Volume 64, Number 24
Azle News
Wednesday, November 25, 2015
THE
www.azlenews.net
Star Wars at the library Page 10A
Local folks say thanks Page 1B
A tale of 6 cities Local municipalities compared BY CARLA NOAH STUTSMAN With annual municipal elections coming up next May and the associated fi ling period for those who are considering a run for elected offi ce, we at The Azle News and Springtown Epigraph thought we’d do a comparison of the six cities in our coverage area. We’ll compare and contrast the types of cities in our coverage areas – the cities of Azle, Springtown, Reno, and Pelican Bay as well as the towns of Sanctuary and Lakeside – provide information about how much elected officials are paid in each city/town. PLEASE SEE CITIES, PAGE 6A.
Winter sports get underway Page 11A
City Type Council Mayor Land pay/month pay/month Area
Population in 2013
Azle Home Rule $20 $40 8.842 sq mi 11,334 Lakeside Type A $0 $0 1.5 sq mi 1,364 Pelican Bay Type A $0 $0 384 acres 1,573 Reno Type A $50 $1,200 12.86 sq mi 2,573 Sanctuary Type A $0 $0 192 acres 334 Springtown Type A $0 $0 2.8 sq mi 2,722
Azle to pay off Cross Timbers GC on Dec. 22
‘Twas the Mess Before Thanksgiving
BY CARLA NOAH STUTSMAN Merry Christmas, Azle: From the city. The citizens of Azle will receive a Christmas gift this year that’s been a long time coming – but not nearly as long as it might have been. Rather than wait until August 2016 as planned, city leaders at the Nov. 17 regular city council meeting voted to call the remaining debt – a total of $365,000 – for Cross Timbers Golf Course on Dec. 22. In simpler terms, the golf course will be paid off three days before Christmas. City Manager Craig Lemin explained that while the money is in the city coffers to pay the debt off, the plan was to make the fi nal payment when it came due. “But some people in the community have indicated they don’t think we have the money, so tonight we’re starting the process,” Lemin told council. Shortly before 1 p.m. – just as schools were releasing students early for the Thanksgiving holiday – Assistant City Manager Lawrence the Azle Fire Department was called to Forte Junior High to extinguish a dumpster fire. Upon arrival, Bryant further explained that since the fi refi ghters discovered it wasn’t the dumpster at all, but recyclable material inside a Moore Recycling payoff was budgeted for the current truck that was burning. The truck had to dump most of its load onto the parking lot of the school so fi scal year anyway, there is no advanthe fire could be extinguished. Photo by Carla Noah Stutsman tage to waiting until mid-year to make
the call. The fi nal payment will be comprised of $285,000, the amount of the regularly scheduled debt payment due in August 2016 as well as another $80,000 due in August 2017 for a total of $365,000. With this call, all outstanding debt related to Cross Timbers will be fully retired. Approximately $9,487 in interest savings will be realized by calling these bonds. The city began the early retirement of outstanding debt related to Cross Timbers Golf Course in June 2009. Subsequent early calls were made in October 2011, June 2013, June 2014, and July 2015. With this fi nal call, a total of $3,485,000 in principal will be retired approximately 9-1/2 years early. Total interest savings amount to approximately $1.8 million as a result of these early retirements. At the previous meeting Nov. 3, in a split vote with Mayor Alan Brundrett and council member Lee Barrett votPLEASE SEE CITY, PAGE 2A.
Gas switch causes heartburn for area drivers Supplier footing all repair bills after diesel, gasoline tanks filled incorrectly BY CARLA NOAH STUTSMAN It’s happened only one other time in 10 years, but it happened in Azle after 11 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7. A driver for Douglass Distributing got his hoses mixed up and accidentally pumped unleaded gasoline into the diesel tank and diesel fuel into the unleaded gasoline tank at the Kwik Stop/Shell gas station located at 455 Northwest Parkway – across Central Avenue from Jack in the Box. V Power, also known as super unleaded gasoline, at the Kwik Stop was not affected by the switch at all, and the problem with unleaded and diesel has since been entirely resolved. Matt Malla, who works at the Kwik Stop, said he wants his customers to know it was a mistake made by the supplier – not by anyone at the station, “If we made the mistake, we would admit it and fi x the problems,” Malla said. “But the supplier made the mistake and they are taking care of it.” Matt Malla (right) says business has been down since a Douglass Distributing driver accidentally The station shut down both unlead- switched unleaded gasoline and diesel fuel at his Shell station. Photo by Carla Noah Stutsman ed and diesel pumps at 1 p.m. Tues“We’ve had about two dozen cusday, Nov. 8 when it was confi rmed “No one should have any fear about the station’s customers have spoken of that the fuels were in the wrong tanks. returning to the Kwik Stop – no con- them while dealing with the effects of tomers so far who have been affected.” Kratochvil added that it speaks for Douglass Distributing removed all cern whatsoever about putting that getting the wrong fuel in their tanks. fuel from both tanks before cleaning nozzle into their vehicle,” Kratochvil “Probably 95 percent of those we’ve the Azle community in general that and fl ushing all lines and hoses then said. spoken with have been very friendly so many have been friendly and suprefi lled the tanks with the correct fu- She said the owner and employees and so good to work with, and they all portive of the Kwik Stop – especially els, according to Beth Kratochvil, a of the station are “awesome people” speak very highly of Matt and Sam at since their vehicles have to be repaired and that’s been refl ected in how highly the station,” she said. as a result of the mix-up. spokesperson for the company.
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This Week in Azle History
Douglass Distributing has set up accounts with Garcia’s Automotive and Burrows Auto Sales and Service in the Azle area to facilitate repairs for those whose vehicles got the wrong fuel. “Both companies have been amazing to work with, and both have tow services so they can pick your vehicle up where it is, repair it, and get it back to you in the shortest time possible,” Kratochvil said. “We just want to take care of everyone affected by this and we want to encourage the community of Azle to continue doing business at the Kwik Stop.” If you fueled up at the Kwik Stop on Nov. 8, 9, or until 1 p.m. Nov. 10, you can contact Kratochvil (just ask for Beth) at 903-893-1181. The offi ce is open from 8 a.m.5 p.m. Monday through Friday, but Kratochvil also checks voicemail on nights and weekends to ensure customers get a quick response. You can have your vehicle repaired at Garcia’s or Burrows, or you can select another repair facility. The average repair bill for a gaspowered vehicle affected by the switch has so far been about $400, Kratochvil said. Once a vehicle has been repaired, it should not suffer any long-term effects from having the wrong fuel in the tank.
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10 Years Ago In November 2005, the Hornet football team – with then assistant coach (now head) Devon Dorris on the staff – won bi-district over FW Arlington Heights 19-8.
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$1 Azle, Texas 76020