The Big Lake Wildcat (Big Lake, Tex.), Vol. SIXTY-FIFTH YEAR, No. 17, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 26, 1990 Page: 1 of 12
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What arc the issues of the day?
Today, the issues that we citizens
and taxpayers arc dealing with in-
• elude school finance, taxes, teach-
ers, the May 1 deadline imposed by
the Texas Supreme Court on equal-
ized school funding, and a few other
merely carthshaking issues thrown
in for good measure.
As part of my job I try to read
quite a bit to keep up with these
issues in addition to local issues that
effect us right here in Reagan
County.
I would like to point out one of
the best sources of information on
^ what is happening in Austin on the
state level and it is available to you
every week right here in the Wild-
cat. The column is called Stale
Capital Highlights and it is wnticn
by Lyndcll Williams of the Texas
Press Association. If you arc not a
regular reader of this column, you
are missing a lot of the inside story
on what goes on in Austin and in the
issues that either cause you anguish
or delight. For your reading pleas-
ure and to introduce or re-introduce
9 you to this super column here is this
week’s State Capital Highlights:
AUSTIN - Democratic legisla-
tors are airborne to slamdunk a
sales tax increase past Gov
Clements' veto stamp, but the
feisty republican is poised to re-
ject the shot.
A stern gatekeeper, Cle-
ments warned lawmakers he will
keep them in Austin for a third
special session if they fail to fund
public education with revenue
* cuts and transfers
Meanwhile, a conference
committee that has been putting
the final touches on the educa-
tion bill began looking at a first
year-price tag of between $523
and $550 million.
Sen Carl Parker, (D) Pori
Arthur, chairman of the confer-
ence committee, said that what-
ever bill emerges will have a first
year price tag that can be fi-
nanced with the tax bill and
c budget cuts already approved by
the House.
That level, he said, will in-
clude $65 million estimated to be
necessary to make up for a pro-
jected deficit in the public school
budget under current law.
By the end of last week, al-
most everyone accepted Cle-
ments' warning as a realistic
prediction "This session is ef-
fectively over,” said Lt Governor
Bill Hobby
! • Bui without a doubt, some
Democratic lawmakers want a
tax bill for Clements to veto or
risk closing schools
With the party's gubernatorial
nominee Ann Richards trailing
GOP choice Clayton Williams by
some 15 percent, she needs the
advantage of blaming Clements
for closing schools
Of course, not all Democrats
• think like that, and a handful
voted against the tax hike The
majority simply felt that a tax hike
is the easiest and only way to get
funds for schools Republican,
for the most part, think future
costs will be much, much higher
% unless the structure is stream-
lined
Please see Highlights page 2
City to raise $265,000 for gas system
Interim City Secretary Lee
Kane reported to the Big lake City
Council that work was progressing
on the repairs to the city gas del i very
system as mandated by the Texas
Railroad Commission. Kane also
reported that on February 9, 1990
there were 40 violations of RRC
regulations and by April 9, all but
ten items in violation were com-
pleted and by Monday April 23, the
remaining ten were either complete
or in the process of being com-
pleted. "The work being done now
is to ensure a safe system and to stay
in compliance," said Kane.
The Big Lake City Council has
approved the issuance of $265,000
in Certificates of Obligation to pay
for renovation of the city gas deliv-
ery system. The Council approved
a raise in city gas rates to pay for
repairs to the system. The rate in-
crease will go into effect in October,
1990 and will show up on customers
November I city billing.
The council studied the effect
that a 2%, 4%, and a 5% rate in-
crease would have on city gas cus-
tomers and the amount of revenues
needed to pay for the Certificates of
Obligation. The council found that
a 5% rate increase would generate
$24,879 in annual revenues. The
city payment on the CO’s will be
$20,538 per year which will be
interest only until 1994, at which
lime principal payments will be
started. The council voted for a 5%
rate increase on the gas prices.
A 5% increase in gaschargcs will
result in an increase of approxi-
mately $1.47 per month or $17.64
per year for residential customers.
There arc different rate structures
for gas customers that live inside the
RCHS classes of '37-'41 will
be honored at school reunion
The Reagan County High School classes of 1937, 1938,1939,1940, and
1941 will be honored as special classes at the 1990 RCHS All School
Reunion. The reunion is scheduled for June 30, 1990 here in Big l-akc with
festivities to be held all day Saturday.
Local planners of the reunion have set the reunion agenda as follows.
9-12..........registration and y&cc
12 noon......Lunch
2;00..........Dedication of James H. Bird Memorial Stadium at stadium
3-5...........class meetings
6-8...........Dinner and Program
9-1...........Dance
The cost for the day is $40.00 per couple or $20.00 per single. This
includes lunch, dinner, and dance. Children will not be admitted to the dinner
or dance. Children must be a graduate of RCHS to attend dinner or the ilanc c
Organizers arc asking that reservations be made by June 15, 1990 and to
please include all fees with a reservation form. A reservation form may be
found elsewhere in this week’s Wildcat.
Reunion organizers have made arrangements with Sonshinc Day C arc
Center for Saturday night. They will open at 5:30 p.m. and will stay open until
1:30a.m. Thccosl will bc$10.00perchild. Please advise organizers by June
15 so arrangements can be made by Sonshinc for necessary sitters.
Also, reunion organizers ask ex-students to send in membership cards
along with the $5.00 per graduate membership fee. The membership fees arc
used to fund two $1,700 scholarships to RCHS graduates, administered by
the Reagan County Teachers and Ex Students Association.
Questions concerning the 1990 All School Reunion and the payments and
registration fees should be sent to: Reagan C ounty Ex Student s Association,
700 Maryland, Big Lake, Texas 76932.
TUESDAY IS LAST DAY TO VOTE ABSENTEE
Absentee voting to end
May 1 in local elections
Absentee voting in local elections is now underway and will continue
through May 1. Local citizens who wish to vote absentee may do so at the
business office of each entity. City, school, and hospital district elections will
lake place on Saturday, May 5.
The Keagan County Independent School District has two open
positions, the Big Lake place and the Stiles place. That election has
generated the most interest among candidates.
There have been eight candidates file for the Big Lake place on the school
board. Candidates who have filed for the Big Lake place on the board arc
J.R. Dunn, Jerry Lyon, Allen Stramblcr.JcanincTarvin. David Pitta, Danny
Monzingo.Mikc George, and David Wcrst.
Dan Loflin and Aria Mac Schwcrtncr have filed for election lo the Sules
place on the board.
School board members must run In places, but arc voted on by every
voter in the county. For example, even though there arc two candidates
running for clccuon from the Stiles District, voters in Big Lake and all over
the county will cast their vote in this race.
School board members arc elected to three year terms of office. Absentee
voters may cast absentee ballots at the school administration office.
Mayor H.F. Ritchie is unopposed for re-election to the top position in the
city council clccuons. Incumbent City Council member Billie Hyde has
filed for re-election. James Matthews filed for a place on the city ballot and
Jessie Barrera and Johnny Beavers have filed for a council place. The Coun-
cil and mayor serve two year terms.
Absentee voters may cast their ballots at City Hall.
There are three open places on the board of directors of Reagan Hospital
District. Those places arc currently held by Dr. C.S. NunnaJIy. George
James, and Dr. J.L. Wright, Jr. All three incumbents have filed for re-
election to the hospital board. The hospital board is in the process of
ref urbishing the former nurses apartments into adult-senior supervised living
apartments and is planning a wellness center at the hospital The board will
be making a firm decision on whether or not to proceed with the wellness
clinic in the near future. Completion of the project is prclimarily set for
October 31,1990. The supervised living apartments could be completed by
early May. 1990.
Absentee voters may cast their ballots at the business office at Reagan
Memorial Hospital
city limits, outside city limit gas
customers, inside commercial cus-
tomers. and outside commercial
customers. The city of Big Lake has
979cuslomcrs inside the city limits,
13 outside the city limits, 75 inside
commercial customers, 6 outside
commercial customers and 42 non
taxable commercial customers, for
a tola! of 1,113 gas customers.
The Certificates of Obligation-
1990 scries will be paid ofl in live
year 2015. Certificates of Obliga
turn arc secured to investors tlirough
a pledge of revenues from an in-
come producing facility such as a
utility system. CO’s can he issued
without voter approval however,
upon notice of the city’s intent to
issue ccrulicatcs of obligation, live
percent of the qualified voters can
force an election on the issue by
submission of a petition.
The City of Big lake has previ-
ously used CO's as a means of fi-
nancing city improvements. The
council last issued CO’s in 19X5ihal
will be paid off in the year 2000
The city also has issued Revenue
Bonds series 1979 that will mature
in the year 1999; General Obliga-
tion bonds that will mature in die
year 2015; and General Obligation
Bonds series 1981 that w ill mature
in the year 1994.
In other City Council business,
interim city secretary Lee Kane
reported the city animal control
officer had impounded 24 dogs and
13 cats. Two dogs were redeemed
and 12 were destroyed; nocats were
redeemed and 13 were destroyed. In
reviewing the sheriff s report to the
city, Kane reported that sheriff
Wcathcrby's report showed the
sheriffs department responded to
205 calls in the city during the
monthof March There were l‘>city
prisoners placed in die county jail.
The City also approved new rates
for commercial sewer customers.
The new rates will be calculated by
multiplying average water con-
sumption by $.50 per 1000 gallons,
plus a basic charge of $12.50 if the
commercial customer is inside the
city limns or $18.50 if outside the
city limns. The new billing amount
will appear on the billing received
on or about June 1, 1990.
More tax suits may be filed by County
Ixite taxpayers are facing a 15% added collection fee
Reagan County tax collector
Vcnnta Terra! and employees arc
busy collccung both current. 1989
and delinquent taxes but they have a
reminder for all taxpayers. Those
who have not paid their 1989 taxes
will soon be facing a 15% collccuon
fee added automatically to their tax
bill if the taxes are not paid before
July 1,1990. “Wc just want every-
one to be aware of this added fee so
hopefully there will not he as many
misunderstandings in the future,"
said Mrs. Terral.
County lax attorneys Calamc,
Lincbargcr &. Graham have taken
the following ac tions already in the
collection of delinquent taxes.
7 lax suns have gone for judge-
ment
I not pursued because it was paid
20 lax suits arc ready to be filed
within the next month
50 taxpayers (approximately)
are making payments to the tax at-
torneys
13 letters arc being mailed out
now to taxpayers who have de
faulted on their payment agrcc-
.mcnls and suits will he filed on die sc
if they arc not brought up lo date
immediately
However, over age 65 taxpayers
'have an option and Mrs. Terral is
mailing notices lo all of them in
Reagan County as soon as possible
The Reagan County Tax Office will
be mailing out a lax deferral notice
to all taxpayers who had an ovcr-65
homestead exemption on the 1989
tax roll.
"Wc want to inform every tax-
payer of their rights under the law
and wc certainly want lo avoid any
unnecessary lax suiLs," said Mrs.
Terral. The letter stales, “If you are
a homeowner age 65 or older, you
can defer, or postpone paying delin-
quent pro|icrty taxes on your home
for as long as you own it and live in
it. To postpone your tax payments,
f ilc a tax deferral affidavit w nh your
appraisal district. If you have al-
ready been sued for delinquent
taxes owed on your home, you can
suspend die lawsuit by filing an
affidavit with the court where the
lawsuit is pending. The deferral
applies to delinquent property taxes
for all of die taxing units that tax
your home."
Over 65 homeowners should be
aware that a lax deferral only post-
pones payments, it does not cancel
them Interest will be added at the
rate of 8% annually. Once you no
longer own your home or live in it,
all the taxes, penalties, and interest
become due immediately and the
taxing units may proceed with de-
linquent tax suits if the taxes remain
unpaid.
Rain brings year's total to 5.79 inches
Rainfall from a thunderstorm
early Wednesday morning totaled
.96 of an inch Accompanied by
lightning and some thunder, the
storm brought rain around 5:00 a.m.
and continued more than one hour.
Added to the . 38 of an inch Wednes-
day night of last week, this brought
the April rainfall total to 2.09
inches.
The year-to-date total now reads
5.79 inches. By months, January
recorded .77 of an inch; February,
1.28; March, 1.65; and April thus
far. 2.09; total 5.79.
The rainfall and temperature
readings arc recorded on the U S.
Weather Bureau gauge at the Soil
Conservation Service office at the
western edge of Big Lake each day
at 8:00 a.m. for the preceding 24-
hour pcruxl.
Temperature highs and lows for
the past week show the following:
April 19, 58-42; April 20. 69-55;
April 21. 72-61; April 22. 82-63;
April 23. 78-63; April 24, 81-61;
and April 25.84 52.
Marathon is renovating Santa Rita #1
The disco vary wall of the Permian Basin, Santa Rita #1,
is undergoing extensive work above ground by Marathon
Oil Company at Texon. The steel derrick was lifted in one
piece off of the wellsight by two huge cranes and placed
next to the wellsite where it will be refurbished The
buildings, and equipment at the site will also be stabal-
ued. repaired, or replaced as needed to make the site
safer Inspecting the work underway is Marathon super-
visors Mark Zoelter and Jimmy Prince. According to
Jimmy Prince. *lt is surprising the number of tourists that
turn oft the mam highway and come down hare to view
Santa Rita «1. We are proceeding with the renovation
tor a number of reasons, one being to secure the site
better and make it safe * TCB Construction Company of
Bg Lake is the contractor on the renovation project
which is expected to take several weeks to complete.
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Werst, David. The Big Lake Wildcat (Big Lake, Tex.), Vol. SIXTY-FIFTH YEAR, No. 17, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 26, 1990, newspaper, April 26, 1990; Big Lake, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth658674/m1/1/?rotate=90: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Reagan County Library.