East Tawakoni Street Payment Funds Available Until 2012

Funds are available for East Tawakoni street improvement payments by the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) until 2012, according to Vice President Johnnie LaPrade.

LaPrade told the city council Tuesday night that the payments could be made by the EDC through 2011, but the group was worried about 2012. She also serves as a council member.

In a semi-annual report delivered to the council Tuesday night, finances are shown at $25,435.29 committed for the 2010 street payment and $2,089.25 earmarked for the 2011 street payment plus tax revenue accrued over the next year.

The report lists $1,531.42 available for training and miscellaneous expenses and states, "A small amount of EDC revenue must be used for training purposes as outlined above, leaving EDC a very limited amount of money for advertising for potential retail businesses. To put it bluntly, EDC has no extra funds to spend until our street agreement with the city terminates on June 30, 2014. Previous EDC directors (2002-04) made this commitment to the city and citizens so that we would have good roads without having to raise taxes."

The report continues, "EDC is asking all citizens to please support your present EDC directors as they strive to work for you and your city. We are always open for suggestions and invite you to attend our meeting the first Monday of each month at 5 p.m. Most of you are aware, Emory and Wills Point passed propositions for the sale of beer and wine. This will decrease the sales tax revenue for East Tawakoni. How much? No ones knows until we reevaluate over the next year."

Gary Mulrooney’s letter of resignation as president of the EDC, dated June 2, was accepted in which he stated that he was resigning his position for personal reasons.

In a separate letter, dated June 1, on the subject of street improvement project payment, Mulrooney states, "Due to recent passage of proposals in surrounding cities, the East Tawakoni Economic Development Corporation anticipates a deficiency of revenue funds in future years beginning next year for the continued payments toward this project.

"The Economic Development Corporation at this time is unable to specify the exact amount of funds that will be available next year or any future year for payment toward this street project."

Pat McCoy of the U.S. Census Bureau gave a presentation on the upcoming census next year.

He said the census was required to be taken every 10 years and was important to local government entities since it determined the amount of distribution of federal funds.

"My job is to meet with elected officials like yourselves to go over what we need to do to have a good census count," McCoy said.

He said the census provided outcomes of three important items — apportionment, redistricting and the distribution of federal funds. Apportionment determined how many of the 435 members of the House of Representatives would be from which states. Redistricting provided for the House members’ districts, based on population. As for distribution, McCoy said $300 billion was returned annually to states and local entities. He said the census determined how much would belong to East Tawakoni.

He said grant funds were determined by the census. "That’s why it’s important we get the count right," he said.

McCoy said the core message that the bureau was attempting to get to citizens was "It’s safe; it’s easy; it’s important."

He said by safe, the census information was protected by law and held strictly confidential. He said the questionnaire would be the shortest in census history and easy to complete. McCoy said unlike the 2000 census, everyone would get the short form rather than some then who had to complete a lengthy and detailed list of questions. The 2010 form would require about 10 minutes to complete.

He said the count was important because it would count all citizens who lived in the United States on April 1, 2010, and would give a snapshot of the nation that would help define the country.

The timeline for completing the count would begin March 8-10 with delivery of letters stating that a questionnaire would soon arrive. The questionnaire would go out March 15-17, followed by a postcard March 22-24 reminding everyone to complete and return the questionnaire.

McCoy said a second questionnaire would be mailed April1-8 to those households that did not return their forms. Non-response would necessitate enumerators, beginning May 1, going door-to-door to get information from households that did not return their questionnaires.

He said in 2000, there was a 51 percent response to the census questionnaires mailed to East Tawakoni. He said 49 percent had to be counted by an alternative method.

He acknowledged that the large number of vacation addresses in the city could present a big challenge for a complete count. He said citizens should be counted where they slept most of the time — not where they lived.

McCoy said a couple of things could help — formation of a Complete Count Committee and passage of a resolution supporting Census 2010. The council voted to approve the resolution.

• Councilwoman LaPrade received council approval to invite a representative from Fuelman to speak about its program at the next council meeting. The system gives reports on city vehicles’ maintenance as well as drivers’ names, vehicle identification, mile per gallon and more.

Councilwoman Tamera McLaughlin questioned whether local service stations could provide fuel if they did not possess card readers. Police Chief Rick South said it would cost more to drive to Emory to make fuel purchases.

LaPrade said the system would not be used if purchases could not be made locally. The council agreed to hear the presentation after Councilman Walt Pollard pointed out that it would cost nothing to listen to what the program would offer.

• The resignation of McLaughlin from the Planning and Zoning Commission was accepted. McLaughlin said she had researched the matter and discovered it would be a conflict of interest to serve on the commission and on the council at the same time.

• The council voted to acquire CDs for training new officials rather than pay the expense of attending orientation training in Austin.

• Citizen Dwight Crater pointed out the need to fill in around the lake wall at the city park. Mayor Buster Thomas said efforts were underway to take fill dirt from another city project to the park.

• Questions about code violations including tall grass were fielded from the audience by police and code officers.

• Pamela Gossett expressed concerns about the speed of traffic on FM 1530 where her family was converting the former Freebridge Baptist Church into a residence. Police Chief Rick South pointed out the road was in the county, and police could not issue tickets there.

• All members of the council were present except Pam Patterson.

The monthly report of Utilities Director Dossie Smith was reviewed. Smith is scheduled to retire this month. LaPrade said the city would welcome his replacement but would miss Smith.

A total of 2,769,890 gallons of water were delivered for East Tawakoni and 1,419,170 for Community Water. Of that amount the city billed 1,965,190 gallons for East Tawakoni for a loss of 29 percent and 1,085,410 gallons for Community Water, a loss of 24 percent.

Two building permits were issued, one for a carport and one for a deck.

Police Chief South reported 3,529 miles patrolled during the month of May.

Thirty-one calls were made including assist other departments, 4; medical assist, 5; fraud, 1; family disturbance, 2; assault family violence, 1; suspicious persons, 3; suspicious vehicles, 3; theft, 1; motor assist, 2; civil calls, 3; credit card abuse, 2; evading arrest, 1; and verbal disputes, 3.

Four arrests were made including assault family violence, 1; evading arrest, 1; parole violation, 1; and failure to identify, 1.

The department disposed of eight warrants and checked two residences by request. Non-paid officers worked a total 48 hours.

Two dogs were impounded; one citation issued; and two animal bites investigated.

Code Enforcement Officer Barbara Peacock reported the following: number of complaints received and case file opened, 3; property visits with no complaint found and case closed, 2; property visit with complaint found, 1; contacts resulting in compliance and case closed, 6; contacts resulting in agreement to bring into compliance, 5; and

Notice of violation and notice sent to correct, 1; follow-up visits from letters complied and case closed, 5; follow-up visits from letters and non-compliance, 2; case closed other reasons, 5; reconciliation, 5; cases carried forward from prior month, 2; total cases closed during the month, 5; and total cases still open at end of the month, 2.

The fire department report, Chief Russell Ross, listed calls including training, 1; medical 5; maintenance, 1; and public relations, 1.

Assistant Chief Pollard pointed out that 4,100 gallons of water was used during the month although no fire calls were made because of a training exercise in which a house was burned. He said another is planned in the near future.

Pollard also reported that the recent barbecue fundraiser was "a very good success" and was a lot of fun and a lot of hours. He said he was continually amazed at the support shown by the citizens of East Tawakoni for fundraisers.