The Eldorado Success newspaper

The Schleicher County ISD board of trustees met Monday evening, December 13, 2010, and voted to enlist the services of an attorney in drawing up a “request for proposals” that will ultimately be used to hire a general contractor for the renovation of the high school auditorium.

Architect Larry Harvey of Lubbock was on hand to review preliminary ideas that would add storage areas, rest rooms and dressing rooms to the existing auditorium as well as upgrade the building’s lighting and sound systems. He provided a series of drawings that showed what an addition across the back of the auditorium might look like.

Harvey also provided the trustees with a rough estimate for upgrading the building’s lighting and sound systems, He said the price tag for those two items could come in as high as $275,000.

Harvey suggested to the trustees that if they were serious about proceeding with the project that they consider using the “Construction Manager At Risk” which involves the construction company in the preliminary design process, but also puts them on the hook for the final cost of the job.

The trustees agreed and passed a resolution stating that they intend to follow the “Construction Manager At Risk” model and they voted to hire the Austin law firm of Leon & Powell to assist with drawing up the formal request for proposals that they will use in selecting a contractor.

The board also heard from San Angelo accountant Don McKee who delivered the district’s annual audit report. McKee reviewed the report with the trustees and noted that federal stimulus funds received by the district prompted this year’s audit to be even more thorough than in years past.

McKee praised the work of Financial Director Ray Ballew and Superintendent Billy Collins and went on to note that the district’s books are in order and said that SCISD received a “clean audit.”

In other business, the trustees learned that the school district’s overall enrollment stood at 600 on Friday, December 3rd with 583 of that number counting toward state funding.

Billy Collins then explained that all the district’s administrators, coaches, teachers, and aides are being fingerprinted this week as under a new program created with the passage of Senate Bill 9 in the last legislative session.

In other business, the trustees were reminded of an upcoming seminar scheduled for Feb. 24 - 26, 2011 in Corpus Christi. They also approved the monthly financial reports as presented by Ray Ballew.

Among other items of business, the board approved the minutes of the November 8th meeting and okayed the expenditure of $116,753 for a 72-passenger Longhorn activity bus.

Transportation Director Joey Jones explained that the only other bus available is a Bluebird brand. The price tag on it is $156,670.

The bus will be purchased through the Texas Education Agency’s Buy Board, thereby relieving the district of bidding requirements. The bus is to be painted white with green and black lettering and decals.

The board also approved an election services contract with Schleicher County Election Administrator Brenda Mayfield for the May 2011 school board election.

The trustees then entered into an executive session for the discussion of personnel items and real property. Upon returning to open session, the board voted to accept the resignation/retirement of Kathy Newman and Manuel San Miguel, effective at the end of the fall semester. They then voted to employ Ashley Whitesell as an English teacher and Laryn Gibson as an elementary Special Education teacher.

Monday night’s meeting was presided over by SCISD Board President Kurtis Homer with trustees Kriss Griffin, Berta Nicholson, Leanne Higgins, Lupe Sanchez, Robert Jay and Kirk Jones in attendance.

The next meeting of the SCISD board of trustees is slated for 6 p.m. on Monday, January 10, 2011, in the Eldorado High School Library.

Emergency personnel were called last Saturday evening to free Rosa Delia Reyes, 39, from an overturned  vehicle on CR 300, just outside of the Eldorado city limits.

Reyes was taken by EMS ambulance to Schleicher County Medical Center for treatment. She was later transferred by AirMed-1 helicopter to a San Angelo hospital.

The accident was reported to the 9-1-1 dispatcher at 11:06 p.m. Units of the Eldorado Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene where they helped gain entry to the car.

Reyes was reportedly alone in the vehicle at the time of the accident and was driving toward town when she failed to navigate a right-hand curve. The car, a 2006 Pontiac, then crossed the oncoming lane and overturned on the west side of the roadway before coming to rest on its roof.

Deputy Kevin Herbert investigated the accident. He reports that alcohol was a contributing factor.

The Eldorado City Council met Monday night and discussed a variance for a carport requested by T.J. Rodriguez.

Rodriguez was on hand for the meeting and discussed a carport he is in the process of building at his home on Highland Street. He said he had received a note from the city informing him that he had not obtained a building permit or submitted a survey prior to starting the project.

Rodriguez noted that the frame is already built for the structure and said he was not aware of the need for a survey or a building permit. He asked the council for a variance and said he would pay the $1.25 the city charges for building permits.

City Secretary Carolyn Mayo presented photos and a drawing showing the property and the carport under construction. She noted that the subdivision rules require a 35-foot setback from the property line and added that the a city ordinance requires a 12-foot setback.

During the discussion it was noted that the city’s ordinance has no teeth since it doesn’t specify a fine for violators. Council  members also indicated they were unaware as to exactly where the city’s right-of-way is located.

Rodriguez explained that there is an iron stake in the cement curb which he said he believed to be the property line.  The carport is six feet from this stake.

Ordinance #101-6, which took effect January 6, 2009, requires that  structures  be a minimum  12 feet from the property line nearest the street, six feet from the back and three feet from the side.

Carolyn Mayo asked the council if the property could be surveyed but the group chose instead to see if there is already an existing survey. They also voted to give the variance for the carport with the provision that it not be enclosed and that a survey is located for the property.

In other business, Code Enforcement Officer Maggie Lloyd reported to the council Schleicher County Judge Charlie Bradley informed her the Sheriff’s  Department would no longer put down dogs or cats within the city limits due to liability issues, unless the animal is rabid or otherwise dangerous.

Code Enforcement Officer Maggie Lloyd also gave the council an update on the schedule for her code enforcement duties.  Council woman Stacy Haynes asked that Lloyd have a set number of hours during the month for the performance of her code enforcement duties.

City Secretary Mayo reported Mayor John Nikolauk wrote a letter supporting the Eldorado Youth Corps, Inc.  which will has submitted a grant application to the San Angelo Health Foundation. The Eldorado Youth Corps, Inc. is a recognized as a “501 c3 non profit organization.” It is seeking an $80,000 grant from the Health Foundation for renovation of the old Episcopal Church building so it can be made available to the local scouting organizations and to provide a permanent location for the scouts to hold meetings and conduct other scouting activities.

It was noted that the Schleicher County Commissioners have also submitted letter of support.

Utitlity Superintendent Floyd Fay then reported that the city’s primary garbage truck is being repaired in San Angelo. He said the hydraulic cylinder that assists in emptying the truck had developed a leak.

Fay noted that water pressure was doing well over town. Fay told the council due to the cold weather the “DAF unit” at the sewer plant will not be running and no sewer effluent will bed released for the next month.

Fay also advised that pothole patching continues on city streets and the digging of a ”Type 4” cell for the disposal of construction and demolition debris is well underway at the landfill. He further advised that city crews have found and repaired several gas leaks.

Fay then requested a 50 cent pay raise for a new employee who had completed a 90-day orientation period. The council approved the increase.

City Secretary Carolyn Mayo then distributed a copy of the city’s 2009-2010 audit report. She advised that the total cost of the audit was $13,700.00.

Mayo also informed the council the YFZ Ranch signed a new contract under protest for monitoring the YFZ sewer system. The city increased the monitoring fees at a recent meeting. According to Mayo, the YFZ had gotten behind on its payments and had used up its deposit.

Mayo said she advised ranch representative Paul Allred that  the city would no longer monitor the sewer system after December 1st. With that the YFZ presented a check for October and November bills.

The council then authorized Mayo to enter into a contract for electrical service  with the Texas Association of School Boards

The council also voted to close City Hall on Friday,  December 31, 2010 and approved longevity pay for the employees.

Before adjourning, the council approved minutes of the November 8th meeting, authorized payment of the city’s bills and okayed a city holiday schedule for 2011.

Monday’s meeting was presided over by Mayor Pro-Tem Stan Meador with council members Stacy Haynes, Richard Mendez, Jon Cartwright and Dorothy Dacy in attendance. Mayor John Nikolauk and Council woman Dora Bosmans were absent.

The next meeting of the Eldorado City Council is slated for 6 p.m. on Monday, January 10, 2011 in the council chambers at City Hall.