Hondo Anvil Herald (Hondo, Tex.), Vol. 116, No. 6, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 7, 2002 Page: 1 of 66
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BEST AVAILABLE COPY
HONDO ANVIL HEP A LD
Our 11 5th Year
Medina County's Leading Newspaper
Volume 116, Number 6
Thursday, February 7, 2002
Published in Hondo, Texas
Website HondoAnvilHerald cum
Four Sections, 32 Pages
50 Cents
City Council workshop
to address airport
development proposal
Hondo City Council will hold a
workshop Monday, Feb. 11, 6:30
p.m., to hear a proposal by The Horn
Company of San Antonio to develop
the Hondo Municipal Airport.
Area residents and business people
who would like to learn about the air-
port development proposal are
encouraged to attend this meeting.
(See city council story for more in-
formation.)
Sigma Tau Sorority
to dedicate cancer
information collection
Sigma Tau Sorority invites the
community to the Dedication and
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the
Susan Porter Zuberbueler “Cele-
bration of Life” Collection at the
Hondo Public Library on Monday,
Feb. 11, from 6 to 7 p.m.
AARP members help
with Tax-Aide Program
Tax preparation for senior citizens
and low-income families will be of-
fered on Mondays, until April 15,
8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (except Feb.
18, Presidents’ Day) at the Hondo
Public Library, Hwy. 90 and Ave. K.
For tax assistance, bring current tax
forms, preparation booklet and cop-
ies of last year's income tax return.
Bring all copies of W-2 and W-2p
forms and any other documents with
income on them.
SA event to benefit
tornado victims
Gate proceeds from a Cajun Mardi
Gras Festival, celebrating the reopen-
ing of the Westlake Theatre in San
Antonio, will be donated to the Me-
dina County Relief Fund for victims
of the Oct. 12 tornadoes.
The event is Saturday, Feb. 9, 11
a.m.to midnight, at 1255 SW Loop
410. $1 donations at the gate will go
to the relief fund.
Local volunteers are needed to help
collect at the gate. Call 2! 0-496-1300,
ext. 13, for more details.
Union Pacific is installing new sig-
nals and signal cabinets such as
this one at Ave. I.
Railroad
crossing
upgrade
underway
By William Hoover
Anvil Herald Correspondent
The railroad tracks which run
along the north side of Highway 90
through the heart of Hondo are in the
process of being made safer for mo-
torists by Union Pacific Railroad.
The rail company is replacing
Hondo’s aging crossing signals with
new state of the art signals and equip-
ment. Union Pacific spokesman John
Bromley said the eight-foot by eight-
foot silver cabinets being erected
along the railway in Hondo are sig-
nal cabinets which house the cross-
ing^ignal’s weather sensitive mecha-
nisms and electronics.
“Eight crossing signals are being
upgraded with all new equipment,"
said Bromley from his Nebraska
based office. “The cabinets house the
wiring and electronic relays that op-
erate the signal. There should be, or
will be, eight signal cabinets installed
as part of the work in Hondo. They
protect the control equipment by
keeping it out of the weather. The sig-
nal lights and the gates will be re-
placed with all new equipment."
Although he said the project had
no completion date, Bromley said the
UP crews were "moving right along"
and, after the upgrade, Hondo would
have safer and more reliable cross-
ing signals.
Blocked shot
D’Hanis athletic facility
bond proposal strikes out
By William Hoover
Anvil Herald Correspondent
Voters in the D’Hanis Independent
School District turned out in large
numbers Saturday, to refuse a $2.25
million bond to build a new gymna-
sium and baseball fields for the
school and its students.
Voters declined the bond behind a
strong 52% voter turnout. Of the
district’s 948 registered voters, 495
cast ballots in the election, with 302
voting against the proposal and 193
voting in favor.
At issue was whether the Class A
school, with its current high school
enrollment of 92, needed new athletic
facilities to keep pace with some of
the other school districts in the area.
Those who voted against the bond
believed the district’s spending pri-
orities were out of place.
Bond opponent Ronnie Koch was
pleased with the turnout and the result.
"The community really came to-
gether and decided this was not the
way for D’Hanis to proceed," said
Koch. “The cost of $2.25 million was
just too much ”
Koch said there was no question
the school needed to improve its
gymnasium, but the community dis-
agreed with how the board of direc-
tors wanted to proceed.
Anvil Herald weather information recorded b>
Gerry Bridges, reported by Lindsay Gar/a.
Date
High
Low
Rain
Wed., Jan. 30
81
67
.00
Thurs., Jan. 31
70
56
.00
Fri., Feb. 1
55
42
.00
Sat., Feb 2
58
35
.00
Sun . Feb. 3
59
35
.00
Mon.. Feb. 4
56
47
.00
Tues., Feb. 5
47
42
60
Total rain for the past week: 0.60 in.
Total rain for January: 0.30 in.
Total rain for February: 0 60 in.
Total rain for 2002: 0.90 in.
Avg. high temp, for the week: 60.8°
Avg. low temp, for the week: 46.3°
High temp, for 2002: 82° on Jan. 29
Low temp, for 2002: 25° on Jan. 3
“They could have upgraded the
gym last summer, but they got side
tracked," said Koch.
Koch believes the DISD board of di-
rectors should go back to the drawing
board and resurrect its previous plans
to upgrade the current gymnasium.
"That was the plan last summer,"
said Koch. “The board had decided
to spend up to $150,000 to upgrade
facilities and build dressing rooms.
But when interest rates dropped, they
decided to hold the bond election."
DISD Superintendent Bruce Davis
was disappointed with the outcome.
“I’m . not happy with the
opposition's publicized advertise-
ment," said Supt. Davis. “The infor-
mation in the ad was not correct. But
by the time the ad was- published,
there was no way to counter it.
“We want to build a gym. but we
cannot afford it. Our chances went out
the window with the bond defeat.
Evidently, we will just sit here and
decline if people don’t want to invest
in the district.’’
Davis said the defeat was disap-
pointing because the district was try-
ing to implement a progressive plan
to upgrade^the campus.
"Wehad’a 10-year plan and built the
classrooms at Ben Koch Elementary,”
said Davis. "The only thing moved for-
ward was the library. We were on
schedule with upgrades to the school.
Now it will be up to this board or the
next to come up with a new plan.”
According to Da\ is, the DISD will
go back to where it was two years
ago. In 1999, the district passed a
bond contingent on state funding, for
which it has not been made eligible.
Owls' Nest included
in this issue
Don't miss this week's Owls1 Nest,
w ritten and prepared by Hondo High
School students, printed and inserted
in the Hondo Anvil Herald as a pub-
lic service of this newspaper.
HhOTO BV JEFF OEHUtM
RECORD-BREAKING BASKETBALL TEAM...Owl post Danielle Sowa
puts up a shot over a Cotulla defender. The Owls completed the first-
ever perfect district season in Owl history Tuesday night in Pearsall,
with a 14-0 record in 28-3A competition. See story on page 14.
City in talks with CPS
over six-figure invoice
Vidaurri says bill wasn Y unexpected
By William Hoover aged the city's utility intrastructure.
Anvil Herald Corresinindent CPS crews descended on the city the
morning after the twisters devastated
The City of Hondo is in negotia- the town to assist in rebuilding the
tions with its electrical wholesale electrical system and to help restore
contractor, City Public Sen ice ot San sen ice to businesses and residents.
Antonio, regarding payment ot a ( its Manager John Vidaurri said
$263,003 invoice for emergency scr- C'l’b did not discuss payment while
vices CPS rendered in the atterniaih they were helping restore electric ser-
of the Oct. 12 tornadoes which rav- See C.P.S. BILL Page 4
Company says its proposal would refine Hondo’s airport goldmine
By William Hoover
Anvil Herald Correspondent
The Hpndo Municipal Airport and
its properties have often been referred
to as a diamond in the rough or an
undiscovered goldmine.
The only problem with the anal-
ogy is that the diamond has remained
rough and the gold is still undiscov-
ered. The city has listened to hun-
dreds of proposals over the years, but
each time, plans fell through the
cracks or funding problems arose.
The city has been reluctant to build
hangars at the airport without hav-
ing guaranteed tenants. Similarly,
potential tenants have always asked
the city to build them the facilities
they need while proposing long fi-
nancing schemes. The city has been
reluctant to pursue any specific
course of action and the airport has
accordingly developed only slowly
and in a haphazard, random fashion.
However, with the airport experi-
encing a fire and a tornado within one
year, city leaders are seriously con-
sidering turning the development of
the airport over to professionals.
A professional management team
could develop the airport according
to a comprehensive plan which
would bring much needed services to
the community without competing
with existing merchants, according to
the professionals.
Roy Horn III of Helotes is propos-
ing the city allow his team, the Horn
Company, to take responsibility for
finally polishing the diamond that is
Hondo Municipal Airport and uncov-
ering the gold it harbors by allowing
him to take charge of developing the
property.
According to Horn’s proposal, the
development team would consist of
a real estate broker, an administrator,
a project/construction manager, and
engineering support who would work
together to develop a model airport
development plan which exceeds
state and federal standards. The team
would handle all aspects of the de-
velopment from land planning, origi-
nation of deed restrictions, archi-
tectural standards, design compatibil-
ity and aesthetic standards.
Some of the possible uses identified
in the development proposal include:
flight schools, junior college campus,
aviation museum site, golf course with
garden homes, condominiums, and
retirement and assisted living facili-
ties. Horn's plan also proposed vari-
ous uses for new aircraft hangars.
Horn told council that Hondo resi-
dent Sue Fest would be his team’s on-
site administrator and other team
members would be selected if the pro-
posal is accepted by council.
Mayor Jim Barden told council
Horn had already made a presenta-
tion to the city’s Airport Advisory
Board and had hosted a gathering
where the city discussed a compre-
hensive plan to develop the airport
and cleanup environmentally sensi-
tive areas. The mayor asked Airport
Board chairman Aniceto Colunga to
introduce Horn to council.
Colunga said his board had met
with Horn Jan. 16 at the Flightline
Cafe, “We liked what we heard and
Mr Heyen and Mr. Hargrove were at
the meeting. Now, we’d like all of
council to hear what he has to say.”
Horn introduced himself and said
he had served on Helotes's economic
development committee for the last
15 years. Horn said he was politically
involved in his community and his
business was commercial real estate.
He said he often makes presentations
w <j|p-.
before San Antonio's city council on
behalf of his clients and is politically
involved. As proof of his success.
Horn said he had survived the turbu-
lent real-estate markets of the 1980s
and 1990s.
“I was informed of the situation
with Hondo Municipal Airport just a
few months ago,” he said. "People
started to notice Hondo after the tor-
nado of Oct. 12."
Horn said he felt as if he and city
representatives he had so far spoken
with were on the same page regard-
ing their desire to develop the airport.
“People say Hondo has great poten-
tial and we feel the same way. We
want to bring in quality employers,
not 800 minimum wage jobs. We want
to be selective. Whoever we bring in
first affects who wants to come next,
so we will work hard to find busi-
nesses we all want in Hondo."
According to his plan’s mission
statement, Horn intends to transform
Hondo Municipal Airport into a re-
gional airport with multi-modal trans-
portation including air, rail and truck.
Horn’s associates would organize and
implement the plan to create a mixed-
use development with hangar space,
offices, warehouses, condominiums,
assisted living facilities, large lot
housing, and affordable housing. In
the mission statement, Horn says he
will put the highest priority on bring-
ing businesses to Hondo which agree
to create jobs that will support family
life. Horn reasserted his commitment
to strive to make the development
something all the residents of Hondo
could be proud to have in the city.
“We do not want to bring businesses
to Hondo that compete with existing
merchants," noted Horn.
“We will continue to report to coun-
cil regarding our activities,” said
Horn. “We are engaging in this
project out of loyalty to Hondo. It has
nothing to do with money. Our per-
sonal interests are to support the
education of Hondo's children and to
support the needs and activities of
retired persons and those who need
special care from assisted living cen-
ters to nursing homes. We hope that
the new businesses will create income
for the city of Hondo to the extent
that the tax burden will be lessened
for the citizens.”
The economic development special-
ist said immediate goals would include:
• Pursue state and federal funds to
cleanup storm debris and damaged
structures at the airport. After the
appearance of the property is im-
proved. develop a comprehensive
land use plan for the entire airport
Regarding the known polluted areas
on airport property. Horn's team
would seek remediation funding and
put responsible parties on notice that
they are liable for the cleanup and
mitigation of contaminated areas.
• Seek niche markets for Hondo's
airport and suggested area celebrities
may like Hondo’s location to store their
private aircraft or the airport could
serve as a regional base for couriers
such as Fed-Ex and Airborne Express.
• Seek Federal Aviation Adminis-
tration grants to extend the runway
and construct a radar tower.
• Conduct land planning and
architectural compatibility studies so
the city does not end up with what
Horn called a “hodge-podge" devel-
opment.
If any kind of housing is built, ten-
ants would be required to sign a deed
restriction that prevents the tenant from
suing the city for excessive noise.
“1 have to thank Rusty Lindeman
for that idea," said Horn. “So often
people in San Antonio bus a home
they know is next to an airport and. a
few years later, they decide mN too
loud and sue the city
Horn's proposal c alls fur a |n-ve.ir
lease term with fii-wat option a
length ot time Hum s.,ui was .ippiu
priate tor a protect >4 this magnitude.
Hum stated he would chatgc : man
agement fee the timt three o, lour
years and then the development
should be self-sustaining
“Before we get too close to closing
the sale we need to digest this,' said
the mayor. “When people come to
town, they sav the airport in great as-
set. If it is a golden nugget and we
can’t work it into anything, it is not
very useful. I've gone back and Until
on the.idea that the aitport in a great
asset and October I 2 w a gab am/
ing event to cleanup the airport and
do something w ith it."
Barden said the airport development
had been hapha/aul evet sake tiaty
Aerospace dominated the field and that
council needed to look a: Hon - pio
posal because the city ban not t ini to
develop us asset since then
"We need to look at this because it
sets an agenda for what we want to do
with our citv over the next decade.'
proposed the mavot “It would be a
significant step. We can either make
use of the land or let random develop-
ment occur. So. we need to listen and
have a workshop where we can have
citizen and airport hoard input “ l lic-
mayor said the crucial issue at the
workshop would be whether to leave
the airport property with open space,
as it currently is, or if it should be de-
veloped to the benefit ot all taxpayers.
Council members agreed with
Barden that citizen and advisory
board input would he crucial in guid-
ing their decision making process.
"You don’t have to be a native of
1 londo to see what has happened out
there." said councilman Boh Heyen
of the airport. “The way t is now. it
i- a 1:.mil'!' and would probably be
m>re profitable to la.mi " Heyen told
.-"ai'Cil thov were 'v/ky to : ve met
a O', v elope: like Horn He acted he
wa- exci'.cd and believed council
should seriously consider the
businessman’s proposal.
Barden told Horn the city would
dedicate a full evening to listening to
the details of the proposal and would
give council an opportunity to discuss
the idea w ith their constituents. The
in.ivor noted Fest had lived in Hondo
tor ! 8 wars and suggested she would
be an asset to the project because she
knows people in Hondo and could
discover which direction the citizens
desired the airport to take for the fu-
ture. Barden told Horn he looked for-
ward to next week’s airport develop-
ment wotkshop and thanked him for
his interest m Hondo.
Alter the meeting. Horn explained
Ins commitment to the City of Hondo
and said he was not kidding when he
said the project was about helping
Hondo and not about making money.
"It I work for Hondo, that is where
inv loyalty is.” said Horn, who
described himself as a unique, com-
munity-oriented businessman. “1
don't advertise. My business is all re-
ferrals One of my accounts is Frost
Bank They trust me to do what needs
to be done and that is tfie way my
company does business.”
A w orkshop regarding Hondo Mu-
nicipal Airport economic develop-
ment options is scheduled for 6:30 in
the evening on Feb. 11 at city hall.
The city is seeking public input on the
project and interested parties are
encouraged to attend.
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Hondo Anvil Herald (Hondo, Tex.), Vol. 116, No. 6, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 7, 2002, newspaper, February 7, 2002; Hondo, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth818733/m1/1/: accessed July 8, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Hondo Public Library.