Wednesday, September 21, 2016 Volume 118 | Number 24 12 Pages www.herefordbrand.com $1
Week 3 Football Contest Winners
First place Lupe Pesina
Second place Luis Moreno
Third place Vicki Dannheim
No 'drama' as city OKs budget By John Carson BRAND Managing Editor In an agenda full of new-year fiscal items, the Hereford City Commission escaped a potential problem in approving its 201617 budget during Monday’s regular meeting. Hereford City Manager Rick Hanna alerted commissioners during Monday’s work session – which preceded the meeting – that requirements in the Truth
Alonzo sticks to guns
in Taxation law mandated a minimum 60 percent approval vote for tax increases. The problem – particularly Monday – was that five of the commission’s seven members must approve to meet the 60 percent requirement, however, only six were present – Place 4 Commissioner Linda Cumpton was absent. “The law is confusing,” Hanna said. “The question is, is it 60 percent of a quorum or
HANNA
SCIUMBAT
60 percent of the entire body. I asked [city attorney] Audie [Sciumbato], and he said it
means the body in the entirety. He came across court precedent from 1906 that it must 60 percent of the full body. “If [the tax increase] is not approved, we will go with the effective rate. It will throw the budget off, but we have the money. It will just take some adjustments to the budget.” While Sciumbato admitted the situation created “drama” and was essentially an unanswered legal question in the state, Hanna
PLEASE SEE ALONZO | 2A
PLEASE SEE CITY | 2A
County approves spending measure
Offseason duties
By John Carson BRAND Managing Editor Remaining consistent to publicized opposition, Place 2 Hereford City Commissioner Angie Alonzo failed to support the city’s 201617 budget ordinances during Monday’s regular meeting. Commissioners considered six different ordinances Monday in reference to tax and utility rate increases, as well as budgets for the city, water and sewer department, Deaf Smith County Appraisal District and Hereford Economic Development Commission. With Place 4 Commissioner Linda Cumpton absent, commissioners unanimously approved all six to officially put the 2016-17 budget in place. However, the votes did not include all commissioners present. Four of the six budgetrelated ordinances passed 5-0 as Alonzo abstained from voting on ordinances to increase water, sewer and property tax rates, as well as one dealing with the overall budget. She joined fellow commissioners in approving ordinances to increase garbage collection rates and for the city’s portion of the appraisal district’s
said plans were to proceed with however the vote turned out, but request immediate interpretation and opinion on the law from the state attorney general. Hanna broached the situation after the full commission voted 5-2 to proceed with the tax increase in August with commissioners Angie Alonzo and Joe Garza dissenting, who
By C.E. Hanna BRAND Staff Writer
BRAND/John Carson
Just because it is not winter or spring does not mean that Hereford boys basketball coach C.J. Villegas, left, and softball coach Ashley Marquez have loads of time on their hands. In addition to preparations for the respective upcoming seasons, both have additional athletic duties outside of coaching as they take a break while serving as line judges during Saturday’s volleyball match against Amarillo.
Following a few last-minute tweaks, the Deaf Smith County (DSC) Commissioners Court adopted its 2016-17 fiscal year budget and a 2-cent tax increase during its called meeting Monday. According to DSC Auditor Trish Brown, the alterations to the $7,967,058 budget included a lineitem adjustment for the DSC AgriLife Extension Office and carryovers for the BROWN purchase of noxiousweed chemicals in all precincts, as well as the purchase of a 2500 HD Chevrolet pick-up for Precinct 4. “We adjusted the carryover in Precinct 4 for the pickup approved in the last meeting because it won’t be delivered before the end of the fiscal year,” Brown said. The $33,996 truck, to be purchased from Stevens 5-Star Car and Truck Center, pushed Precinct 4’s projected expenditures to O CONNOR $410,000 as compared to Precinct 1’s $393,728, Precinct 2’s $382,819 and Precinct 3’s $359,160. Although Caldwell County Chevrolet submitted the lowest bid at $32,445, the court elected to purchase locally. “Looking at all of the spec [specification] sheets, I think we’re PLEASE SEE COUNTY | 3A
New stars added to local 4-H sky By C.E. Hanna BRAND Staff Writer
While there are more stars in the universe than can likely ever be recorded, immaculate record books earned local children stars of their own at the 2016 4-H Awards Celebration on Sept. 11. The 4-H Silver Star award, which recognizes the achievements of intermediate 4-H’ers, was bestowed upon Rachael Detten and Gatlin Wagner as part of the ceremony.
Completing a 4-H record book is an endeavor that requires good record-keeping, many hours of work, the ability to follow directions and lots of commitment.
Turner Taylor Deaf Smith County 4-H vice president
Detten spread her skills over a variety of projects, including sheep, rabbits, food and nutrition and public speaking. She has volunteered at Snack Pak 4 Kids, One Day Coat Drive, Senior Citizen’s Festival of Trees and shoveled driveways following a heavy snow last winter. “I’ve learned that giving
and helping is more fun than receiving,’ Detten said. “Sticking it out produces a great end product and collaborating with others can be rewarding and fun.” Wagner has been active in 4-H for five years and explored a diverse array of projects including goats, rabbits, food and nutrition, consumer education and
public speaking. After deciding that the prospect of being trampled by a 1,300-pound steer was not for him, he entered consumer education. The skills acquired therein led him to public speaking. “Completing a 4-H record book is an endeavor that requires good record-keeping, many hours of work, the ability to follow directions and lots of commitment,” 4-H vice president Turner Taylor said. “People that have never completed one don’t realize what an accomplishment it is and how important of a reference tool it is during high school and beyond.” The 4-H Bronze Star award, which recognizes PLEASE SEE 4-H | 3A
BRAND/C.E. Hanna
From left, Intermediate 4-H’ers Rachael Detten and Gatlin Wagner were named 2016 Silver Star awardees during Sept. 11 award ceremonies.
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