Archives
Perry appoints Abilene judge to RRC
Tax assessor-collector retiring
City's economic outlook? Not so good
City begins year with new leader
Hwy. 60, Price Rd. - two wrecks, two days
County to discuss delinquent court cost consortium
Crime and real estate on agenda
Perry appoints Abilene judge to RRC
By NANCY YOUNG
Managing Editor
Pampa won't have one of its own as a Texas Railroad Commissioner, but the people will retain their local representative in Austin.
Two Pampa residents, State Rep. Warren Chisum and Robert Wood, a retired 29-year employee of the Pampa Railroad Commission office, had both indicated they would like to fulfill the unexpired term of Tony Garza, who was appointed in December by President George W. Bush to be U.S. ambassador to Mexico.
Texas Governor Rick Perry announced Thursday he will appoint Taylor County Judge Victor Carrillo as Garza's replacement from a field of 25 Texans.
Neither Chisum nor Wood were available for comment this morning.
Carrillo, a Republican, will serve the remainder of Garza's term which ends in 2004.
The 38-year-old became Taylor County Judge in September 2001 after serving on the Abilene city council. From 1994-1996, he was an attorney in the energy section of the Texas General Land Office, and was responsible for advising the land commissioner on oil, gas and environmental law issues. From 1988-1994, he was a petroleum geophysicist with Amoco Production Co. in Houston.
Carrillo received his law degree from the University of Houston Law Center. He also has a bachelor's and master's degrees in geology.
According to an Associated Press report, he said his duty would be to regulate the industry fairly and evenhandedly. He also said, according to the report, that he believes strict enforcement is appropriate for operators who willfully disregard the law.
Under consideration in Austin is a proposal that would merge the Railroad Commission with the Public Utility Commission, which oversees the state's telephone and electric industries. Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn said the merger could save $12.4 million initially and $18.5 million annually.
Tax assessor-collector retiring
By NANCY YOUNG
Managing Editor
After working for Gray County for 31 years, Sammie Morris is retiring as Tax Assessor-Collector.
Morris met briefly with the five-member county commissioners court in an executive session late Wednesday morning.
Her retirement will be effective April 30. Morris said she is retiring to be at home with her husband Bob who retired in 1993. The couple plans to spend time together and travel in their travel trailer.
"I have really enjoyed working with the citizens of Gray County and will miss seeing everyone," said Morris, who will turn 65 in February. "Since I have been in office I feel that we have made strides for our customers. The main thing that I feel that has made it so much easier for our customers is to have just the one office to come to pay all of their taxes. It has been so nice to be able to collect for all nine entities, and it has been a great savings for each entity."
Morris first went to work in the tax office in 1958 when Jack Back was Tax Assessor-Collector. Working at different intervals, she will have completed 31 years with the county in March.
Following Back's retirement in 1981, Margie Gray was elected to the position and served until her death in 1994. On May 2, 1994, Gray County Commissioners Court appointed Morris to fill the position.
After accepting Morris' resignation the Commissioners Court appointed Gaye Whitehead to fill the County Tax Collector position effective May 1. Whitehead is currently Chief Deputy in the Gray County Tax Assessor-Collector's office.
Morris recommended to the commission that Whitehead be appointed to fill the unexpired term. In her recommendation, she said Whitehead has worked in the tax office since May 1, 1985, and was appointed as chief deputy in May 1994. She said Whitehead is a trusted employee and well versed in the operations of the tax office in all areas. She further stated Whitehead has a good working relationship with the employees in the tax office as well as the county.
Whitehead has completed all the required course work and exams, and is registered with the Board of Tax Professional Examiners as a Registered Texas Assessor/Collector as of Aug. 10, 1998.
Morris described the functions of the tax collector's office and how they work.
"All of the vehicle and title work is linked directly to Austin with computers known as registration and title systems," said Morris. She said the only cost to the county is the toner cartridges.
"Our computer for the voter registry is also linked to the state and our files are updated daily," added Morris. "The ad valorem tax department has a highly trained staff and an excellent collection program through Net Data. The collection program was written just for county government and has a great bookkeeping, report writing and check writing system."
The county tax office collects all the property taxes for Gray County while the appraise the property.
Morris said she wanted to assure everyone in Gray County that business will run as usual with Whitehead as assessor-collector.
"I want all of my supporters and friends to know that Gaye will do an excellent job for the tax office," she said.
City's economic outlook? Not so good
By DAVID BOWSER
Staff Writer
The economic news for Pampa continues to be bad.
Sales tax receipts this month were almost $12,000 below what the city had budgeted. To make matters worse, this month's sales tax receipts were almost $18,000 below last January's receipts.
Pampa received $161,207.26 last January. This year, the January sales tax receipts dropped to $143,735.92.
The city, as reflected in their budget, was expecting $155,596.
Pampa City Commissioners at Tuesday night's meeting instructed the city's staff to begin plans to cut Pampa's municipal budget.
City officials said this week that Pampa received 10.84 percent less in January, 2003, than for the same month in 2002.
The January sales tax receipts were 7.62 percent below what the city expected, and this isn't the first month of the city's fiscal year that this has occurred.
Pampa's fiscal year starts Oct. 1. The October sales tax receipts were down 3.89 percent from what the city expected. November sales tax receipts were 11.09 percent below the budgeted figure. December sales tax receipts were down 5.11 percent below what had been budgeted.
City Commissioner Jeff Andrews, during the commission's work session Tuesday night, said that if these numbers were projected out for the year, it could mean some $150,000 in less revenue for city coffers than what the commission had planned when they adopted their budget for this fiscal year.
To date, the city has gotten about $50,000 less than they had budgeted for over the past four months.
The funds the city received from the state comptroller's office in January are for sales in November. The city receives 1.5 percent of the sales taxes collected in Pampa.
City officials said next month's receipts will be for December and should reflect sales during the Christmas holiday season. But they doubt that even a good holiday shopping season would be enough to make up the $50,000 shortage in the budget, let alone the $75,309.89 less than for the same period last year.
Those figures indicate that retail sales were down in Pampa some $3.3 million for the past four months.
Not only are sales down in Pampa, but more businesses have closed in Gray County over the past year.
According to the state comptroller's office, there are 12 fewer businesses in the county this year than last.
City begins year with new leader
By DAVID BOWSER
Staff Writer
In their first meeting of the new year, Pampa City Commission quickly dealt with the action items on their agenda.
They approved the revised abandoned and junk vehicle ordinance on second and final reading, approved the city's check register, adopted a resolution concerning a law enforcement block grant and sold eight lots to a Pampa man for $400.
Doug Locke, representing the PEDC, told commissioners during the meeting that three properties - 213 acres by the rodeo grounds, the U.S. Bus property and the American Energy building on Price Road - were being appraised, and he would have the figures to the commission next month. Then, he said, they could proceed with selling them.
Locke said the PEDC is working on a plan under which the Celanese property near the prison that the commission had asked to be removed from the PEDC dissolution plan could be sold with the City of Pampa having the option to buy the water rights.
Again, Locke said he hoped to have that plan ready for the commission next month.
The commission approved the sale of eight lots in the 1000 block of East Denver to George Kilcrease for $400. The lots are valued at $3,060. The total taxes due on the lots are $3,200.
"At least, we won't have to mow them anymore," Commissioner Faustina Curry said.
The abandoned and junk vehicle ordinance, which now becomes law, was revised, according to City Attorney Don Lane, to bring the city ordinance into compliance with state guidelines. The revised ordinance primarily tightens the time restrictions on how long a vehicle sits before it can be declared abandoned or junk.
The commission approved the city's check register with an adjusted amount of $511,180.63, after reviewing the register during their pre-meeting working session with city staff.
Pampa Police Chief Trevlyn Pitner told the commission during the working session that the department received a $13,816 federal block grant last July, $1,382 of which was matching money put up by the city. Pitner said the Police Department Advisory Board had developed a number of uses for which the money may be used. A public hearing concerning the block grant and how it could be spent is scheduled for 1 p.m., Friday, Pitner said, in the first floor conference room of City Hall.
Pitner said he favored using the money for equipment purchases for the police department. Citing potentially tight budgets this year, Pitner indicated that his first choice would be to use the funds to upgrade or replace worn police radio equipment.
The police chief said other uses suggested by the advisory board included spending the money in the areas of crime prevention or increased security.
One of the suggestions was to buy a speed radar trailer, a trailer equipped with radar that gives speeds via a lighted sign, telling motorists how fast they are going.
Pitner said the advisory board was also looking at an identification card printer that could be used in conjunction with the department's children fingerprint identification program and a senior citizens identification program.
"That's the kind of projects we're looking at," Pitner said.
Pitner also told the commissioners during the work session that the police department had hired one officer, leaving three vacancies in the department. He said, however, that he was scheduled to interview two applicants next week, and the department had been in touch with a couple of candidates in the police academy.
"We ought to be back to normal staffing pretty quick," he said.
During the work session, City Commissioner Jeff Andrews noted that the latest sales tax figures were seven percent below what had been budgeted. Projected on an annual basis, he said, that meant the city could end up short $150,000 for the year.
"We need to figure out where to cut," Andrews said.
City Manager Mitch Grant said the staff would begin developing plans so the commissioners could discuss which direction to take at their next regular meeting, Jan. 28.
"It's a sizable problem as far as I'm concerned," Andrews said.
In what was the commissioner's first meeting of the new year was also the first meeting for Grant, who was hired as city manager Dec. 9. He started his new job with the City of Pampa Jan. 8.
Grant complimented the city staff.
"I've been learning from them," he said.
Hwy. 60, Price Rd. - two wrecks, two days
By DEE DEE LARAMORE
Editor
Three people were taken to the emergency room here after an accident at the intersection of U.S. 60 and Price Road Tuesday afternoon, the second wreck there in two days.
Investigation continues into the Tuesday crash that sent two Pampa women and a Borger man to the hospital, Texas Department of Public Safety officials said today.
At 5:10 p.m., Tuesday, a 1989 Ford F250 pickup driven by Alberto Villalon Copado, 31, 436 Pitts, and a 1988 Chevrolet Nova driven by Donna Jean Kane, 40, 901 E. Denver, collided in the intersection, according to a report filed by Trooper Ron Shank who is investigating the wreck.
Both drivers said they had green lights, officials said.
Three occupants of the Nova, including Kane, were taken to Pampa Regional Medical Center by Rural/Metro Ambulance Service. Also injured in the accident were James Auldridge, 76, of Borger, and Phyllis Gifford, 43, 1200 N. Wells.
All three persons were treated and released, hospital officials said this morning. No citations have been issued.
On Monday, at 4:30 p.m., DPS officers also investigated a wreck at U.S. Highway 60 and Price Road involving a pickup and a tractor-trailer rig.
According to DPS Trooper Jesse Cerda's report, a 1993 Chevrolet pickup driven by Jonathan Jennings, 18, RR1, Box 149-A, was stopped facing south on Price Road and a 1993 Freightliner pulling a box trailer for agriculture products was traveling west on Highway 60. The Freightliner driver, Jose Eliseo Salinas, 58, of Hereford, failed to stop at the red light and moved into the intersection at the same time the pickup started forward with the green light, the report stated.
The pickup struck the Freightliner in the right passenger back quarter panel. No injuries were reported at the scene. Salinas was cited for disregarding a stop light.
County to discuss delinquent court cost consortium
By NANCY YOUNG
Managing Editor
Gray County Commissioners Court will discuss entering into a consortium with Carson, Hutchinson and Sherman counties to collect delinquent court costs and fines when they meet at 9 a.m., Wednesday, in the temporary Gray County Courtroom, 315 N. Ballard.
County Judge Richard Peet told the commission that Sonya Shieldknight, former Carson County Clerk/District Clerk, is forming the consortium. She will be at the Wednesday meeting to discuss the proposal with the commission.
Peet said that currently if a probationer has fulfilled all terms of their probation at the end of the designated time period ordered by the courts and has not paid their fees or court costs that the probationer must be released from probation without paying their fines.
He said Gray County Court assessed $180,574.50 in fines during 2001. Of that amount, only $83,358.38 was paid, he said. Peet said some prisoners chose to sit the time in jail at $100 per day for a total of $35,701.25 paid in that way.
He also said approximately $37,000 is outstanding in juvenile fees.
The remaining amount of fines and fees were not paid in that year, he said.
Hutchinson County Judge Jack Worsham said in that county approximately $180,000 was assessed by the county court in 2001, and only $30,000 was paid.
Both Peet and Worsham said the collection of fines and fees is a problem all over Texas.
Peet said Hutchinson County has agreed to furnish an office for Shieldknight to establish her base of operations.
He said the program is estimated to cost $46,000 and 75 percent of it can be funded by grants. Peet said Gray County's cost is estimated to be $5,367.
Peet said Shieldknight would also be able to collect fees and fines from district courts and Justice of the Peace Courts.
He said she would be in court when the offenders appear and the fines are assessed, and that she would speak with each person placed on probation and fined to obtain the money owed to the county.
In other business, Pamela Nelson of Panhandle Regional Planning Commission is to make a presentation on the 9-1-1 address status in Gray County.
Also District Attorney Rick Roach is scheduled to make a request regarding his offices upon return to the courthouse. The budget for the courthouse rededication is also on the agenda.
Approval of re-appointment and payment of salary of the County Auditor and Assistant County Auditor as stated by the District Judges, selection of the Salary Grievance Committee, jurors' reimbursement fees, location of commissioners court meetings and signature changes on all bank accounts is listed on the agenda.
Budget amendments, intrabudget transfer requests and paying bills and salaries as approved by the County Auditor are also scheduled.
Crime and real estate on agenda
Crime and real estate are on the Pampa City Commission's agenda for Tuesday.
Mitch Grant will also make his first appearance as Pampa's new City Manager.
Grant's hiring was approved by the commission Dec. 9. He started work in his new position on Jan. 8.
The city commission is expected to pass a resolution to submit an application for funds from the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant program to buy equipment for the Pampa Police Department.
They are also expected to approve a bid for $400 from George Kilcrease for delinquent tax properties at 1015 E. Denver.
The property is valued at $3,060. Some $3,020 in taxes are due on it.
The city commission will have the second and final reading of the abandoned and junk vehicles.
In other business, the commission will address the minutes of their special meeting Dec. 9, and regular meeting on Dec. 10.
They also plan to review the city's check register.