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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas

Opinion

Mac McKinnon

Observations

By MacMcKinnon
Enterprise Publisher

Tuesday, October 13, 1998

Unit road system should

be retained when voting


Early voting starts Monday for the Nov. 3 general election.
In addition to statewide and county races, there will be a
number of other issues on the ballot.

One of those issues asks voters to cast their ballot "for"
or "against" retaining the optional county road system.

The optional county system is as it exists now and is
sometimes also known as the unit road system. Reeves County
Road Administrator is Russ Salcido.
If the issue has more against votes than for, the county
would return to the old system whereby each county
commissioner would oversee road maintenance within their own
precinct. Each would have a crew and equipment, probably.

This system was done away with because of the politics
involved and the expense. Obviously, it is more expensive to
maintain four crews and four sets of equipment than using
equipment and manpower where ever it is needed on a priority
basis.

Some people who don't want the current system will tell you
that commissioners can share crews and equipment. That may
be true, in ideal situations, but when politics are
involved, don't bet on it.

The unit road system was created by the public in a vote in
November 1990. Dr. W. J. Bang, who was on the ballot to be
elected as a commissioner, had launched the effort to get
the unit road system started and now, eight years later, he
is still a big supporter of it. In fact, he is the treasurer
designate of a committee to retain or keep the road system
the way it is now.

The petition that resulted in this election being called was
signed by, I'm sure, some people who believe in the public
having a say in their government. That's the way it should
be.

However, I've also been told it was signed by people who
were led to believe this would lead to additional jobs and
that the $5 road and bridge charge on license plates would
be abolished if the voters did away with the unit road
system.

Let me emphatically state the county can't afford to create
any more jobs in the road and bridge department and there is
no way the $5 road and bridge charge on license plates is
going to be dropped. If anything, doing away with the unit
road system and doing things the old way will be expensive.

There is no doubt in my mind that the county will have to
raise taxes to pay for expenses of having politics involved
in road maintenance if this issue fails.

Russ Salcido and his crews have done an excellent job on our
county roads. In addition to everything else, they help take
care of the rodeo arena and civic center as well as
maintenance on various pieces of county property in the
county.

During the past few years, one of the big items taken care
of by Salcido involves road mapping for the 9-1-1 system,
making sure all roads are mapped for ambulance and fire
calls. This is obviously very critical, and they've done it
under budget.

I plead with voters to vote "for" retaining the optional
county road system.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Mac McKinnon is the editor and publisher of the Pecos Enterprise whose column appears each Tuesday. He can be e-mailed at: bigmac@bitstreet.com

OUR VIEW

Sales tax vote is ital to community


An election that could determine the future of Pecos is on
the ballot for this election. Early balloting starts Monday
with the general election Nov. 3.

This particular election affects city voters only and it is
to redesignate part of the city sales tax for use in
economic development.
This is NOT a tax increase.

Only 1/4-cent will be diverted from the city to be used for
economic development. This should result in slightly more
than $120,000 a year for use in economic development.

There has been some concern that with the city losing this
amount of money, taxes might be increased next year. We
don't believe that will be necessary nor prudent. During
these difficult times, the city can tighten their belt in
the hopes that new industry and business will more than
offset any tax loss, if not immediately, hopefully in the
foreseeable future.

There will be a town hall meeting Thursday night at 7 p.m.
in the Civic Center to explain details of the 4A sales tax
issue and answer any questions.

We urge city voters to cast their ballot "for" this issue.

It's vital for the future of this town and county.

YOUR VIEW

Parent wants drivers to be careful


To The Editor:
I just would like to say to the parents.

When we take our children to school please let's obey and do
as the reporter's tell us let's drive safe and take our
time. The cars on 12th Street around about 8:15 a.m., the
people are driving like they are out at the test track and
it's not fair at all.

I see where they have police around Austin's school's in the
morning time and after school hours and they are needed on
12th Street in the morning.

Let us as parents get up on time with our kids we won't have
to rush.

Please stop, look and drive your child safely to school. God
Bless you.

Name Withheld by Request

Arredondo defends old road system


To The Editor:
This is my rebuttal to the letter to the editor titled,
"Arredondo Again Trying To Scuttle Road System," on Sept. 2,
1998.

Yes I signed the resolution that told Reeves County Taxpayer
how the road and bridge system now operating under the
present unit system. It was after I signed the resolution
that I did some research on the cost before and after the
unit system was implemented.

It is a fact that the taxpayers are being mislead with the
resolution stating that the unit system operates at half the
cost. It does not. The average yearly fund from 1987 to 1990
was $631,632, after the unit system from 1990 to present the
cost is $620,568.

Is that half? I don't think so.

Some people are upset because I have changed my mind on the
resolution but the simple fact is that the resolution is not
a true statement. I am not exposing anyone but there are
four members on the commissioners court, let them give their
version of the big 50% savings since the whole court
accepted the resolution.

The unit system was voted in by the people, now the people
just want a chance to decide again whether to keep the unit
system or give the precinct back to the commissioners. If a
change is voted in by the voters then and only then will
there be a substantial saving for the county.

Thank You,
Felipe Arredondo
Precinct 1 Comissioner

Del Rio citizens thank Reeves County


To The Editor:
A "Thank You" letter was received from Del Rio and addressed
to the Citizens of Reeves County and the Reeves County
Sheriff's Department.

The letter states, "Thank you for your gifts and your
thoughts and prayers. The people of Del Rio, have been truly
hurt, but our hearts are strong and our will is great!

We will use your gifts to help us heal our hurt and
strengthen our will.
A simple thank you just doesn't seem to be enough. What can
I say: Thank you.

Sincerely,
Benita Bernadette Patuel
Director
Del Rio Recovers

******

We would like to extend our appreciation to everyone who
helped with the recent clothing and canned food drive for
the citizens of Del Rio. We hope one day we can thank each
one of you.

Thank you very much!
Arnulfo "Andy" Gomez
Reeves Co. Sheriff's Dept.

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Mac McKinnon, Publisher
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