Polk County Enterprise (Livingston, Tex.), Vol. 117, No. 18, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 4, 1999 Page: 1 of 24
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Polk County
ENIQtniK
Volume 117 Number 18
The Dominant News and Advei
County issues
eyed in Austin
. Micropublishing IncSl
Southwest
2627 East Vandel^
£1 Paso Tx Co(np
UPS 437-340 Price: 50 cents
By EMILY BANKS
Enterprise reporter
LIVINGSTON -- As the 76th
Legislature continues to gain mo-
mentum, Polk Countians have an
additional watchdog at the capital
this session, monitoring issues that
affect the county.
County Judge John Thompson
serves as the legislative chairman of
the County Judges and Commis-
sioners Association of Texas, aid
as such, coordinates the associa-
tion’s legislative efforts.
The association is a combination
of all the judges and commissioners
of the state's 254 counties. As a
state organization, it deals with
anything that affects county gov-
ernment.
“As the legislative chair for the
state organization, I coordinate the
other statewide officers and we go
to Austin on a rotating basis,”
Thompson said.
“Of the 6,000 plus bills that will
be filed over the course of the ses-
sion, a whole bunch have some-
thing to do with county govern-
ment,” Thompson said.
He referred to the fact that unlike
city government - which sets it
own ordinances - county govern-
ment is at the mercy of the legisla-
ture, which is the policy-making
body for all county issues. There-
fore, having input in the decision-
making process can often be in-
strumental in the outcome.
“It's really important for us to be
there and play an active role in the
laws that are passed which will
determine the rules by which we
operate,” Thompson said.
“What we are able to block in bad
legislation or pass in good legisla-
tion in the next couple of months
is something we’ll have to live
with until the next legislative ses-
sion," Thompson said, adding, “We
will spend much more time killing
bad legislation.
The association’s 1999 legisla-
tive program includes the following
13 goals:
•Oppose any legislation that
mandates county services unless
sufficient funds are appropriated by
state government to pay for such
services.
“This one is self-explanatory, in
that is simply means no state man-
dates without the state providing
the appropriate funding, or as for-
mer Governor Ann Richards used to
say,' ‘Don’t pass the bill if you
don’t fill the till,”’ Thompson said.
•Support an increase in stale
funding to counties for support of
the county road system.
“In years past, the stale provided
large amounts of money in Uk
farm-to-market system and county
roads could become farm-to-market
roads," Thompson said. “Although
there is still some money provided,
the amount is so small, it doesn't
begin to address the needs of grow-
ing counties such as Polk County.
“We'd like to get additional fund-
ing or go back to the old system of
making county roads farm-to-
market roads,” Thompson said.
•Support assistance to limit
county liability for capital murder
trials.
"What Jasper is going through
right now is a perfect example.
These things can really bankrupt a
county," Thompson said, adding,
“Any help would be appreciated.”
•Support legislation to increase
the percentage of fines and fees re-
tained by counties.
"As a branch of state govern-
ment, the majority of fines and fees
we collect goes to the state. We’re
simply asking for more,”
Thompson said.
•Repeal the prohibition on serv-
ice on Appraisal Review Boards by
past and present employees of local
government.
“Although this is not a high pri-
ority, there arc some people out
there who are interested in serving,”
Thompson said.
•Support legislation to recover
daily incarceration costs from con-
victed jail inmates.
"This could apply to both county
and Texas Department of Criminal
Justice inmates,” Thompson said,
explaining that if an inmate has the
means, he would be expected to pay
the costs of his incarceration.
•Support legislation to allow
counties to protect county roads and
bridges from damage by overweight
trucks and recover any damages
caused by overweight trucks.
“Presently, you can run up to
84,000 pounds on our roads,"
Thompson said. “Although some
companies are good about paying
for repairs to roads tom up by
heavy loads, some are not.
“The purpose of this is to get ad-
ditional funding or different re-
quirements, something to help re-
coup the cost of repairs to the
roads,” Thompson said.
•Support legislation to clarify the
authority of the commissioners
court and the juvenile board to con-
tract for juvenile facilities without
the separate approval of each juve-
nile judge.
“This is basically a housekeeping
deal that Has to do with the mechan-
ics of dealing with juveniles,”
Thompson said.
•Support a constitutional
amendment to allow county offi-
cials to seek other elected political
offices without resigning their pres-
ently held positions.
“Currently,- individuals are re-
quired to serve during the period of
term for which they are elected,”
Thompson said. “This would allow
someone to be able to run for an-
other office while already in office,
kind of like George W. Bush run-
ning for president while he’s serv-
ing as governor.”
•Support legislation to allow
counties to finance public water and
sewer projects through revenue
bonds.
“Presently, counties cannot own
and operate water or sewer compa-
nies,” Thompson said.
•Support legislation to authorize
counties to create planning com-
missions regarding land use and
subdivision regulation issues.
“This is to try to limit the num-
ber of substandard subdivisions,”
Thompson said.
•Support legislation to correct the
statutes regarding subdivision regu-
lations to allow commissioners
courts to require platting and plan-
ning for the health, safety and wel-
fare of Texas residents.
“Although this has more to do
with platting and mapping, it basi-
cally is also another attempt to try
to limit the number of substandard
subdivisions,” Thompson said.
See ROADS pg. 11A
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„ BNTERPRISR PHOTOIYGORDONLcRARRON
NEW EQUIPMENT - Texas Department of Transportation Crew Chief Paul Burch tries out a
new backhoe on a half-mile stretch of ditch along FM 2457. The backhoe will be used primarily
to clear ditches and improve drainage along FM roads and highways.
Filing continues for May 1 elections
LIVINGSTON - While candi-
dates for area city council and
school board positions have
through March 17 to file for a place
on the ballot, several races are al-
ready taking shape.
School boards and city councils
have the option of canceling their
May 1 elections if there is no op-
position in a race. It is already clear
that will not be an option for the
Livingston ISD Board of Trustees
or the Livingston City Council.
Following is a list of positions
to be filled through the elections
and the candidates who had filed as
of Wednesday morning:
Livingston City Council
Four people have filed for the
three at-large council positions that
are expiring, those presently held
by Dr. Kenneth Parkhill, Dr. Wil-
liam E. "Bill" Watson and Sandra
Wood. Wood has announced that
she will not seek re-election. Park-
hill and Watson have filed for re-
election. Other candidates who have
filed for a place on (he ballot are
L.C. Johnson Sr. and Marilyn
Baugh.
Livingston ISD
Five candidates have filed for the
three at-large positions that are ex-
piring on the Livingston school
board. Those positions are presently
held by Vivian "Bea” Ellis, Corky
Evans and Len Fairbanks. All three
incumbents have filed for re-
election and are being chtdlcnged by
David Brown and Charles Horton.
Onalaska City Council
Three at-large positions will be
filled through the election, those
presently held by Irene Hamann,
Lew Vail and Patsy Goins. Only
Vail had filed for re-election as of
Wednesday.
Onalaska ISD
Two positions will be filled on
the school board: Position 4, pres-
ently held by Donald Musgrave and
Position 7, now held by Jackie El-
liott. Musgrave has announced that
he will not seek re-election. Marion
H. McWhorter has filed for Posi-
tion 4. No one has yet filed for Po-
sition 7.
Corrigan City Council
Three council positions are expir-
ing. They are: Position 1, now held
by John D. Clifton; Position 3,
now held by Glen Kennedy; and
Position 5, now held by Alton Bur-
ris. All three incumbents have filed
lor re-election and, thusfar, have
drawn no opponents.
Corrigan-Camden ISD
Three positions will be filled
through the election: Position 1,
now held by David Ray; Position
2, presently hekl by Melvin Lowe;
and Position 3, now held by Calvin
Jones. Ray and Jones have filed far
re-election.
Goodrich City Council
Three council positions will be
filled through the election. They
are: Position 1, now held by Shir-
ley Murphy; Position 2, now held
by Dennis Patterson; and Position
3, now held by Sammie Hardy. No
one had filed as of Wednesday.
Goodrich ISD
Two school board positions are
expiring: Position 1, now held by
Tim Harrell and Position 2, pres-
ently held by Ralph Nichols. No
one had filed as of Wednesday.
Seven Oaks City Council
Three at-large council positions
are expiring. They are presently
held by Ralph Figgs, Rita Shipley
and Dortha Jones. No one has yet
filed for candidacy in the election.
Big Sandy ISD
Two positions will be filled
through the election: Position 5,
See FILING pg. 11A
Tourist season begins at reservation
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ENTERPRISE PHOTO BY SUE PERKINS
PINE STRAW BASKET — Levete Alexander, sales clerk in
the Alabama-Coushatta Indian Reservation’s Gift Shop, holds a
$400 basket made of needles from a southern pine. The artist
who did the work on the basket was Betty Battise.
By SUE PERKINS
Enterprise Feature Editor
LIVINGSTON — The Alabama-
Coushatta Indian Reservation, lo-
cated on U.S. Hwy. 190 16 miles
east of Livingston, will,be open for
tourists and guests starting Friday.
Hours for the spring (March
through May) season and fall
(September through November)
season for the reservation are 10
a.m. until 5 p.m. on Friday and
Saturday and 12:30-5 p.m. on Sun-
day. There will be no dancers pn
Friday.
During the summer season, the
hours are 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. Mon-
day through Saturday, and on Sun-
day, hours will be 12:30 - 6 p.m.
Renovation, rebuilding
This year the Alabama-
Coushattas have started a renova-
tion and rebuilding program which
will continue on the reservation for
two or three years, according to Ro-
land Poncho, director of tourism.
The Indian Village will be reno-
vated. along with the Tribal Dance
Square where the traditional Indian
dancing occurs. Repair, painting
and clean-up work is being done
now in die Tourist Complex area.
Poncho said dial beginning Fri-
day dial diere would be 300 guests
at die campgrounds near die 26-acre
Lake Tombigbee.
"It’s one of die best campsites in
Texas, and both RV and tent camp-
ers can ‘get back to nature’ in com-
fort during their visit here,” Poncho
said.
There are 134 separate campsites
at die campground, he said, and
they range from primitive camping
sites to RV stadons with full
hookups.
In addition there are two cabins, a
pavilion, a swimming area, two
bathhouses and public restrooms
available in the campground area. ’
If visitors desire, they can rent
dieir own teepee to stay in over-
night. Canoe and paddleboat rentals
are also available,
One of the biggest annual events
at the reservation is the Pow-Wow
held on the first weekend in June.
In die Tourist Complex, open-
air bus tours of the reservation are
available that will take visitors past
the Indian's homes, hunting
grounds and through part of the Big
Thicket National Preserve.
Oldest Indian reservation
The Alabama-Coushatta Indian
reservation is the oldest reservation
for Native Americans in Texas.
It is located in the heart of die
Big Thicket and in 1854, it was es-
tablished for the Indians by General
Sain Houston as a reward to the
tribe for dieir courage in remaining
neutral during the Texas - Mexican
War
Elevator
repairs
needed
LIVINGSTON - The Polk
County Commissioners’ Court will
consider approval to advertise a
request for proposals for the im-
provement or replacement of the
courthouse elevator at its regular
meeting at 10 a.m. Tuesday.
Commissioners will consider ap-
proval of an order adopted by the
juvenile board relating to the re-
sponsibility of transporting juve-
niles to court proceedings.
A resolution providing a limited
period of workers compensation
coverage for volunteers operating
county equipment within the scope
of the road and bridge construction
project in Big Thicket Lake Estates
will be considered by commission-
ers.
Commissioners will consider ap-
proval of an agreement with Harris
County for autopsy services, as
requested.
The internal audit for the jail
commissary, submitted by the
county auditor, will be received and
recorded.
Commissioners will consider ap-
proval to donate certain volumes
from the Polk County Law Library
to Angelina College, noting the
bidding exemption.
An order designating surplus ma-
terials (scrap metal) and advertising
for the sale of it will be considered.
Commissioners will consider ap-
proval to advertise for bids for the
purchase of a new maintainer for
Precinct 3 road and bridge.
Commissioners will consider ap-
proval of offers to purchase the
following tax foreclosure proper-
ties: Lots 52-57 of Block 6 of Wild
Country Lake Estates No. 2; Lots
57 and 58 of Block 4 of Impala
Woods No. 3; Lots 502 and 503 of
Block 6 of Sportsman’s Retreat No.
2; Lots 10-12 of Indian Springs
Lake Estates No. 3; Lots 167-168
of Indian Springs Lake Estates No.
9; Lots 21 and 22 of Block 11 of
Indian Springs Lake Estates No. 2;
Lots 16-20 of Indian Springs Lake
Estates No. 10; and Lots 209-213
of Indian Springs Lake Estates No.
18.
Other items on the agenda include
approval of the budget amendments,
personnel action foims, payment of
bills and minutes of the Feb. 19
meeting.
Textbooks
on agenda
DALLARDSVILLE - A report
from the district textbook commit-
tee and adoption of textbooks for
the 1999-2000 school year is on the
agenda for the regular meeting of
the Board of Trustees of the Big
Sandy Independent School District
at 6:30 p.m. Monday.
Architect Carl Joiner and a repre-
sentative from Collier Construction
Company will present a report to
(he board concerning the comple-
tion of the current building project.
The board will consider the ballot
for the Region VI Education Serv-
ice Center ^oaid of directors’ elec-
tion; possible adoption of Update
No. 59 of the Texas Association of
School Boards’ local policy man-
ual; and a tax refund for James
Dickens.
The board will also discuss and
consider action on an application
for dyslexia therapist training
through the Texas Scottish Rite
Hospital for Children.
The boaid will enter into an ex-
ecutive session for the consideration
of teacher appraisals and contracts
for the 1999-2000 school year and
to meet with Rebecca Brackin con-
cerning a complaint against a
school employee.
Administrative reports will be
presented by Superintendent Vemis
Rogers, Tligh School Principal
David Reynolds and Elementary
Principal .Kenneth Graham.
Other items on the agenda include
approval-of the minutes and dis-
bursements. >
4
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White, Barbara. Polk County Enterprise (Livingston, Tex.), Vol. 117, No. 18, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 4, 1999, newspaper, March 4, 1999; Livingston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth790212/m1/1/: accessed June 10, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Livingston Municipal Library.