Cooper Review (Cooper, Tex.), Vol. 104, No. 40, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 6, 1983 Page: 1 of 10
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Delta Bank
tmuous Service
ince 1900”
mber F.O.I.C.
RjSWjjg^pvg^
: ' ■
*
The (ouptr Re* le*
ISPS 191949
l ndrlbered copies or change*
of address notice* should be
■enl lo P.O. Boi 430, Cooper,
Te»a*, 75432.
Combined With
^SSUF^ '■ ? r''
w
The Delta Courier
Each Depositor
Insured to *100,000
By F.O.I.C. at
First National Bank
Cooper, Texas
.NO <0
Published At Cooper, Texas, Thursday, October 6, 1983
Ter Pages
BV O’CONNA MORA
I while during the past several months, a few of us around
envisioned the square taking on a new look this coming
>s season with decorations similar to those in other towns.
. the large green, red and gold tinsel trees with twinkling
The idea was to have at least eight of these erected on the
"|es around the square. To blend with this, the large green
pags with small lights would decorate the outer edges of
%ia roof.
planning went on a little further to include a large cedar
the center of the pagoda with miniature lights and
J,ns made by the elementary school children. Then when
jug was in place, there would be a public tree lighting,
of carols, the whole bit.
would this be financed? Some of us had the audacity to
it the Chamber of Commerce might turn loose of a couple
CD s to do this, since one of their purposes is supposedly to
utify the community.
all, it was the Cooper merchants who donated the
of items for the Chamber’s money making projects earlier
and in years past. A few of the donor merchants didn't
(hat the money they helped raise was going to sit in a bank
interest instead of being used for worthwhile projects,
jng to the October 1 Chamber financial statement, they had
48 in a "new money" account),
well, the Chamber directors did agree to spend $500 for
ions for the pagoda, at least that should be better than what
j out there in prior years.
directors did suggest that the merchants be solicited to
the remainder of the decorations. This suggestion must
me from one who is not a Cooper merchant. In the past
jf months, the business people have been "hit" by several
'fund raising" groups, at least five area schools for ads in
nuals, charitable organizations, etc. (and Chamber dues),
books can be stretched just so far.
be some day this will be an "up and coming” town with
sive-minded people who won't balk at spending a little
Dn dressing up the place. We can dream can’t we?
m
Pi
et
&
«?
MUD Board Again Changes
Big Creek Lake Capacity
i ■*
/
IT TAKES THE LITTLE ONES TO CLEAN UP: The "Can Cage", a familiar fixture on the
northeast corner of the Cooper square for the past three months, is a Methodist s youth Lord s
Acre project, and is filling up for the third time. Jay Silman, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Silman,
shown with grandparents, Jack and Joyce Silman, brings a sack of cans weekly to the cage.
10*0 S ACRE CAN LACE5
L
" **-■ —
iome reason, every time something needs to be financed in
ty, the consensus is "Let the merchants pay for it, let the
of Cooper pay for it, let the homeowners pay for it".
Creek Lake is a good example of this type of thinking,
example is the county's Road and Bridge tax that shows
e current tax statement at .148 cents per $100 valuation, an
of five cents over last year.
doesn't sound like much money • a little under 15 cents ■
property owners who do not use nor have been on a
naintained road, that particular tax is a point of heated
on. This tax added to the County s portion of the
ent, means that their taxes this year are almost doubled
r's, for those who have no exemptions, that is. — .......— —
three year span, some taxpayers’ county taxes have risen opportunity in the general elec-
an 260 per cent. In 1981, taxpayers were hit with the 102 tion on November 8, 1983, to
increase, then the re-evaluation of property came in 1982
i most instances raised the amount of taxes paid to the
>y 80 per cent. And, with the taxpayers who have to make
le ag-use exemption, their total county taxes are another 80
t more than they paid last year.
. for what? What are the residents of Cooper getting in
or their county taxes? Those who live in town and have
naybe a graded road once in a while, but what about the
vho do have farms or ranches? We do get to look at the
use, and we don’t have to drive very far to pay our taxes,
it else'.' We certainly don’t have a Commissioner who is
g after" our interests. t>
County Judge does live in Cooper and has gone to bat
neighbors, but one against four is very small odds that
will ever receive any consideration from the county,
ardless of what anyone wants to believe, this county is not
e happy community ... its ours and its theirs, all the way.
weddings and deaths are we friends helping one another.
The Delta County Municipal
Utility District Board, meeting
again Monday night in the dis-
trict courtroom, requested
figures on yet another size re-
servoir on Big Creek. This time
a 1,400 acre foot lake.
The revised size of the lake
was presented by Board
member Alfred Conley of Pecan
Gap after about two hours of
discussion on what portions of
the indebtedness would be paid
by the City of Cooper, and by
the Board (County). Also, water
needs of the various water
districts currently and in the
year 2010; the proposals pre-
sented by Morris Partain and
Conley at the September 26th
meeting; and problems, main-
tenance and operations of re-
creational areas at other com-
parable size lakes in Fannin and
Red River Counties.
Dale Stockton, Board presi-
dent. after announcing the
agenda of the meeting as (1)
Discussion on allocated costs of
Big Creek Reservoir; (2) Dis-
cussion on potential size of re-
servoir; (3) Discussion of other
aspects of preliminary planning,
read letters from Cooper Mayor
Gary Robinson and engineer
Bob Hayter.
Hayter presented in writing,
tentative cost evaluations of the
two proposals. Partain’s de-
signated as proposal "A”, a
1,518 acre foot lake with the City
of Cooper paying 65 per cent of
cost, the remainder of the
county 35 per cent. And, Con-
ley's proposal, recorded as
“B", 1,350 acre foot lake with
Cooper paying 78.5 per cent and
the county 21.5 per cent.
On proposal A, Hayter pro-
jected the county to acquire 500
acre feet of water storage, with
CAN COLLECTORS! Matthew Falls, son of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Falls, left, Adrian and Leslie Trapp,
on ladder, daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Larry Trapp, are shown with Mrs. Clara Slough beside the
first cage full of cans.
Eleven Constitutional Amendments On November Ballots
Texas voters will have an
vote for or against 11 proposed
amendments to the Texas Con-
stitution. The following is a
summary of four amendments.
Proposition No. 1
HJR91
)r PD Receives Fewer Calls
of the Cooper Police
nt answered a total of
eptember 27 through
However, this total
i from the previous
i of 45 calls,
ints received by the
nged from various
ces to prowlers, auto
forgery.
ptember 28, officers
ed an auto theft in the
i of Northwest 2nd;
n the 100 block of
t 2nd; a bicycle acci-
ie corner of Northwest
vest Dallas; and shots
tie 300 block of South-
in the 900 block of West Bon-
ham; one assault and one report
of suspicious activity.
Over the weekend, officers of
the department provided one
motorist assist and investigated
a report of someone with a gun.
of this week, two
House Joint Resolution 91
proposed a constitutional
amendment which requires a
county with a population of
30.000 or more to be divided
into not less than four nor more
than eight justice of the peace
precincts.
A county with a population of
18.000 or more, but less than
30.000 shall be divided into not
less than two nor more than five
justice of the peace precincts.
A county with a population of
less than 18.000 shall be desig-
nated as a single justice of the
peace precinct or, upon a find-
ing of necessity by the commis-
sioners court, shall be divided
into more than one justice of the
peace precinct, but not more
than four.
The amendment provides
further, that in any precinct in
which there is a city with a
Monday
reports of enticing minors were
in,es‘'1population of 18.000 or more.
First1~:i =sbt;c:r=: ss
office until the expiration of his
term, although a change in pre-
cinct boundaries results in the
officer no longer being a resi-
dent of the precinct for which he
was elected or appointed and
allows a justice of the peace or
constable to continue in office
until the expiration of his term
even though a change in pre-
cinct boundaries results in the
abolishment of the precinct or
more than one justice of the
peace or constable serving in
the precinct.
Vacancies in the office of
justice of the peace or constable
that result from a precinct
boundary change shall be filled
by the commissioners court until
the next general election.
The amendment would take
effect on January 1, 1984, and
counties with populations less
than 30,000 and with more than
four justice of the peace and
constable precincts, would have
until January 1, 1987, to comply
with the amendment.
The proposed amendment
will appear on the ballot as
follows: ‘‘The constitutional
amendment authorizing fewer
justice of the peace and con-
stable precincts in counties with
a population less than 30,000
and providing for continuous
service by justices of the peace,
Southeast 7th; and
speeding in a school zone
a case of a justice of the peace, constable
or commissioner to continue in
SH24 Four-Lane Project Revived
3er 29, a prowler was
in the 400 block of
7th; two reports of
linors was received; a
n the 800 block of
According to a report in the
Paris News last Thursday, the
Texas Departments of Hign-
s and Public Trar
has announced that
highway budget.
However, officials with the
Austin office reinstated the $2-
T„as milta ptos project at.er.ee.
6th; suspicious acti- ,hc h,«h''ay. ' nlaced back in way Commission's decision to
st Dallas; and three h« SJ? schedule for reinstate the Hwy. 24 project
5 calls. the TDHr I leu g letters from State
if last week, officers # ^ nv ____ ^_____
d the report of a Less than1 ’*°paT^ffice^of others were sent to the depart -
the 700 block of officials ot tne ra t-s incer.director Mark
!nd; the theft of auto TDHPT had been in• Goode, asking for reconsidera-
January 1984.
Less than two months ago,
came after letters from State
Rep. L.P. (Pete) Patterson and
es in Northwest
w> disturbances; theft
funds for the highway had not
been included in the 1984 state
Goode, asking for reconsidera-
tion.
sioners when precinct boundar-
ies are changed".
Proposition No. 2
HJR 105
House Joint Resolution 105
proposed a constitutional
amendment which would limit a
homestead in a city, town or
village to a lot or lots amounting
to not more than one acre of
land, together with any im-
provements on the land.
The constitutional require-
ment that, at the time of de-
signation, an urban homestead
not exceed ten thousand dollars
in value without reference to the
value of any improvements on
the land would be eliminated.
The proposed amendment
will appear on the ballot as
follows: "The constitutional
amendment replacing the limi-
tation on the value of an urban
homestead with a limitation
based on size”.
Proposition No. 4
HJR 30
House Joint Resolution 30
proposes a constitutional
amendment which authorizes
the Legislature to enact laws to
provide for the succession of
members of the Legislature in
the event of enemy attack and
allows the suspension of pro-
cedural rules imposed by the
Constitution in the event of, or
immediate threat of, enemy
attack.
The amendment empowers
the Governor, after consultation
with the Speaker of the House
and the Lieutenant Governor, to
suspend the constitutional re-
quirement that the Legislature
hold its sessions in Austin and
allows the suspension of proce-
dural rules by the Governor
issuing a proclamation in which
the House of Representatives
and Senate concur by resolution
approved by a majority of the
members present.
Suspension of the constitu-
tional rules may not exceed a
of two years under a
single proclamation; however,
the Governor may renew the
suspension by issuing a new
proclamation concurred in by
the House of Representatives
and the Senate through a reso-
lution approved by a majority of
the members present.
The amendment will appear
on the ballot as follows: "The
constitutional amendment
authorizing statutory provisions
for succession of public office
during disasters caused by
enemy attack, and authorizing
the suspension of certain con-
stitutional rules relating to legi-
slative procedure during those
disasters or during immediate
threat of enemy attack".
Proposition No. 6
HJR 1
House Joint Resolution 1 pro-
posed a constitional amendment
which would permit the Legisla-
ture to provide for the garnish-
ment of wages to enforce court-
ordered child support pay-
ments. The garnishment
remedy would not be available
for other purposes.
The proposed amendment
will appear on the ballot as
follows: "The constitutional
amendment allowing the Legi-
slature to provide for additional
remedies to enforce court-
ordered child support pay-
ments”.
Chamber Banquet
Set November 15
Officers and directors of the
Delta County Chamber of Com-
merce, meeting Monday after-
noon in the Chamber director’s
room, set Tuesday night, No-
vember 15, as the date for the
organization's annual Banquet
and installation of officers. The
event will be held at the Civic
Center in Cooper.
The directors also discussed
Christmas parade plans, the
parade to be held in Cooper at
11 a.m. on December 3, with the
Cooper School Band and
National Guard Color Unit lead-
ing.
In other discussion, the direc-
tors agreed to decorate the
Pagoda for the Christmas
season, suggesting the Beau-
tification Committee to solicit
merchants to finance any other
decorations for the square.
county property, outside
Cooper, paying 32.94 per cent of
the cost of the reservoir. At
$1,391.30 per acre foot, the net
county cost would be $695,693
of the $2,112,000 total project.
On proposal B, it was pro-
jected that the county acquire
350 acre feet, and pay 21.5 per
cent of the reservoir cost, with
ail county tax collected applying
to the county’s share of the lake
cost. The county’s tost at 21.5
per cent would total $454,080,
with Cooper's share of the
county tax being $144,852,
leaving a net county (outside
Cooper) of $309,228 ($1,391.30
per acre foot will pay for 222.3
acre feet). Cooper taxpayers
would also, in addition, pay 78.5
per cent of 'total cost, or for
1,128 acre feet - 128 acre feet
above the City 1,000 acre feet
portion.
Mayor Robinson, in his letter
to MUD Board, said, "The City
Council feels that proposal A is
an acceptable approach to cost
sharing. Should the District
desire a lesser quantity of stor-
age, this would be considered.
“The cost sharing plan of
Proposal B appears to place an
undue cost burden ^>n the City
for the 350 acre feet requested
by the District. This proposal
would be considered if the cost
sharing plan of Proposal A was
used."
In his letter, Hayter reviewed
the water usage projections of
the supply districts, excluding
Cooper, Pecan Gap and Lone
Star, which purchases water
from Pecan Gap. Charleston
WSD was listed as requiring
93.6 acre feet of water in 1980,
and will need 124.5 acre feet in
2010. Enloe-Lake Creek WSD
required 49 acre feet of water in
1980, with the 2010 projection
being 69.9 acre feet. Ben
Franklin WSD an equivalent of
26.3 acre feet of water in 1980,
and will need 37.4 acre feet in
2010. While West Delta WSD
required 101.3 acre feet of water
in 1980, this increasing to 144.7
acre feet in 2010. Total re-
quirements of the four water
supply districts were 270.2 acre
feet in 1980; this rising to 376.5
acre feet in 2010; and to 491.7
acre feet in 2025.
In answer to a question as to
what the 2010 and 2025 esti-
mates were based on, Bill Hay-
ter said the Sulphur Basin 208
Plan on anticipated population
growth for this area was using in
obtaining the figures.
The discussion continued on
whether or not Charleston was
grouped with the City of
Cooper, the majority of the
Board considering Charleston as
part of the county group.
The question turned to the
recreational issue, Stockton
requesting Marion Miller and
Partain to report on their
findings.
Miller stated that he had
talked to several persons in
Fannin County and found that
Lake Crockett and Coffeemill
Lake are U.S. Forest projects,
and are under that agency's
supervision. However, a private
concessioner oversees the re-
creational area at Lake Crockett.
A forest ranger told Miller that
his agency spends about $5,000
annually, excluding law enforce-
ment, in maintenance of Coffee-
mill Lake area. And, the Fannin
County Sheriff told Miller that
his officers make only routine
patrols of the lakes "as nothing
unusual happens".
Partain informed the Board
that Bonham Lake has two cert-
ified officers living in the re-
creational areas of the lake and
it has the same security as a
Corps of Engineers lake. Partain
said he also talked to the mayor
of the City of Clarksville and
was told that their lake, devel-
oped by the Parks and Wildlife
Department, had been destroy-
ed by vandals.
Stockton interjected, "This
board agrees to delete the re-
creational areas ... they could be
added later".
Several questions were then
posed such as' "How much land
would be required if private
groups tooks over boat ramps,
picnic areas?" "Will the
property be out in the county?"
"Will Cooper take in the lake
area?" "Will it be fenced to
keep out pollutants?"
In answer to the first ques-
tion, Mayor Robinson said 17
acres had bean designated for
recreational areas. The second
and third questions went un-
answered. And, Bill Hayter, to
the fourth question, said, "No".
The lake would not be fenced,
however, the treatment plant
would be enclosed in a fence.
Another question was on the
number of acres of land involved
in the lake. Hayter answered
that the normal pool would re-
quire 520 acres, and flowage
easement 410 acres for 1,518
acre feet reservoir.
Sun Outages To Affect TV Reception
According to officials with
Group W Cable television view-
ers in the area will experience
outages on the satellite deliver-
ed channels between October 3
and 14. The outages will begin
around 3:30 p.m. and last ap-
proximately 30 minutes. The
longest duration will occur mid-
way to October 14.
A sun outage occurs when the
satellite and sun line up togeth-
er and beam energy dow n to the
antenna on Earth. The receiving
equipment cannot distinguish
between the two.
A debate between Conley and
Partain unfolded, Conley saying
"Cooper will reap the benefits
of the lake more than the county
... the growth will be here in
Cooper, and I feel that they
should have to pay the greater
cost of the lake.”
And, to Partain, Conley said,
“Your proposal is too high for
the county.”
Partain answering, "Your
proposal does not fit the city's
financial picture.”
Conley countering, "1
disagree with that ...”
Partain continued, "Cooper
will pay for all costs of the dam
when the smaller lake is built,
the county will pay whatever is
left on top."
Cooper Councilman Miller
interjected, “You guys decide
what you want... if you want in
on it, get on with it, if not get off
... we are not begging, we are
not asking you to help us, and it
is not up to us to furnish your
figures.” Miller's last state-
ment was in answer to a pre-
vious comment by Coniey, "We
did not get what (the figures) we
wanted last time”.
Conley then presented a mo-
tion that the county pay 25 per
cent of total cost of the re-
servoir, telling Hayter to bring
backfigures on what it will cost
the taxpayers of the county,
taxpayers of Cooper for the
larger lake - 1,518 acre feet.
Partain spoke up, "It will be
controversial if we (MUD Board)
tell the City they will pay for
more than 1,000 acre feet".
Stockton at this point review-
ed the two prior proposals,
stating, "It is up to us to come
up with something here
tonight.”
Conley then made another
motion that a 1,400 acre foot
safe yield lake be built, the city
to have 1,000 acre feet, the
county 400 acre feet, with costs
shared on a pro-rata basis. In a
show of hands; Partain. Roy Lee
Jackson, Stockton, O R. Free-
man. Conley and W.O. Wallace
voted for the motion - Foy Burns
voted no.
The Board requested Hayter
to contact the financial advisors
for projection on tax rate for the
county, and to present findings
at the next meeting of the Board
scheduled for Wednesday night,
October 12, in the district
courtroom.
Prior to adjourning the meet-
ing, Stockton read a letter and a
list of 20 questions concerning
the Big Creek project he receiv-
ed from William H. Stewart of
Ben Franklin.
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Mora, O'Conna. Cooper Review (Cooper, Tex.), Vol. 104, No. 40, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 6, 1983, newspaper, October 6, 1983; Cooper, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth980307/m1/1/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Delta County Public Library.