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Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Incumbents win new terms; school vote recount possible
All incumbents are tentatively set to return to their positions, following the outcome of the Town of Pecos City Council and Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD board elections held this past Saturday. However, one race is close enough that a recount of the final totals is likely.
In the P-B-T ISD race, incumbent Randy Graham scored an easy win for a new three-year term, while the other incumbent seeking re-election, Vanessa Simmons, scored on a one vote victory over challenger John Granado, according to Saturday’s totals.
Simmons was one of three candidates tightly bunched for the second school board seat, picked up 517 votes to 516 for Granado and 500 for the fourth person in this year’s school board race, former board member David Lara Flores. Graham won his bid for a new term with 646 votes.
Granado and Flores both have the option for asking for a recount of Saturday’s totals, but as of late this morning, Tracey Shaw, secretary to P-B-T Superintendent Manny Espino, said, “We have not received any kind of petition for a recount.”
Five years ago, the district had to hold a special tie vote election between Flores and Billie Sadler, following a recount of that May’s election. The original vote total Sadler 405 votes to 402 for Flores, but in the recount Flores gained two votes while Sadler lost one off her final total giving both candidates 404 votes.
Flores then won the recount 571-465, but lost his bid for re-election in 2008.
Incumbents had an easier time winning new two-year terms the city election. Danny Rodriguez, Frank Sanchez and Gerald Tellez were being challenged by Tom Rivera and David Langley for the three seats up for election, with voters giving Tellez 816 votes to 514 for Rodriguez and 499 for Sanchez. Rivera, who also ran for the council in 2008, received 366 votes, while Langley, who was running for the council for the first time, received 223 votes.
The city and P-B-T elections were the only contested races locally. City elections in Barstow, Toyah and Balmorhea, along with the Balmorhea ISD board race, were cancelled under state law, though voters in Balmorhea still went to the polls in the Reeves County Hospital District bond election. The hospital board election for Precincts 1 and 3 also were cancelled, with incumbents Pablo Carrasco and Linda Gholson winning new two-year terms.
Prison project payments get county’s OK
Reeves County Commissioners approved payments to different companies working at the Reeves County Detention Centers I/II, during their regular meeting on Monday at the Reeves County Courthouse.
Commissioners approved the payments on work already done at the site, after voting on Saturday to change construction managers for the reconstruction project.
Payments approved on Monday included one to Jova, Inc., for RCDC I/II emergency repairs in the amount of $48,129; a payment to LMD Architects, PLLC in the amount of $757.23 and $32,663 and a payment to J&R Electric and Construction for repairs to damaged electrical services to kitchen/dining/infirmary and electrical services to temporary trailers for food service and laundry in the amount of $14,041.
“All the documentation and the work has been verified by the architect,” said county auditor Lynn Owens.
The group approved Pritchard and Abbott for tax collection software/hardware support and a mineral fund request from BTA Oil Producers in the amount of $569.72.
“When we have refunds like this, we have to bring it to the commissioner’s court,” said Reeves County Tax Assessor/Collector Rosemary Chabarria.
She also told commissioners that they were very happy with Pritchard and Abbott who had been providing this service to the county for the past 21 years.
“They are excellent and really help us out a lot,” she said.
During the meeting the group opened a bank depository contract, but the item was tabled until they could look over the contract carefully.
There was only one bid, from West Texas National Bank, who provided the required check, 10 percent of what the county currently is worth, according to Reeves County Treasurer Linda Clark.
“What we need to do is table it and look over the contract carefully,” said Owens. “That’s what the check is for,” he said.
Personnel and salary changes included new hires at the Reeves County Detention Center III: correctional officers, starting a $16.49 an hour, Christopher Macias, Jorge Avila, Jimmy Martinez, Jacob Munoz, Armando Ramirez, Hugo Rodriguez and Jacob Duarte.
At the Reeves County Detention Center I/II: correctional officers, at $16.49, Susan Ayres, Edgar Caballero, Francisco Ramirez, Jr., Jose A. Garcia, Joseph Luna and Juan Pell; part-time correctional officer at $19.73, Cristina Barrera.
All Senior Correctional Officers at Reeves County Detention Center I/II received a pay change to $16.49 and they included: Daniel Barron, Daniel Bitolas, Nolan Blount, Jose Bueno, Mark Calderon, Ruben Campos, Ricardo Carrasco, John Diehl, Sr., Rosa Dominguez, Amanda Esquivel, Ricardo Florez, Eleuterio Garcia, Pete Garcia, Rachel Garcia, Ernesto Gonzales, Arnulfo Granado, Rene Guerra, Jr., David Hignojos, Hector Jurado, Jaime Jurado, Ernestine Long, Jeremiah Lozano, Rodolfo Lozano, Felix Machuca, Ben Madrid, Daniel Marruffo, Joe Mendoza, Robert Mendoza, Bertha Ramirez, James Tarin, Melinda Thomas, Samuel Urias and Joel Valdez.
At the Reeves County Golf Course, Austin Alvarez was hired as an assistant manager for the golf shop at $8 to $10 an hour, for a 30-40 hour work week; Samuel Sandoval, Alonzo Contreras and Alex Dominguez were hired as temporary workers as outside shop assistants.
At the Reeves County Library, Angie Villareal and Honesty Medina were hired as part-time employees at $9 an hour; at the recreation department, Robert Barreno, Jr., was hired at $10 an hour as field maintenance/custodian and at the Reeves County Justice of the Peace Precinct 1, as a clerk, Connie Vasquez.
Commissioners change out RCDC construction manager
Reeves County Commissioners changed construction companies twice last week on the Reeves County Detention Center emergency project, hiring a new company on Saturday for the reconstruction of the facilities following a riot that occurred in January.
Commissioners met in an emergency meeting on Saturday morning to discuss offering the project to another company and rescinding their previous offer to a company they had agreed two just two days earlier.
The group had initially approved the hiring of J.E. Dunn of Houston to be the construction manager for the facilities. But on Thursday, they voted to go with another company instead, White Construction Company. However, two days later, that decision was reversed and commissioners hired Satterfield and Pontikes, Company, Inc., for the RCDC I&II emergency construction project and approved a resolution.
They also approved to rescind/terminate previous court action with regards to White Construction Company.
Commissioners cited delays in the construction project as the initial reason for replacing J.E. Dunn as construction manager. No exact reason was given by county officials for Saturday’s action in replacing White Construction with Satterfield and Pontikes. However, the RCDC reconstruction is required to meet the specifications of the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
In their resolution, the county noted that: “The Reeves County Detention Center I/II suffered significant damage to buildings and support areas as a result of fires started by inmates during a disturbance that began on Jan. 31, 2009 (the disturbance).”
The county previously determined that it would proceed on an emergency basis to obtain the services of a general contractor to coordinate and guarantee the timely completion of repair/replacement work to RCDC I/II and the county developed and submitted a plan to the Federal Bureau of Prisons to repair/replace buildings and areas of RCDC I/II that were damaged during the disturbance in accordance with a timetable (the Plan) intended to restore the proper functionality and use of RCDC I/II, preserve the property of the county, and preserve and protect the public safety of the residents of the county and despite concerted effort by the county, the county and the firm previously selected by the county to serve as the county’s general contractor have failed to reach an agreement on the terms and conditions of the firm’s engagement for services.
The resolution further stated that the county has determined that it is now necessary in order to best achieve the objectives set forth in the plan to terminate further discussions with the firm previously selected to serve as the county’s general contractor and to select a qualified and experiences construction company to serve as the county’s General Contractor, on a cost-plus contract basis, for purposes of performing the construction work under the county’s plan.
Damage estimates on the RCDC I and II facilities initially were put at between $20 and $25 million, with all of RCDC I being condemned for occupancy for inmates. It is not known if the new contract will raise the reconstruction cost estimates.
In their resolution, the commissioner’s stated that they, along with the architect firm of LMD Architects, have considered the qualifications and experience of Satterfield & Pontikes Co. Inc. and believe that Satterfield & Pontikes possess the necessary qualifications and experience to serve as the county’s general contractor for purposes of performing the construction work.
The commissioner’s court determined that they needed to act on an emergency basis with the selection of the county’s general contractor.
City’s sales tax revenue plunge continues in May rebate check
Pecos may not be a city in one of the hardest hit regions of the country during the current economic downturn, but the decline in oil and natural gas prices and the reduction in drilling activity in the western Permian Basin continues to cause a major drop in the area’s sales tax revenues.
Texas Comptroller Susan Combs sent out checks for May last week to cities, counties and special purpose districts collection sales tax, and the numbers were bad for two of Reeves County’s three cities, along with the Reeves County Hospital District.
Pecos’ May numbers, based on sales made during March, continued the sharply downward trend that began last fall. The city’s 1½-cent share of the state’s 8¼-cent sales tax came in at $108,511, better than April, when the city dropped below the $100,000 mark for the first time in two years, but down 36.7 percent from last May’s total of $171,439. One sixth of May’s total, or $16,085, goes towards the Pecos Economic Development Corp. for its operations.
Overall for 2009, the city has gotten $587,424 back from the comptroller’s office, a 26.22 percent drop from 2008, when Pecos received $796,186 over the first five months as it’s 1½-cent share of the state sales tax.
Balmorhea’s numbers also were down for May, but were slightly better than Pecos. It’s 1½-cent sales tax brought in $2,062, a 29.49 percent drop from a year ago. Overall, the city is down 13.91 percent for 2009, with rebate revenues falling from $15,182 to $13,069.
Toyah went against the trend and was up 32.03 percent for the month, rising from $923 to $1,219. The city is also up for the year by 2.13 percent, going from $3,990 in 2008 to $4,076.
The Reeves County Hospital District, which had avoided the same types of declines as Pecos through the first quarter of 2009, saw its second double-digit drop in a row. The hospital’s ½-cent sales tax brought in $68,174 for May, a 31.32 percent decline from last May’s $99,273 total. Overall, the hospital has gotten $426,606 back this year, which is down 1.85 percent from the $434,656 in 2008.
Pecos’ losses have been above average for cities in the Permian Basin and Trans-Pecos region in 2009, but most cities in the area also are showing declines from 2008’s totals.
Midland’s check from its 1 1/2-cent sales tax was $3.2 million, down 10.85 percent from last year, but still the largest single check sent out for the area, and the city has seen a 5.16 percent rise in its sales tax totals for the first five months of 2009. Odessa’s 1 1/4-cent share of the state’s sales tax share brought in $2.3 million, a 3.53 percent decline, while for the year, Odessa is still up 6.37 percent.
For other cities collecting the 1 1/2-cent sales tax, Alpine received a $112,335 check, which was up 8.35 percent. Overall, Alpine is up 4.15 percent in tax rebates this year. Crane received a check for $60,689, down 12.23 percent, while the city is down 3.57 percent for the year. Lamesa got a $124,246 check back this month, which was down 4.16 percent, and its 2009 total is down 5.26 percent. Seminole received a check for $100,450, which was up 0.23 percent, while overall, its 2009 totals are up 10.47 percent.
Among cities collecting a one-cent sales tax Kermit received $43,711, which was down 23.33 percent from last May. The city is down overall for 2009 by 18.24 percent. Wickett received an $13,767 check, down 14.65 percent this month, and for the year the total is down 27.95 percent; Wink received a check for $11,436 a 28.9 percent drop for the month, and the overall 2009 total is down 7.26 percent; and Pyote, received a $1,147 check for May, a 35.91 percent decrease, but the city is up 12.22 percent for the year.
For area cities collecting a 1 3/4-cent sales tax, Andrews received a check for $313,187, a 10.79 percent decrease for the month, while its five-month total is up 7,64 percent. Marfa got a check for $25,356, which was down 4.06 percent, while for the year the city is up 1.7 percent, and Van Horn got a check for $33,980, which was up 5.32 percent from a year ago. Van Horn is up 4.9 percent for all of 2009.
For cities collecting the maximum two-cent sales tax, Fort Stockton received $218,880 this month, down 28.9 percent, while the city is down 2.11 percent overall this year. Big Spring received $559,023, an 8.98 percent drop for the month, while overall the city’s total is up by 8,73 percent increase for the year. Monahans received a check for $124.983, which was down 19.26 percent, while the city’s is still up 6.84 percent for 2009. Grandfalls got a $3,340 check, up 18.66 percent for the month, and the city is up 5.69 percent for the year, while Presidio received $35,601 this month from Austin, down 13.28 percent from last May, while it’s year-to-date rebates are 5.34 percent lower than last year.
Statewide, Combs’ office sent out rebate checks totaling $367.1 million, compared with the $377.7 million rebated last year, an decrease of 2.82 percent. Houston’s check for $45.7 million again was the largest single check and was up 1.23 percent from last year, while Dallas’ check was next, at $20.2 million, which was down 8.65 percent from last year.
Opening set Wednesday for new city animal shelter
A grand opening has been scheduled for Wednesday morning for the Town of Pecos City’s new animal shelter, as final work on the building was being wrapped up on Monday.
The ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Wednesday at the shelter, located in the 2400 block of Moore Street, next to the Pecos Criminal Justice Center.
“The final punch lists is being filled out today, so we should be ready to roll,” said city manager Joseph Torres.
City roads and buildings superintendent Eloy Herrera said utility lines to the shelter were also being hooked up on Monday, while paving work outside the building remains to be done.
The new shelter was approved at a cost of about $260,000 following several years of complaints about conditions at the city's Walthall Street shelter. The city was no longer able to quarantine animals in the building, and there were only limited separation areas for the various types of dogs and cats rounded up by the city's animal control officer.
Monday was the deadline for West Texas Concrete and Metal Buildings of Seagraves to finish the shelter, as part of a 120-day schedule. Town of Pecos City crews are handling the building’s exterior work
City public works director Edgard Madrid told city council members during a meeting earlier this year that the city will make about $7,000 worth of changes to the building from the original plans, including upgrading the quality of paint inside. The new shelter would have 14 total pens, and would have one room for sick or injured animals, one quarantine room and one room for cats and puppies.
Voters opt to build clinic, keep zoo
Reeves County Hospital District will be able to get the money to fund a new rural health clinic and two other projects, while the Town of Pecos City will have to look for the money to fund maintenance and improvements to the Maxey Park Zoo, as a result of decisions by city and county voters in Saturday’s local elections.
County voters approved a $5.64 million in the bond issue for the hospital, by a 666-595 vote margin, while city voters in a non-binding referendum voted 619-553 to keep open the Maxey Park Zoo, which will involve improvements to both the look of the zoo and to overall operations, in order to meet new U.S. Department of Agriculture requirements.
The hospital bond is designed to finance three projects, with $4.7 million of that for construction of a new Rural Health Clinic just to the west of the current RCH emergency room entrance on Stafford Boulevard. The remaining $540,000 would go towards the purchase of a new CT scanner and a new computer system for the hospital.
“Nothing really happens until you’re able to secure the bonds,” said hospital CEO Al LaRochelle.
“I talked to the bond attorney this morning, and he said he would get back to us, and our bonds have to be set to the (Texas) attorney general for approval,” he said. “My understanding is we have buyers for them already.”
LaRochelle said he planned to meet with Pecos Economic Development Corp. president Robert Tobias Monday afternoon to discuss having the PEDC designate the four sections of land along Stafford Boulevard for use by the hospital for the new clinic.
“If I had my way, I’d like to see us breaking ground by September and awarding it, and have the work take 12-13 months,” he said. “But until we get the bond sold, we can’t spend any money, because we can’t pay any bills. You can plan, and you can do some things, but you can’t incur any costs.”
He said the new computer system would have to be installed over a certain time frame, based on getting the system running and getting the workers trained in each department. The computer system would allow the hospital to implement use of electronic medical records, and allow for doctors outside of the area to have access to those records.
LaRochelle said last month that the hospital would have to have the system in place by 2014 under federal law, or face penalties that would involve the loss of Medicare funding.
The new CT scanner should be the first of the three projects to be completed, though LaRochelle said even that will take several months to acquire and install.
“Even if we talked to them today, it would take three months to get ready to do the installation,” he said. The hospital will also have to rent a mobile CT scanner for use while the old single-scan unit is being removed and the new 16-scan unit is being installed, he added.
“All this hinges on the availability of the money. We don’t have the financial wherewithal right now to pay for the stuff until we have the bonds sold,” LaRochelle said. “I prefer to have the money first. We won’t place an order until we have the bond.”
City voters opted to keep the zoo open despite a drop of over 25 percent in sales tax revenues to Pecos over the past six months, due to the drop in oil and natural gas drilling activity in the area. Mayor Dick Alligood said the city doesn’t know the exact cost of how much it will take to keep the zoo operating, but the council in February approved one of the changes mandated by USDA inspectors earlier that month, a $60,000 fence around the zoo's perimeter.
“We probably put it on the ballot a little too soon, because we didn’t get the exact cost of it,” Alligood said. However, he said that give the tight budget the city is facing, some decisions of funding priorities will have to be made.
“We’ve got to figure out the cost, and we may have to put street and other projects on hold or push them back, but the voters have spoken, and they want it (the zoo) back,” he said.
The fence was installed after the federal government took over zoo inspections from the State of Texas and mandated tighter controls, including the hiring of a full-time zookeeper during operating hours. “The federal certificate says we’re doing what’s right for the animals now, but it’s this council’s desire that if we’re going to keep it, we’re going to make it nice,” Alligood said.
“My desire is to get input from the public on what they want to see, and then put something attractive together. We’re not going to just leave something out there that’s an eyesore,” he added.
The mayor said no action on the zoo, other than canvassing Saturday’s vote, would be on the agenda for the council during their regular meeting at 5:30 p.m. this Thursday, but the council will probably take up the issue during their next regular meeting at the end of May.
Matta’s announce graduation plans for three children
David and Nancy Matta, of Balmorhea, are happy to announce the graduation of three of their children.
Jourmain Matta is a 2003 Graduate of Balmorhea High School and will be graduating from San Angelo State University on May 16, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Applied Physics Mathematics; he will be persuing a career in Engineering.
Savannah Matta graduated from Balmorhea High School in 2006 and was a recent graduate from South Eastern Career Institute on Nov. 14, 2008 as a Medical Assistant and is currently working in Odessa.
Sarah Matta will be graduating from Balmorhea High School on May 29, 2008 and is considering attending San Angelo State University.
Proud grandparents are Domingo and Elvira Matta of Pecos; Ramon Prieto from Ft. Stockton and the late Matilde M. Prieto from Saragosa.
Pecos Enterprise
York M. "Smokey" Briggs, Publisher
324 S. Cedar St., Pecos, TX 79772
Phone 432-445-5475, FAX 432-445-4321
e-mail news@pecos.net
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