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Log Cabin plans $1.8M bond
issue
Sewer project needs cash infusion to move forward
By Joan Guertin
Monitor Correspondent
LOG CABIN–The city of Log Cabin intends to issue Certificates of
Obligation, totaling $1.8 million, to pay for the completion of the
city’s sewer project.
In a special meeting Wednesday, the council passed a resolution to
publish a legal notice in local papers.
A public hearing is set for Monday, June 19, to review comment from the
community on the city’s intent to borrow the large sum.
In other business, the council:
• voted to change park hours to a closing time of 9:30 p.m. nightly.
The current schedule, 11 p.m. on weeknights and midnight on weekends,
has resulted in excessive use of the beach and picnic areas for
late-night parties. It was agreed greater enforcement was necessary.
Despite warnings that glass containers are not allowed, both the picnic
and swimming areas are constantly littered with glass bottles, council
members heard. Last week, a youngster was cut by broken glass in the
swimming area.
Fishermen are excluded from the closing hours, as fishing is permitted
24 hours.
• agreed to contract with Seven Points to use its jail facility.
Those breaking the law and defying Log Cabin ordinances will be served a
warrant issued by the Seven Points magistrate at a cost of $25 to Log
Cabin.
The fine for infractions is $500. The balance of the fine, less the
magistrate’s cost, will be returned to Log Cabin.
• approved the purchase of two signs alerting motorists to the presence
of children on Doc Holiday roadway.
A family residing on the road requested a sign for a blind/handicapped
child.
Inquiries to a sign manufacturer resulted in an estimate of $52.05 to
$72.60 per sign, depending on size. Two signs were requested.
A call to the Texas Municipal League confirmed that the city is under no
obligation to provide such a sign.
Mayor Gene Bearden offered the family a pair of existing signs, alerting
the presence of a deaf child. However, the family was very specific in
its demand for signs warning of a blind/handicapped child.
Further discussion resulted in a decision to provide two signs alerting
“Children Present,” which could be utilized in other parts of the park
should they be needed, since the family requesting their placement are
renters, and likely will be temporary residents of the city.
Mabank plans second fire
station
By Barbara Gartman
Monitor Staff Writer
MABANK–As the area grows, so does the need for community-supplied
services, such as fire and police protection.
Mabank Fire Station No. 2 is already on the drawing board, Fire Marshal
John Holcomb confirmed.
Plans are underway for a 40x50 two-bay station, with a dedicated day
room and sleeping quarters.
Property for the station was donated by Roger Groom.
“Preliminary cost is around $40,000 for the slab and the (building)
shell,” Holcomb said. “We hope to get started on the new station by the
end of August.”
A fire engine (with medical equipment on board) will be stationed there
in the beginning to satisfy insurance rules, Holcomb explained.
Under the Insurance Services Office (ISO), the organization that sets
each city’s ISO rating (which, in turn, affects everybody’s homeowners
insurance rates), the city needs another fire station.
“Those living beyond five miles from the fire station are in an
unprotected area, which causes their insurance rates to climb,” Holcomb
explained.
The growth near Cedar Creek Country Club, which includes parts of the
Country Club and Lighthouse Landing subdivisions, plus the brand-new The
Ranch at Cedar Creek Lake development, has prompted the need for a
second fire station.
“It will be great for those subdivisions and any future growth in that
area,” Holcomb explained.
It is the future growth that has others concerned, as well.
With the increase in the number of homes in the area, it is anticipated
approximately 2,000 people will reside in an area far outside downtown
Mabank.
“We have to build another station to keep our ISO rating,” Mabank Mayor
Larry Teague said.
If the city receives an upward change in its ISO rating, it might take
as long as a year to get another review and a better ISO rating, Teague
explained.
An upward change probably would mean an increase in insurance rates for
Mabank residents, he said.
“I believe we need to move forward with it (the new fire station) as
soon as possible,” Teague said.
Plans are for Mabank Fire Station No. 2 to be smaller version of the
Mabank Fire Station, he said.
“This will be a city station, not a rural station,” Teague said. “It is
a big step. It is needed. We are going to end up with a lot of people
living on that peninsula.
“But, that is our plan, to build a second station based on need and
population,” he said.
Funds for the construction are expected to come from several providers,
including some future fund-raisers, Holcomb said.
Groundbreaking slated for new Kemp
convenience station
Special to the Monitor
KEMP–A groundbreaking ceremony set for 10 a.m. Thursday, June 15, will
mark the official start of work on the new Kemp Convenience Station.
Kaufman County was awarded $100,000 to build a Citizen’s Convenience
Station through the North Central Council of Governments and Texas
Commission on Environmental Quality.
“We have worked hard for 18 months to obtain this project, and we are
anxious to start work,” Precinct 4 Commissioner Jim Deller said.
“This will be a great service to our citizens,” Deller added.
The county has been waiting eagerly to receive the blueprints of the new
station from their engineering firm, KC Environmental Co-op director
Marilyn May said.
The blueprints are in, opening the way for a groundbreaking and the
beginning of construction of the station, she added.
Completion of the station is expected late this year, May predicted.
But Deller is looking for an earlier opening.
“We are hoping for completion within 90 days,” he said.
The station will be located at Plainview Road, on the east side of U.S.
Highway 175 and Business 175, and is the third such station in Kaufman
County.
“Because there is no landfill in the county, it is very important to
have a drop-off point for citizens to dispose of their trash, brushy
waste and recyclables,” May said.
Citizens will be able to purchase coupons and take their solid waste to
the station for disposal. There will be no charge for recyclables.
Although the facility primarily will be for those residing in the
southern portion of the county, “The station will be open to all
residents of Kaufman County,” Deller explained.
Details will be forthcoming over the next six months through newspaper
articles, flyers and talks to various civic organizations and schools in
Kemp, Scurry, Rosser, Combine and Mabank areas, May said.
For information on how your organization can arrange a presentation on
the new Kemp Convenience Station, call the environmental Co-op at (972)
524-0007.
Drugs seized in two busts
Monitor Staff Reports
POST OAK BEND–Law enforcement collected a stash of Valium and Xanax
pills, methamphetamine and steroids with a street value of $250,000.
The Kaufman County S.W.A.T. team executed a search warrant to a
residence in Post Oak Bend May 22.
The team confiscated 20,000 Valium pills, more than 1,000 Xanax pills
and more than four grams of methamphetamines (crystal meth). In addition
several unidentified types of liquid steroids were found.
Officers took James Clinton Squires, 37, into custody and charged him
with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.
Further, Squires is being held in the Kaufman County detention facility
for a parole violation. Bail for the drug charge has been set at
$300,000.
In Seven Points the morning of May 17, officers Sam Henson and Sgt.
Kenneth Martin responded to a call at Sonic Drive-In reporting a
possible narcotics transaction, which resulted in two arrests and the
confiscation of a quarter-pound of marijuana.
Justin P. Flowers, 19, of Mabank was charged with possession, less than
two ounces, and Tiffany A. Gates, 20, of Kemp was charged with delivery
of marijuana, over ¼ ounce, but less than 5 pounds.
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