Tri-County Library marks 20th birthday
Monitor Staff Reports
MABANK–From a small room in a corner of the old bank to filling most of two renovated downtown buildings, the Tri-County Library has come a long way in 20 years, Mabank Mayor Larry Teague said Saturday.

Monitor Photo/Kerry Yancey
Mabank Junior High choir group “Vivace” performs for visitors at the Tri-County Library's 20th birthday celebrations Saturday. The choir group performed several song-and-dance numbers for the gathering.

Speaking to a mid-morning gathering marking the library’s 20th birthday, Teague said it took the efforts of many people over the years to enable the library to exist in its current form, occupying two buildings on Market Street, directly across from the Mabank City Hall.
“History has shown that (the library) is a good idea,” Teague said. “Nearly 30,000 people visited this library in 2010.
“The city thinks that’s great,” he added. “That means there’s 30,000 people visiting in downtown Mabank. (The library) has become one of the greater things that the city has ever done.”
Former city administrator Louann Confer, who died Christmas Eve, 2010, was a champion of the library and worked hard behind the scenes to make it succeed, Teague said.
“We’re going to try and keep that door at the city hall open,” he promised.
The Tri-County Library is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. except Tuesday, when it remains open until 7 p.m.; Saturday hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; call (903) 887-9622.

Trustees handle personnel issues
Monitor Staff Reports
EUSTACE–Eustace Independent School District trustees unanimously agreed to re-employ professionals, auxiliary directors and paraprofessionals for the 2011-12 school year as presented at their April 19 regular session.
Trustees also approved the list of substitute employees for the current year, as presented, following a brief closed session.
In other personnel actions, the trustees accepted resignations from Shana Grant, Judith Wakefield and Middle School principal Karyn Mullen.
Trustees also accepted the resignation of Claudia Castillo, Diagnostician with the Henderson County Shared Services Association (special ed co-op), effective at the end of the current contract year.
During the past few months, Superintendent Dr. Coy Holcombe has indicated several times he would favor the EISD separating from the HCSSA and running its own special education program.
The Eustace ISD will continue its contract to carry the agency’s fiscal responsibilities until the end of August.
Trustees took formal action to approve a separation agreement as presented.
Malakoff ISD has been named to be HCSSA’s fiscal agency for the 2011-12 school year, Holcombe said.
In other business during the brief meeting, the trustees:
• approved the Certificate of Formation and Bylaws for the Eustace ISD Scholarship Foundation as presented by Matt Zimmerer.
• approved property tax sales as presented.
• agreed to extend the district’s current bank depository contract.
• certified Holcombe as the Representative to the Regional Advisory Committee for Region 7.
• heard Holcombe report on (1) PaySchools; (2) Microsoft Office Specialist Exam; (3) TEA – HCSSA Reconfiguration; (4) Contract for Services with Athens ISD; (5) Title 1, Part A Distinguished School.
• heard Holcombe report the district’s enrollment continued to climb. As of April 15, the Primary campus had 400 students, while the Intermediate had 338, the Middle School 320 and the High School 403 for a total of 1,471 students.

Utility turns down bid offered on Enchanted Oaks property
By Barbara Gartman
Monitor Staff Writer
GUN BARREL CITY–East Cedar Creek Fresh Water Supply District directors rejected a bid proposal for 14 acres of surplus property in Enchanted Oaks.
Century 21 Real Estate agent Rick Smith said he has checked on rural property values in Henderson County, and the average selling price is $4,000 an acre. Property located in Enchanted Oaks is valued at a higher rate, he added.
Following an closed-session meeting April 20, a motion was made to reject the current proposal. Directors continue to ask $79,000 for the property.
In other business, directors:
• authorized the general manager to purchase a folder/inserter machine for the billing department, not to exceed $10,800, to be paid out of the Operating Reserve Fund.
• authorized the repair of a failed weld support at the McKay water intake to be paid from Operating Reserve Fund.
• approved an additional $715.90 for a sewer jet hose.
General manager Bill Goheen plans to join the new hose with another section of serviceable hose together with a coupling to produce the length needed. The purchase of a new longer hose would have been much more expensive, Goheen said.
• amended the 2011-12 budget, concerning some wording addressing “overtime” work.
Barring unforeseen emergencies, Goheen said he intends to target staying within the budget amount designated.
• heard from Payne Springs mayor pro tem Michael McDonald.
He thanked the directors and the general manager for their cooperation and help in leasing the city land to build a new city hall.
“Our final bids (on concrete and related work) are due by the end of the week,” he said. “An official ground-breaking will be held sometime in May.”
Payne Springs Fire Rescue and the city of Payne Springs will share three acres the district has agreed to lease as a site for the planned new city hall and PSFR’s third fire station for the area.