People, Places & Events

Kemp holds up second HS payment
Construction company Baird Williams waits on approximatly $3M
By Barbara Gartman
Monitor Staff Writer
KEMP–Whether it is miscommunication – information not received or sent, or even mishandling of documents – the Kemp Independent School District trustees held up payment on the new high school for the second time Oct. 20.
When asked how much longer it would be before the school’s construction was completed, Blair Williams of Baird Williams Construction spoke to the money currently due his firm.
“The invoice you have is an August lien. We paid it (money owed sub-contractors) out of our pockets, almost $1.4 million,” Williams said.
“We’re a construction company, not bankers,” he added. “For eight months we went out with no problems, then at the end of the project, there are problems.”
Some of the problems came to light at the Sept. 15 board meeting, when control specialist John Kennedy of JBK Associates in Ennis said he had not received data needed to review the district’s payments to the company.
The problem could just be an accounting issue, he said, stating he did not think Williams was familiar with auditing procedures.
Kennedy stated Sept. 15 the data requested included all of the sub-contracts, and sub-contractor change orders, plus a complete check registry.
“We need to let him (Williams) respond to this,” Kennedy said.
Trustees walked through the new building again Monday, making a “punch list” of things to be corrected or finished. It was supposed to have been sent to Williams.
“I have the same nine-page document that I received three weeks ago. It contains no dated documents,” trustee Curtis Donovan said. “There are things to be responded to.”
“I can’t respond to something I have not received,” Williams answered.
Board president Keith Foisey recommended Williams and the architect Randy Fromberg get together to review the punch list and review whatever needed to be discussed to get the problems corrected.
“I can assure you, we will pay then,” he said.
In other business at their Oct. 20 regular meeting, trustees:
• purchased three regular route school buses and one special education bus for $258,000.
The buses are air-conditioned and have the new, state-mandated high seatbacks. The seats are also designed for seat belt installation, when required.
Transportation director Dewey Haley said the seat belt installation cost is $750 per seat. Federal stimulus money will pay for the special ed bus, he added.
• heard the district was approved for the QSCB (qualified school construction bond) program.
The KISD can get up to $5.480 million for construction or renovation projects. The funds will be repaid at 0 percent, going up to 1 percent interest, all paid through the district’s maintenance and operation (M&O) tax rate, instead if interest and sinking fund (I&S) rate.
The district does not have to accept the loan, but must let the program know its intentions within 180 days, starting Monday, Nov. 7.
• recognized principals Phil Edwards (Junior High) and Kim McDowell (Intermediate) by reading a letter of commendation from State Rep. Betty Brown on the accomplishment of the campuses gaining “Recognized” status.
• approved the textbook selection committee as presented.
• heard comments from delegates who attended the Texas Association of School Boards convention.
They included trustees Scott Clearman, Donovan, Foisey and Steve Greenhaw, along with Superintendent Dr. Peter Running.
• heard a report on the Board Buzz for September.
Trustees were also reminded the Board Buzz concept will be presented at the Winter Governance conference in Corpus Christi.
Running added that four members of the Students Advisory Council will also make a presentation at the conference.
• approved the financial report as presented by Business manager Kim Johnson.

Cramm ‘Kiwanian of the Year’
Monitor Staff Reports
MABANK–Cedar Creek Lake Kiwanis club members honored vice president Tate Cramm as the Kiwanian of the Year, and current officers were officially inducted during the club’s annual banquet Oct. 22.
“It’s been an interesting year,” club president Denise York, who is serving a second year in the post, told the 30 or so club members and guests following a stuffed pork loin dinner at The Seasons restaurant in Mabank.
York recalled president-elect Lisa Hudgins had to drop out early in the year when her work changed, and then long-time secretary Carol Eubank moved to Canada.
In an unusual move, the club elected the Eustace mother-and-daughter team of Nelda Majors and Carei Bobbitt to fill the president-elect spot, and Carie Goodrich stepped into the secretary’s position, York recalled.
As York handed out plaques to the officers for their service during fiscal year 2009, she paused to give a more detailed rundown of activities headed by Cramm, before awarding him the “Kiwanian of the Year” pin.
Newly installed District 26 Lt. Gov. Bobbie Hawkins of Athens formally inducted the officers into their respective positions (veteran treasurer Derrick Hoelscher was not present). During the ceremony, she reminded the members this year’s major goal is to help Kiwanis membership to grow.
The key to retaining new members is to get them involved in the children’s activities sponsored by Kiwanis, Hawkins said.
“All of us can help Kiwanis grow,” she said. “We can increase, because we’re still a great organization, and because we’re here for the children.”


Monitor Photo/Kerry Yancey
Newly inducted officers for the Cedar Creek Lake Kiwanis club are president
Denise York (left), co-president elect Nelda Majors and Carei Bobbitt, secretary
Carie Goodrich, vice president Tate Cramm and the installing officer, District 26
Lt. Gov. Bobbie Hawkins of Athens. Not pictured is treasurer Derrick Hoelscher.
 

Upcoming projects discussed
at chamber meeting
Special to The Monitor
MABANK–The Mabank Chapter Committee of the Cedar Creek Lake Area Chamber of Commerce met at the Hub office Oct. 22 to discuss upcoming projects.
During the meeting, Tonya Roberts, chair of the Dec. 5 Mabank Parade of Homes, reported that the committee has four houses and one church lined up for the event.
In keeping with the tradition of the Mabank Parade of Homes, brunch will be served at Tri-County Library from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and the tour of homes will be from noon to 4 p.m.
First Presbyterian Church and the newly completed Cabins at Cherry Creek bed and breakfast will both be on the tour.
Ronnie Davis reported that everything is a go for the 5:30-7 p.m. Trick-or-Treat Mabank at the Pavilion Halloween night (or until the candy is gone).
Businesses, individuals and civic groups are invited to bring tables, chairs and decorations, plus lots of candy and set up free of charge at the pavilion on a first come, first served basis.
Davis is also encouraging anyone who wants to to bring games and other activities for the kids.
For more information, contact him at First State Bank Mabank (903) 887-2211 or e-mail rdavis@fsbathens.com.
May 29, 2010, is the date of the second annual Cedar Creek Lake Festival of the Arts in downtown Mabank.
In the spirit of revitalizing historic downtown Mabank, the business district of Market Street was the site of a music and arts fair sponsored by the Mabank Chapter of CCLACC May 23.
This week, the chamber voted to make the Saturday before Memorial Day the permanent date for the event.
It was highly successful and well-received by both vendors and visitors, drawing several thousand people downtown for the day-long festival that was filled with art vendors and musical entertainment.
Plans for next year’s event will be ongoing and “Hold the Date” cards will start going out shortly to potential vendors.
Watch the local papers and the chamber website www.cedarcreeklakechamber.com for more announcements about the 2010 Cedar Creek Lake Festival of the Arts and other chamber of commerce events from the various chapters and the Hub office.

Come Adopt Us At The Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake
The domino effect is a chain reaction that occurs when a small change causes a similar change nearby, which then will cause another similar change, and so on. My name is Domino, and I got my name not only because I’m black and white like a domino tile, but also because my outgoing, cheerful personality causes my doggie roommates to smile. This also causes our human friends to smile, which even causes the kitties in the cat room to smile. I am an 8-month-old male Pointer/Terrier mix. I love children, other dogs, and even get along great with kitties. I’ve had all my shots and am ready to be adopted. If you’d like to experience the domino effect, I am sure to put a forever smile on your face when you take me to my forever home. I currently live with a foster family, so if you would like to meet me, call my friends at the Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake at (903) 432-3422 to make an appointment. You can also email them at dogshsccl@yahoo.com.
	We have many animals at the Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake in Seven Points in dire need of a good home. Please call or stop by the Humane Society today and rescue one of these forgotten animals. The Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake is located on 10220 County Road 2403 in Seven Points. For more information, please call (903) 432-3422 after 11 a.m. We are closed on Wednesday and Sunday.
For further information visit our website at petfinder.com