The Canadian Record (Canadian, Tex.), Vol. 119, No. 46, Ed. 1 Thursday, November 12, 2009 Page: 5 of 40
forty pages : ill. ; page 12 x 10.5 in.View a full description of this newspaper.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
THE CANADIAN RECORD
NEWS PAGE
THURSDAY 1 2 NOVEMBER 2DD9
Commissioners sign on for new fire truck and station redo,
consider new use for juvenile facility as fire training center
The Canadian Volunteer Fire Department
will soon have a new pumper truck, a new look
for their station, and the possibility of a traili-
ng center that could service the local depart-
ment, as well as regional firefighting organi -
zations.
In their November 9th meeting Hemphill
County Commissioners laid to rest a three-
month controversy over the purchase of a fire
truck. When F ire Chief Scott Brewster pre-
sented his three-pronged proposal Monday
morning, the fire truck was high on his wish
list. In early August, Brewster had made a
pitch for a brand new Ferrara HD-77 fire
pumper at a cost of $500,000, a price tag that
the Court had balked at in several contentious
encounters.
In subsequent discussions on the ssue,
Brewster had been asked by Commissioners
to check nto the possibility of used pumpers.
Brewster located one for about half the cost, a
used 2002 E-l series 75-foot truck in Rowlett,
Texas. With 47,800 miles, it has been used an
average of two hours a day. Also in the pack-
age is a flow minder system that will allow for
2,000 gallons of water a minute. The cost will
be approximately $258,000 and Brewster said,
"This truck could last 30 years."
Brewster had also priced changes to the
fire station, adding 25 feet to the west side of
the structure, installing a brick facade, and
repair work on the interior. The facade would
correct problems with the existing brick and
match what Bartlett Enterprises had done
recently at the end of Main Street. He had
only rough figures for the cost, but with all the
construction and concrete, he estimated t at
around $110,000.
The third proposal—one that could solve
the problem Commissioners have faced for
several years about utilizing the former juve-
nile facility—was a brand new idea. Brewster
said the Emergency Operations Coordinator
for Spearman is investigating the possibility
of an academy for area firefighters. "Before a
fireman ever sets foot at a fire, he's supposed
to have 72 hours of training." Brewster is sug-
gesting the facility as a training center for
the local fire department. "We used to have
a house we could climb around on," he said.
Brewster had priced shipping containers that
could serve as modules for fire situations at
about $3,500 each and he hoped to acquire
nine of them.
If the regional training idea takes off,
Brewster said the Canadian center could be
an answer for a suitable place for classes. He
cited the fact that it is a central point. He also
suggested the site for EMS and Sheriffs office
training.
Brewster indicated $130,000 of the pumper
cost could come from the Fire Department's
capital outlay line item and $30,000 from a
carryover from last fiscal year. The remain-
der would be from the reserve the county has
built.
Commissioner Lynard Schafer made the
motion to purchase the truck under the Texas
Local Government Code Section 262.024(a)(2),
which authorizes an exemption to the competi-
tive bidding statute in an emergency situation.
In a comment about the cost he said, "That's
what we've been build ing this fund for. For five
years you've been taxing the people 10-cents
extra a year to this fund and now we're using
it—it's part of your infrastructure."
Earlier in the meeting Schafer had distrib-
uted a cost analysis sheet listing projects the
county has committed to through 2014. The
costs of some items were not listed because
they had not been determined, but the esti-
mated total was $12.4 million, a figure that in-
cluded the library, the Fifth Street and court-
house renovation, the exhibition center, the
cemetery maphouse, the fire station, airport
work in conjunction with TxDOT, and a barn
for Precinct #4.
Judge Steven Vandiver seconded Scha-
fer's motion that passed without opposition.
He then made one of his own to authorize
Brewster to obtain an architect-approved
plan and estimates for the fire station renova-
tion, which Schafer seconded and then passed
unanimously.
Schafer also stated a motion to allow
Brewster to pursue the fire training center
concept for the juvenile facility. Commissioner
Joe Schaef seconded and it passed with no op-
position.
Pat Ford was retained as the architect/
engineer for several projects: the courthouse
renovation, the jail, fire station and exhibi-
tion center expansions and face-lifts, and
Fifth Street reconfiguration for drainage im-
provements. Ford has been involved with the
WCTU/Library renovation from its inception.
After Ford presented his qualification
packet to the Commissioners, Judge Vandiver
made the motion to hire him. Ford will be the
main consultant with Fratto Engineering, for
HVAC design and documentation, and Arnold
Associates, assisting with the waterproofing
and exterior envelope nvestigation. City en-
gineer Dwight Brandt has already been con-
sulting with Ford about the drainage issues on
Fifth Street. Schaef seconded and the motion
passed unanimously.
The Court approved Ford's draw request
for Missouri Valley Contractors of $50,483.84
for concrete and metalwork and a change order
for $8,646 for brick matching at the WCTU/Li-
brary.
In other bus less, Commissioners:
•Were informed by Sheriff Henderson that
the county jail had passed an inspection by the
Texas Commission on Jail Standards on Octo-
ber 27th. "It was nip and tuck," said Hender-
son. The biggest issue was the work schedule
with one dispatcher on duty at night. If there is
a 911 call, a crisis situation such as a big fire, or
a deputy out on call, the dispatcher won't leave
the office and can't check inmates. "We have a
one-year reprieve," said Henderson, saying he
will look into options to bring before the Court.
Another issue is having deputies qualified as
ailers, a requirement if they book prisoners
into jail. Henderson has asked that the course
work be provided in Peace Officer Certifica-
tion as it is a hardship to send deputies to the
2-1/2-week school. To comply, Henderson will
have to send seven of his personnel to the
school within the next year.
•Agreed to assist with an estimated $510 in
expected costs for lodging and meals when the
ECD hosts the Governor's Office of Economic
Development and Tourism, the Texas Com-
mission on the Arts and the Texas Parks and
Wildlife this week on November 10-12. During
their visit they will perform an assessment on
the town's tourism and economic development
efforts. Community Development Director
Tamera Julian invited the commissioners to
the welcome dinner on Tuesday night at the
Cattle Exchange. She also reported on the film
crew that was in town recently and the Busi-
ness After Hours chamber event scheduled for
Thursday, November 19, from 5:30-6:30 p.m.,
a brainstorming session for local retailers. She
said lighting installation plans for the Wagon
Bridge are in progress.
•Approved the creation of a State Criminal
Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP) fund,
dedicated funds for the maintenance and
training for jail personnel. Hemphill County
had been awarded $15,672 from the Bureau
of Justice Assistance to assist with housing il-
legal aliens.
•Approved plans presented by pilot Tim
Albracht for Bailey Peyton's hangar location,
with changes to the orientation squaring it
with other hangars, assurance of adequate
drainage, and the endorsement from the own-
er of an adjacent hangar regarding access to
his property.
•Approved the dedication for public road
by Caprock Cattle Company of a 1.755-acre
tract of land to extend Deer Street.
•Tabled any action on a request by Rob
Talley's and Jim Leatherman's proposal to
abandon an unused road between their two
properties. The road was dedicated in the Sep-
tember 8,2008 court in the Court minutes, but
no official document was filed. Talley asked if
the road could be abandoned as an easement,
but kept as a utility easement. The Court opt-
ed for more research on the matter and legal
consultation.
•Agreed to advertise to sell a Load King
belly dump and Freightliner truck for Pre-
cinct #1.
•Adopted a resolution to accept the Energy
Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Pro-
gram allocation under the American Recov-
ery and Reinvestment Act, funds to be used to
develop and implement projects that will im-
prove energy efficiency. Judge Vandiver said
the new courthouse windows could qualify for
the program.
•Approved the contract renewal for Hemp-
hill County Airport Manager/FBO with Bill
Kendall.
•Approved Sheriff Henderson's request to
advertise for two new vehicles to replace two
2006 Chevy pickups with high mileage. Those
will be listed for a trade-in, along with a vehicle
currently being used by Juvenile Probation
Officer Julia Schafer. There was discussion
about giving her one of the pickups because
they have four-wheel-drive. The bids will be
opened in the November 30th meeting.
•Approved a one-time $150 pay raise for
full-time employees for December.
•Tabled reinstitution of the burn ban for
the county. Community Development Direc-
tor Tamera Julian suggested the county post
signs at the city limits saying when the ban
was in effect.
•Approved a budget amendment of
$2,153.63 for the District Judge and staff bud-
get to allow for 19.6 percent raise for which
paperwork was not received until after the
budget process.
Those present for the meeting ncluded
Judge Steven Vandiver, Commissioners Joe
Schaef, Lynard Schafer and Mark Meek, Tax
Assessor-Collector Debbie Ford, Treasurer
Cindy Bowen, Sheriff Gary Henderson, Kay
Smallwood, Pat Ford, April Dillon, Sally Hen-
derson, Rob Talley, Tim Albracht, Jim Leath-
erman, Tamera Julian, Tamara Reinhardt,
Laurie Brown, David Pearson, Scott Brewster,
and Record reporter Cathy Ricketts.
Now Ottering:
Blue Ridge Oilfield
Cental Company. LLC
South of Canadian on tlwy. 83
Monday - Friday
8:00 am to 4:00 pill (open during lunch)
Mechanic Service
Passenger Vehicle,
DOT & Trailer
Inspection
Vehicle & Diesel
Repair
All forms of Welding
including Exotic
Metal Welding
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.
Brown, Laurie Ezzell. The Canadian Record (Canadian, Tex.), Vol. 119, No. 46, Ed. 1 Thursday, November 12, 2009, newspaper, November 12, 2009; Canadian, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth252775/m1/5/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Hemphill County Library.