1.75 million of unexpected com-
plex-related costs that were
approved during a Sept. 9 City
Council meeting.
It’s clear to us that no one knows requirements.
— or is willing to admit — how It’s not just the law, it’s the right
much money the city has spent (or thing to do.
spending — the whole big picture.
Furthermore, we are hopeful
Mont Belvieu City Council will put
aside years of secrecy and begin
conducting public business accord-
ing to the state’s open government
■
wasted) on Eagle Pointe since its
inception in 1998. Today’s editorial was written by
The legal questions surrounding David Bloom, managing editor of
Eagle Pointe are legion: The Baytown Sun, on behalf of the
The improper firing of newspaper’s editorial board.
Tony Blair’s approach to Iraq
Goose Creek doesn’t need a ‘Band-aid’ fix
I agree with the letter from ing these questions. We don’t need a facility trying to do the job they were
1 tephanie Juarez (The Baytown Sun, Band-aid fix to this issue. Let’s work instructed and paid to do. The
Sept. 26) about building another high on a long-term solution. employees at the animal control facil-
school in Baytown. She pointed out Frances Thompson ity do a great job that most of us don’t
several things that I, too, believe. I Baytown want to do. They should be thanked,
believe we do have the money, or at There are hundreds of volunteers in
least the potential to earn the money Qoose Creek Committees this city going about their work every
---cu.. au uu. _ . day without creating any disturbance,
going in circles I personally witnessed some of the
In 1967, the Goose Creek school BACCR members in action at a town
whether to run under the house or
to fund the building of the third high
school. I also agree that if you com-
bine the high schools, the city will not ____________________
support this. board voted to purchase 141 acres at meeting. I got so scared, I didn’t know
The traditions at Sterling and more the intersection of Archer and whether to run under the house or
so at Lee run deep in this town. 1 too Sjolander Roads — the 41 acre site to cough up a hair ball.
believe that combining the high be used for a new stadium, with the The city uses both the gas chamber
schools is a temporary fix. As far 100-acre tract proposed as the site for and injection method to dispose of
back as 1 can remember, there has future development as sites for three animals. The gas chamber is an
been talk about building the third new schools (supposedly an elemen- accepted method and offers the best
high school and its location would be tary, a junior and a senior high degree of safety for the animal shelter
next door to Gentry Junior School, school). Stallworth Stadium was employees. Regardless of all other
across the street from Stallworth erected on the smaller tract as arguments, this is the most important.
Stadium. planned while Gentry Junior School The BACCR talks about kittens and
Also, combining the schools poses sits alone on the 100-acre tract. puppies, but the adult truth is that
' " - - ■ ■ ~____ School board president Seth some of these junk yard dogs and
scholarships. There would only be Mitchell stated: “The property is well miniature panthers are dangerous,
one valedictorian and one salutatorian located in an area where projections Animal hater? Not hardly. We have
at graduation and the dollar amounts show our growth will occur. Overall, two dogs and a cat. Most of the time
I’ve seen on scholarships for these it looked to us like good land for they get more respect than I do. I
kids has been pretty substantial in future growth of this district. We felt believe animals should be adopted
years past. This would also allow for this represented the best investment out also, but the truth is that a lot of
only one set of “top 10” graduates of the people’s money.” a 1 x.
who also have racked up some big Recent projections indicated
bucks in the scholarship department Stephen F. Austin and Highlands ele-
in previous years. Do we really want mentaries expect the most growth, way animals are disposed of, but I can
to eliminate this? Also, how do you The Archer Road site would seem to assure you the chicken some of these
address the issue of students taking be the logical site for a new elemen- members had for Sunday dinner
sophomore English in their junior tary (and a third high school) as envi- would have changed places with any
year? Are we going to be running sioned by our board members 35 animal in our facility about one nano
busses back and forth between the years ago. second before it gave its all. Any time
campuses all day long for this situa- If current projections of increased it becomes necessary to take the life of
tion and those similar to it? Are we student enrollment are accurate, the any animal, it should be done with as
going to bus athletes, drill team mem- current school board must reconsider much care as reasonably possible and
bers, band members, cheerleaders, its position of “don’t spend, a third a great deal of humility.
etc back and forth for practices and high school is not an option.” I com-
special events? Seems to me that our mend the efforts of the rezoning com- to change the water pump on the
kids are going to be spending a lot of mittee and support their request to washing machine. As I was lying on
time in vehicles traveling across town develop a long-term solution to the the garage floor, I kept wondering
and back when they could be in class high school enrollment squeeze. I what high maintenance dress was.
or working on school work. would suggest they are backed into a When I got up off the floor and
Has anyone looked at the cost of comer, but that’s impossible when brushed the dog and cat hair off my
insurance, salaries, maintenance fees you are going in circles. blue bibs and Big Buck T-shirt, I
and liability costs to the school dis- Winston Gamer knew. I was dressed perfect to balhe,
trict for providing these services? Baytown water, feed and handle animals at bur
Has anybody really thought about
what the cost to combine the two high Nn hiirvin? the hone
schools would really be? If the * e
schools combine, everything will
have to be replaced including the _____b_______.
school mascot, school colors, school mer are about over. With all the bark- Now, I think the mayor, council and
ing and meowing going on in town, committee members know what is
I’m ready for cooler weather and best for the city and if they decide to
flag corp. This will all have to be hunting season. bring the BACCR back to the table
The reason for this letter is to and bury the bone, they should wait
respectfully disagree with The about 100 dog years.
If Baytown has the money to Baytown Sun editorial on Sept 1, I 1fLU.™ 11 L„., I r„_f
replace all of this, why don t we have believe the city and animal control read it to my dog, Gabby. Gabby is
the money to build a third high school committee were correct in their deci- pretty smart. She fetches The
that will promote growth in our city? sion on the BACCR volunteer pin- Baytown Sun every morning, rolls
Also, do we really want to give up gram. The mayor and the majority of over, shakes hands, and plays dead,
the fun and excitement of a friendly City Council and committee mem- When I mentioned the city or animal
“cross-town” rivalry? How can you bers should be applauded for not cav- control employees, she wagged her
have a “cross-channel” rivalry when ing in to this group of animal activists tail, but every time I mentioned the
every two years the UIL changes the trying to ram their idea of volun- BACCR she growls. That’s when I
schools you compete against? Wake teerism down the throats of the rest of realized she is the smartest dog in
up, Baytown. More people need to Baytown’s taxpayers. I resent this Baytown. She could read between the
group trying to hijack the Animal lines too.
™mittee and Control Facility and interfere with
start answer- city employees at the animal control
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Cash, Wanda Garner. The Baytown Sun (Baytown, Tex.), Vol. 80, No. 307, Ed. 1 Sunday, September 29, 2002, newspaper, September 29, 2002; Baytown, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1185065/m1/4/: accessed June 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Sterling Municipal Library.