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Tri-Canyon’s Only Weekly Newspaper!
Current Weekly News for Leakey, Camp Wood, Sabinal, Utopia and Surrounding Areas Vol. 6 No. 32
INSIDE
www.hillcountryherald.net
August 10, 2016
editor@hillcountryherald.net
BUDGET TIME IN REAL COUNTY - $31,800 TO THE TRAPPERS CLUB by Julie Becker
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Plans are set for state’s premier sheep, goat educational programs ............................ Page 9
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From D. C. to D. Q. ............................ Page 7
Real County Commissioners set two dates for Budget Hearings for the 20162017 Budget: AUGUST 22, 2016 @ 9AM AND AUGUST 29, 2016 @ 6PM IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHERE YOUR TAX DOLLARS ARE BEING SPENT...BE THERE! In reviewing last year’s budget, this year’s proposed budget is not yet available to the public, I noticed several items to look for possible changes in this year’s budget. Real County Commissioners approved last year’s budget with a total payment to Predatory Animal Control
of $31,800. In the previous week’s it was reported the local Emergency Services share a total of $6000 divided between 5 entities. In the same budget our Emergency Management was only allotted $8,050. Constable Precinct 1&2 budgeted amount for last year was $35,623.53. And with the removal of the Constable Precinct 3&4 the budget was reduced to zero from the 2015 amount of $37,206.97. The Welfare and Pauper care including autopsies and Indigent Health Care was budgeted at $198,518 but only showed
FALL GARDENING SECCESSION
PLANTING
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INDEX Legals/Jail Register .... Page 3-4 Community News ......... Page 5-7 Feature Story ............... Page 8-9 Obituaries ...................... Page 10 Classifieds ..................... Page 14
Today’s Weather
High: 99° Low: 74°
Salary and Judges salary supplement had actual expenditures in 2014 of $109,050.99 and in 2015 of $109,287.71, budgeted amount for 2016 was $129,282.86. Under Precincts, Commissioner’s salary showed actual expenditures in 2013 of $56,359.16, 2014 - $58,049.58 and in 2015 $58,608. When the 2016-2017 proposed budget is made available a comparison will be printed with the proposed budgeted amounts. If the services provided with your tax dollars are important to you, plan on being at one of the listed dates and voice your concerns!!
Daughters of the Republic of Texas Quilt Raffle The Caddel-Smith Chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas received news that the Mother of Gov. Perry had made and donated this beautiful quilt to the Daughters of the Republic of Texas to raffle as a fund raiser. It is our understanding that anyone may buy a chance to win this beautiful Texas Flag quilt made especially for the Daughters of the Republic of Texas by Amelia Perry, mother of former Governor Rick Perry! The Picketville Chapter is honored to have this beautiful Texas Flag quilt to raise funds for the building of the new Republic of Texas History Center. It measures 64? x 85? and features the lyrics of “Texas, Our Texas” in the red and white sections of the quilt. Tickets are $15 each or $40 for three. They may be purchased online at https: //picketvillechapterdrt.org/ or from any member of the Picketville Chapter. If you prefer to write a check, please mail to: Daughters of the Republic of Texas, Picketville Chapter
ATTN: Judy Wolfe 4 London Circle Breckenridge, TX 76424 The winner will be drawn at the 125th DRT anniversary celebration at the LBJ Ranch National Historic Park on November 5th, 2016. You do not need to be present to win. If you use PayPal for purchasing your tickets, you will receive them by mail from the Picketville Chapter. All proceeds will benefit the new Republic of Texas History Center. The Center will provide a larger, more appropriate setting for exhibits, educational programs, conferences, and other festivities. The history center
Water News and River Flows ............................ Page 13
actual expenses in previous years ranging from $23,315.02 to $44,467.28. The Nutrition program was budgeted $272,261.58 for 2016 with the majority of those funds for food and salaries. It was noted the actual expenses have decreased over the past years, In 2013, $312,261.74, in 2014 $279,507.68 and down to $233,823.89 in 2015. The Sheriff’s Department has maintained actual expenses in the past three years, 2013- $444,517.96, 2014 - $458,431.37 and 2015 - 435,228.75. Under Road and Bridge, County-wide which includes the County Judge
Flows at all crossings on the Frio River were taken on August 5, 2016. Fulgham’s Crossing just south of the Alto Frio Baptist Encampment had a flow of 25,951 gpm last measurement and now has a flow of 20,252 gpm; this is about a 22% decrease. All of the culverts at this crossing are still flowing, the ones on the south end of the crossing are not flowing very swiftly bet there is still water moving thru the pipes. The Leakey Springs crossing had a flow of 5,312 gpm last measurement, and a flow of 4,717 gpm this reading; a nearly 11% reduction in flow since the last measurement. The Mill Creek Crossing showed a slight reduction of about 2% in flow since the last measurement; there are culverts on the south end of this crossing that continue to have no flow. This crossing has a flow of 13,109 gpm this measurement which is down from the last measurement of 13,378 gpm. This was the smallest reduction in flow of all the crossings on the Frio River.
will allow the DRT to be better serve the state and visitors seeking to learn
by Billie NastPublicity Chair/Caddel-Smith DRT
about the fascinating history of the State of Texas.
By: Joel Pigg, General Manager
On the west prong of the Frio River, the Rancho Real crossing had a flow of 7,453 gpm this reading compared to a flow of 8,516 gpm last measurement for a decrease of about 12%. The Kent Creek crossing also showed a decrease in flow since the last measurement with a flow of 967 gpm this month down from a flow of 1,316 gpm last measurement or a reduction in flow of about 26%. The Nueces River flows were taken on August 5, 2016 and also showed flow rates that are dropping quickly due to the lack of rain and high temperatures. McDonalds Crossing was flowing at 23,262 gpm last measurement and decreased to a flow of 17,607 gpm this measurement or a decrease of about 24%. The Nueces River Dam on Highway 55 south of Camp Wood had a flow of 42,322 gpm last reading and this measurement the culverts had a flow of 29,845 gpm or about a 29% decrease. A word of warning - keep small pets and children away from the culverts at this cross-
ing as there is still a lot of water going through them and they could easily suck kids and pets in. For those of you that live in the northern portion of Edwards County near Telegraph here are the latest flow measurements for the crossings in your area. The first crossing on Highway 377 near Telegraph had a flow of 34,161 gpm a few weeks ago
and has dropped to a flow of 33,112 gpm or a reduction in flow of about 3%. The second crossing on Highway 377 near the Evergreen School had a flow of 37,436 gpm a few weeks ago when I last checked the flow and now has a flow of 34,877 gpm or a decrease of about 7%. continued page 5
LEAKEY/NUECES RIVER AUTHORITY WASTEWATER RESPONDS TO COMPLAINTS by Julie Becker
Recent complaints to the Nueces River Authority regarding the current Utility Director, Mike Collard, have garnered this response from NRA Executive Director, Con Mims: “Personnel of the Nueces River Authority wish to please the public in everything we do. I am aware of a few unpleasant or disappointing meetings that some in Leakey have had with Mike and, to them, I offer my, sincere, apologies. Mike and I have discussed these incidences and, together, we will make every effort to improve our relations with the people of Leakey and earn their support.” This
response comes after several volatile encounters between several citizens of Leakey and Collard. Collard was hired by NRA as their Utility Director and project foreman of the multimillion dollar project. In an interview almost exactly one year ago, Collard said “A good contractor and a great foreman are the keys to a successful project.” Collard indicated there were several loose ends to tie up, easements, etc., but the major hurdles had been completed. He also provided a time line that has become obsolete at best. This what was provided in August of 2015:
“Substantial Completion for the Office/ Lab is listed as February of 2016 and January 2016 for the TxDOT Subset. The Wastewater treatment plant bid is scheduled for publication later this month, with Substantial Completion in April of 2017.” Records indicate the first “Directive to Suspend Work” was given to Fisher-Poirier Construction on April 22, 2016, to halt remodeling/ construction of the Office/Lab.. Mims states “There has been no activity at the Office/Lab site because we are in the process of terminating our contract with Fisher-Poirier Construction.”
Construction of the TxDOT Subset is still underway and according to the monthly report submitted by the engineering firm, “construction required before TxDOT begins its roadway improvements is expected to be completed soon.” With the substantial delay at the office/lab, the more than 8 months past due for the TxDOT subset and no construction started on the Waste Water Treatment Plant, Collard was correct on one thing, the keys! If you have questions or concerns regarding this project please call Con Mims at 830-278-6810.