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Early voting begins
Monitor Staff Reports
CEDAR CREEK LAKE–Early voting in the General Election begins tomorrow,
Monday, Oct. 20, and runs through Friday, Oct. 31.
Monday through Friday, registered voters may cast ballots from
• 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Henderson County Courthouse in Athens.
• 8-11:30 a.m. and again from 12:30-4:30 p.m. at the Seven Points City
Hall in association with the county sub-courthouse there, and the
sub-courthouse in Chandler.
• 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Kaufman County Courthouse in Kaufman.
• 8-11:30 a.m. and again from 12:30-4:30 p.m at the sub-courthouses in
Terrell, Forney and Kemp.
These locations will also be open for early voting from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 25.
On the national scene, voters are deciding on the country’s top offices.
Republican John McCain and Sarah Palin are campaigning against Democrat
Barack Obama and Joe Biden for president and vice president.
On the state level, Rep. Betty Brown (R) faces challenger Victor Morales
(D).
On the county level, voters in Henderson County are choosing a sheriff
with candidates Ray Nutt (R) and Bill Casey (D).
Crosswalks needed on busy
streets, GBC city hall move discussed again
By Pearl Cantrell
Monitor Staff Writer
GUN BARREL CITY–The Gun Barrel City Council adopted a resolution
requesting TxDoT’s assistance in establishing crosswalks on State
Highways 334 and 198.
City Manager Gerry Boren expressed concern for two recent traffic
incidents involving pedestrians, who were injured while trying to cross
SH 334 in front of Wal-Mart.
“And I’ve seen other near misses,” Boren said.
The council agreed and adopted the resolution with a unanimous vote.
The council also continued its conversation about moving, remodeling or
building new city offices.
“We have the funds to remodel here, or move there,” Councilman Charles
Townsend said. “I think it’s time we do something.”
Councilman Todd Hogan’s proposed plan involves taking the present steel
structures down and moving them near the present fire station on
Municipal Drive. Councilman Kevin Banghart advised against it, having
heard of B.G. Pierce’s experience of just such a misadventure.
Mayor Paul Eaton suggested the buildings could be sold to a company in
the business of taking down and refitting steel structures, and then the
choice corner location sold to a new business, which could produce more
sales tax revenue for the city.
Realtor Marty Goss shot out a current real estate value of between
$400,000 and $500,000 when Eaton asked him for an estimate for the land
alone.
Townsend presented council members with figures for remodeling existing
buildings and adding a modular building, both were well within the
city’s budget of $375,000 for capital improvements.
“Do we want the rest of the town to move up around us, or do we want to
lead the way?” Eaton asked, urging action.
Boren suggested postponing any decisions until after the upcoming Texas
Municipal League conference in San Antonio on Oct. 28.
“There will be architects, builders and every other type of advisor to
give you options, there,” he said. Hogan said he would not be able to
attend.
In a related move, the council decided to cancel its Oct. 28 meeting and
resume city business Tuesday, Nov. 11.
In other business, the council members:
• agreed to rent one of the city’s voting machines to Athens ISD during
early voting period of five days for $100 per day, netting the city
$500.
• approved an updated version of the city’s flag. Patsy Black, along
with committee members Carol Yarboro, Loretta Taylor and Tia Huber,
presented a very similar design of a Winchester overlaid on a bird’s eye
view of Cedar Creek Lake. The differences were a trigger mechanism was
added for authenticity and the date of incorporation engraved on the
stock. The city manager will take the design for pricing.
Possible venues were also discussed, including city hall, and the north
and south city limits signs.
A proper resolution is to be drawn up that will formalize the flag’s
history.
• reappointed Joey Lindaman as the city’s fire chief in a brief ceremony
Tuesday.
Lindaman returned after just four months of military service and was
able to take up his post again as head of the city’s volunteer fire
department.
• appointed several others to serve on various boards.
Joe Rankin and John Delay were reappointed to the city’s Planning and
Zoning Commission with terms to expire October, 2010.
• tabled action to appoint Kevin Roberts to the Park and Recreation
Board. His name was turned over to the board for recommendation. Roberts
was working out his voter registration status at the time.
• named The Monitor, its official newspaper for fiscal year 2009.
• accepted Joe Agnes’ resignation from the Park Board.
• referred a request from the Tri-County Soccer Association for the
creation of practice fields to the Park Board.
• heard a brief on the Attorney General’s opinion regarding the posting
of agenda items in keeping with the Open Meetings Act. The city will be
posting more detailed and specific agendas for public viewing.
• met in executive session with city attorneys to discuss pending or
contemplated litigation from Neel Fire Protection Apparatus, Inc. and to
evaluate the performance of the city manager.
Water service rate increased 3
percent
Hansboro awarded Kemp’s north
Main Street Bridge project
By Barbara Gartman
Monitor Staff Writer
KEMP–City leaders approved 3-2 to increase the water service rate by 3
percent. The hike does not include sewer service rates.
Council members Leodis Buckley, Barbara McFaul and Dorothy Locklin
favored the increase, while Jessie Morton and Matt Ganssle opposed the
action.
Though the increase had been approved when the new city budget was
adopted, Ganssle suggested any decision concerning the increase be put
off for another three months.
Turning their thoughts toward road repairs, the council gave Hansboro
Demolition and Excavation of Gun Barrel City the nod to replace the
north Main Street Bridge in Kemp.
Kemp city council members approved a contract Tuesday, contingent upon
review by city attorney Terry Welch.
The bridge project will be paid mostly through a FEMA grant.
FEMA has estimated the project cost at $82,503. The city’s portion is
set at $31,000 with the grant picking up the remainder.
The “bridge” that need replacing is not visible to residents, as it is
actually an underground box culvert that directs the flow of a small
stream.
In other business, council members:
• approved the reappointment of Mayor Billy Teel and Allan Palmer to the
Economic Development Corporation for another two-year term, expiring in
2010. Bob Burns will serve the remainder of a term expiring in 2009.
• adopted a new personnel policy manual for the city employees.
• named The Monitor as the city’s official newspaper.
• denied a request from Spectacular Circus for the use of the city
pavilion.
• heard a police report by Police Chief Richard Clemmo.
• heard an update on the fall festival set for Saturday, Oct. 25.
The Festival is still looking for local vendors, Clemmo said.
The parade starts at 1 p.m. and there will be a live band performing for
the dance, she reported.
Monitor Photo/Barbara Gartman
Kemp resident Betty Atherton was given a certificate of appreciation
Tuesday
by Mayor Billy Teel for the volunteer work of planting and cleaning she
does
at the Kemp City Park. Atherton took on the park project without being
asked,
working to beautify the park and the city. Pictured are (from left) city
councilman
Leodis Buckley, Atherton and Teel. |