The Albany News (Albany, Tex.), Vol. 116, No. 6, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 18, 1991 Page: 1 of 16
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Albany New
"Oldest Journalistic Venture West of the Brazos"
THURSDAY, JULY 18,1991, ALBANY. TEXAS 76430
10 PAGES IN 1 SECTION
VOLUME NUMBER 116 NUMBER 6 PRICE 500 PER COPY
Council okays paving bid, gas rate hike
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Crossing construction...
Work began this week on the construction of a low water crossing just north of the Nancy Smith Elementary
School campus, the fifth such crossing to be undertaken by the city this year. The installation of large drainage
pipes under the new concrete crossings improves the flow of flood waters through Albany, and is part of tne
city's effort to dedTeas»d«ffnagefSrom heavy rainfall. City and county cfews are working in conjunction (o clean
out clogged waterways to further prevent flood damage. iStaff Photol
By Donnie A. Lucas
The Albany City Council ac-
cepted bide for the tale of two used
Eiickup trucks, and approved the
ow bid for paving the municipal
airport during a regular meeting
held Wednesday, July 10.
The council also discussed de-
linquent water, sewer and trash
accounts and heard from a local
resident about the cost of city ser-
vices.
Bids Accepted
The council accepted the highest
bids—both submitted by the same
person — for the sale of two city-
owned pickups.
Jimmy Ruff was the high bidder
on a Chevrolet pickup at $400, and
also got the bid on a Dodge truck
with $250. There was one other bid
on each vehicle, with $201 bid on
~ the Chevy and $101 on the Dodge.
The city accepted the low bid
}-om Safeco of Waco for the paving
f the municipal airport. City
manager Bobby Russell stated that
the bid included resurfacing and
re-striping of the runway and
aprons at the airport.
Russell added that 90 percent of
th e cost of the paving would be paid
for by the Texas Department of
Aviation.
Billing Discussed
Russell also presented the
council with a list of delinquent
uccounts for city services.
"Some of these accounts haven't
been paid on since 1988," said
Russell "Most of the people have
moved, but there are a few who are
still in town."
Russell suggested that all delin-
quent accounts be sent a final no-
tice and then turned over to a col-
lection agency if not paid. The
suggestion was approved by the
council.
Virginia Hayes also addressed
the council concerning the sewer
charge on her monthly bill for a
commercial account outside of the
city limits.
"She felt that the $30 per month
fee was too- high, and it was ex-
plained that the rate for services'
outside of the city limits is double
the rate of customers located inside
the city boundaries."
No action was taken concerning
the matter.
Gas and Water Contracts
The council approved a local rate
increase for Lone Star Gas Com-
pany on the second reading, and
also discussed a proposed new
contract with the Shackelford
Water Supply Corporation.
During their June meeting the
council approved a rate equal to
about 50 percent of what Lone Star
Gas had originally requested.
Lone Star Gas had first asked for
a total revenue increase of 4.89
percent — comprised mostly of an
increase in monthly service
charges.
Under the 2.44 percent increase
that was approved, only 20 cents
per month will be added tocusttfner
service charges. The balance of the
increase will be tacked on jp the
cost per 1,000 MCF of natui%l gas
used-by the customer.
Concerning a new proposed
contract that tne city h as presented
to the Shackelford Water Supply
Corporation, Russell stated that
he had not received anything offi-
cially.
"Unofficially we understand that
they will be presenting us with a
counter offer to our proposal, but
we have not received it yet."
Russell called the negotiations
"bogged down" until an official re-
ply is received.
In other business, Russell re-
ported that there has been no
progress between the city's insur-
ance company and a local family
over damage done to their home
when a sewer line backed up.
The home of Red and Shirley
Alexander was damaged when raw
sewerage backed up in their house
during January.
They haven't been able to reach
an agreement with our insurance
company over the cost of the dam-
age," said Russell. "It is an unfor-
tunate situation and it has been
going on a long time."
Russell also reported that work
will begin this week on the fifth low
water crossing constructed this
year. The new crossing will be lo-
cated near the corner of Griffin
Road and North 9th.
"Some of the work was funded
by the federal government due to
flood damages received last year."
Russell added that city crews
have been busy cleaning out local
creek beds to prevent further
flooding.
"The county is helping us with
the creek clean-up — we have a
joint workday set this week."
Board postpones appointment of chief appraiser
The Shackelford County Ap-
praisal Board postponed the ap-
pointment of an interim or per-
manent chief appraiser after
screening applications and inter-
viewing Assistant Chief Appraiser
Anita Macgregor during a meeting
Tuesday, July 16.
Current Shackelford County
Chief Appraiser Betty Viertel
submitted her resignation last
month effective July 31,1991.
According to board president
Larry Hudson, the directors plan
to meet again next Tuesday
evening, July 23 to interview the
four outer applicants for the posi-
tion.
"Our intention is to either hire a
chief appraiser or appoint an in-
terim officer at that meeting," said
Hudson. "If we aren't able to do
that, we'll probably have to set
another meeting before the end of
the month. Our deadline to have
something done is August 1."
Viertel suggested during
Tuesday's session that the board
adopt some interim office man-
agement policies in the event that
her resignation becomes effective
before a new chief appraiser is
hired. The directors, however, opted
to table any action until next week.
The suggestions included au-
thorizing someone to sign checks
for the transfer of tax funds col-
lected to the participating juris-
dictions. Viertel's appointment by
the jurisdictions as assessor col-
lector gave her the authority to
sign these checks, but no one else
in the office is currently empowered
to do so.
"Hopefully, we will have the
position filled after the July 23rd
meeting," commented Hudson
later. "In that event, the new chief
appraiser would take over this re-
sponsibility."
Hudson stated that all the ap-
plicants had implied that they
would be able to assume their new
duties immediately. "We don't an-
ticipate any complications or ma-
jor changes in the way the office is
run," he added.
During Tuesday's meeting, the
board questioned Viertel about the
laws requiring certified personnel
to be employed by the appraisal
district.
She explained that the Property
Tax Code specifies that at least one
person in the office be registered
for each of the three functions. "If
someone is not already certified,
they can get by with being regis-
tered as long as they are actively
working on their certification," she
(See Appraisal district, pg. 10)
All-stars capture district title
By Donnie A. Lucas
The Albany All-Stars provided
local fans with some fine baseball
and a championship title last week
in the Area 3 District All-Star
Tournament.
Hosted by the Albany Baseball
Association this year, the toumey
started Monday and concluded on
Saturday with a play-off bout that
pitted Albany against Brecken-
ridge.
The two teams met three times
last week in the tournament, with
the local all-stars winning two out
of three for the title.
Albany will host Abilene Dixie
on Thursday, July 18, at 7:30 p.m.
in an area play-off game. Dixie
defeated Abilene Key City on
Monday andTuesday nights to win
their district title.
Abilene Dixie will bring a clean
slate into the game, requiring Al-
bany to defeat the team twice in
order to advance. The play-off game
will be held in Albany on Friday if
needed.
Since Albany suffered a loss in
the district tournament, they can
not lose another game in their quest
for the area title.
However, if they advance as the
winnerfrom the area to the regional
tourney,they will start with a clean
slate in another double elimination
tournament.
Albany Beats Breck
The Albany team faced Breck-
enridge for the first time on
Wednesday, July 10, after both
teams picked up wins to advance to
the third round.
The score was tied at 3-3 at the
end of the regular six innings.
However, the Albany team put five
runs on the board in the seventh to
clinch the win, 8-3.
Matt Stapp knocked in a three-
run homer in the seventh to push
his team ahead. He also hit a home
ran in the sixth inning.
Rory Peacock, Corey Ruff and
Stapp scored two runs each, while
Brian Holson and Kirk Hebel
crossed home plate one time apiece.
Corey Ruff pitched the game for
Albany, allowing three runs on six
hits and six walks. He struck out
nine batters at the plate.
Albany scored two runs in the
third and one in the sixth before
their seventh inning scoring spree.
Breckenridge earned one run in
the third and two in the fifth.
The Breckenridge players dropped
into the losers' end of the bracket,
but worked their way back up with
a win over Cross Plains to meet
Albany in the finals on Friday.
The score was again tied at 5-5
after four innings, but this time
Breckenridge broke loose for seven
runs in the sixth, while Albany
mustered only two runs in the
bottom half of the inning.
Breckenridge won the second
me 12-7 to force a play-off on
turday in the double elimination
tournament
Zach Kincaid pitched Friday's
game against Breckenridge, allow-
ing 12 runs on eight hits and eight
walks. He had four strikeouts from
the mound.
Corey Ruff scored three runs for
the local team, followed by Kirk
Hebel with two, and Brian Holson
and Brian Bennett with one each.
"It was tied 5-5 going into the
sixth, and then we made eight er-
rors to allow them seven runs,"
said Coach Ronnie Kincaid. "You
can't beat very many teams giving
up that many errors. We out-hit
them, but they didn't make the
mistakes we did."
Championship Game
Albany found itself in a "must
win" situation on Saturday, July
13, and that is exactly what they
did.
The Albany All -Stars scored only
one run and that was in the first
inning, but it was all that was
needed to win the title by a score of
1-0.
Corey Ruff pitched a four-hit
shutout for Albany. Although he
gave up four hits and three walks,
the Breckenridge all-stars were
kept away from home plate. Ruff
struck out nine batters from the
mound.
Kirk Hebel scored the lone win-
ning run for Albany.
"We sent 20 batters to the plate
in six innings and Breckenridge
had 23 — that is pretty tight."
The game lasted only one hour.
"The boys played extremely
well," said Kincaid. "All the games
were tight."
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District champions...
Members of the Albany's all-star team emerged as the winners of the district title after defeating Breckenridge
in a play-off last Saturday. The local team will host Abilene tonight. Players include (front row, l-r) Josue
Martinez, David Fitzgibbons, Mike Garcia, Gavin Gillit, Josh Hash, Jacob Green, Brian Bennett, (back) Corey
Ruff, Coach Don Fitzgibbons, Brian Holson, Zach Kincayd, Matt Stapp, Rory Peacock, Kirk Hebel, Coach
Ronnie Kincaid and Billy Joe Graham. (Staff Photo]
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Lucas, Donnie A. The Albany News (Albany, Tex.), Vol. 116, No. 6, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 18, 1991, newspaper, July 18, 1991; Albany, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth413991/m1/1/: accessed July 12, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting The Old Jail Art Center.