Archive for December, 2009

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New hopefuls join Bastrop County election races

Tuesday, December 29th, 2009

Bastrop, Tx–The outline of 2010 party primary elections for Bastrop County offices in March is coming into sharper focus as incumbents from both major parties rejoined the fray, and some new challengers put their names forward. Democrats and Republicans will hold primary elections in March ahead of the November general election.

Pct. 2 county commissioner Clara Beckett, a Republican, and Pct. 4 county commissioner Lee Dildy, a Democrat, are officially seeking re-election, each said this week. So far neither has an opponent, though Dildy said he continues to hear he may have a Democratic challenger.

County GOP party chair Albert Ellison said two Republicans are also considering a race for Dildy’s seat.

Ellison also said Laurie Ingram has put her name on the GOP ballot for county treasurer, a post now held by Kathy Schroeder, a Democrat who is seeking a second term.

Other Republicans have also stepped forward, led by District Attorney Bryan Goertz who is seeking re-election. So far he has no opponent from either major party.

The most political activity, however, continues to center on the race for Pct. 1 Justice of the Peace where Democrat Bill Weddle is seeking a second term. He already has a primary opponent, Dickie Henderson. And now there is also a contested race for the post among local Republicans.

Donna Van Gilder was the first to file earlier this month on the GOP ticket. She is being challenged by local attorney Van Pressley.

Other Democrats seeking re-election next year include County Judge Ronnie McDonald, County Clerk Rose Pietsch, District Court Clerk Cathy Smith and County Court at Law Judge Benton Eskew along with Pct. 2 Justice of the Peace Raymah Davis, Pct. 3 Justice of the Peace Kathy Hanna and Pct. 4 Justice of the Peace Larry Dunne, none of whom have opponents from either party so far.

Jan. 4 is the deadline for candidates who want their names on either primary ballot.

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Bastrop County appoints fire district board members

Tuesday, December 29th, 2009

Bastrop, Tx–At a meeting Dec. 28 Bastrop County commissioners reappointed four board members to two fire service districts which cover parts of the county.

Shawn Barnes, David Gahagan and Terry Wright were named to new terms on the board which governs Bastrop County Emergency Services District No. 1, which includes rural areas south and west of Bastrop including the Bluebonnet Acres, Cedar Creek, Rockne and Red Rock areas.

Kay Linenberger was also reappointed to the board of the Bastrop County Emergency Services District No. 2 which covers rural areas immediately surrounding Bastrop. The Bastrop Volunteer Fire Department which covers the area also provides protection for the city.

Commissioners did not name a replacement for ESD No. 2 director Len Snyder who has declined another term in the post, said Bastrop County Judge Ronnie McDonald. Snyder’s position on the board may be filled in January, said the judge.

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Pre-construction bid session thronged in Bastrop

Saturday, December 26th, 2009

Bastrop, Tx–Officials from some 40 construction firms packed city hall in Bastrop earlier this month, lining up out into Main Street to attend a pre-bid conference for those hoping to win contracts to erect a new city hall and convention center on Chestnut Street.

The turnout shows there is keen interest in the twin multi-million dollar projects and gives hope that the bidding competition will be sharp when proposals are submitted next month, said Bastrop City Manager Mike Talbot during a Dec. 23 interview. Site preparation work will be bid separately, and the office of site engineer Gene Kruppa in La Grange has also been flooded with inquiries from potential contractors, said Talbot.

City officials hope the show of interest during a period of economic downturn in Central Texas will translate into lower total project costs. Constructors are being invited to make offers for either the 15,000-square-foot city hall or the 25,000-square-foot convention center–or both in a single package.

Talbot said construction should begin early in 2010 and he expects both facilities to be open by the year’s end.

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New Bastrop County firefighting sessions scheduled

Saturday, December 26th, 2009

Bastrop, Tx–The Bastrop County Firefighters Association will launch a new training program for local volunteers on Feb. 1. Those who complete the three-week course, taught by certified trainers, will earn basic firefighter certification, said Peter Hicks, an official with the Bastrop County Office of Emergency Management.

Training costs will be covered by the county association, which is partly funded by Bastrop County. The first training course, which will be taught at the Tahitian Village station of the Bastrop Volunteer Fire Department, has places for 20 students, with 14 of those seats already filled, said Hicks.

Volunteers interested in joining the class should contact Bastrop Fire Chief Henry Perry, Brandon Bancroft of the Emergency Services District No. 1 or the chief of any other local fire department, said Hicks.

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Juvenile murder suspect back in Bastrop court

Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009

Bastrop, Tx–Haley Bellard, 15, was in state district court here Dec. 22 when her lawyers and prosecutors agreed on who will administer psychological exams to help the judge decide whether she will be tried under adult or juvenile rules on murder charges linked to the August death of her mother, Tracy Bellard of McDade.

When exam report results will be completed and when the court will hear evidence and arguments on the prosecution’s motion to proceed under adult criminal law is not yet certain, said 423rd District Judge Chris Duggan, who is handling the case.

Joseph Douglas, 18, is also charged with murder in the death of Tracy Bellard. He is being held in the Bastrop County Jail under $500,000 bail. Haley Bellard is being held in a juvenile detention facility in Seguin.

Investigators allege that Haley Bellard and Douglas were romantically involved and that Tracy Bellard sought to interfere in the relationship before she was shot to death in mid August at her McDade home. The body was subsequently taken to a site and burned in a brush pile near where Douglas was living close to Smithville, according to investigators.

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County commissioner appointments due Dec. 28

Wednesday, December 16th, 2009

Bastrop, Tx–Bastrop County commissioners plan to meet Dec. 28 to take care of some year-end business, including appointing directors of two voter-approved emergency service districts which collect property taxes to pay for fire protection in some rural parts of the county.

Seats to be filled by commissioners include positions on the Bastrop County Emergency Service District No. 1 board which covers the Red Rock, Rockne, Cedar Creek and Bluebonnet Acres areas south and west of Bastrop. Board members Shawn Barnes and David Gahagan have asked to be reappointed.

Others seeking a seat on the ESD No. 1 board include former Pct. 3 Commissioner Don Loucks, caterer Leroy Gilbert and accountant Mark Clingan. The term of current board member Terry Wright also ends this year.

Two seats are opening on the ESD No. 2 board which serves rural areas immediately surrounding Bastrop. Kay Linenburger has asked for reappointment, but Len Snyder wants to be replaced.

At a meeting Dec. 14 county commissioners reappointed Doug Prinz and Carl Steinbach to the board of the Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District which covers Bastrop and Lee County. Also named to the 10-member board was former Smithville school trustee Mike Morgan, who replaced former Aqua Water Supply Corp. official Michael Neese.

Bastrop County commissioners appoint five members to staggered terms on the groundwater board. Lee County commissioners appoint the other five members.

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Incumbent Democrats seeking re-election, few challengers in view for any county position so far

Wednesday, December 16th, 2009

Bastrop, Tx–Bastrop County Democrats who hold elective offices are lining up to seek another term in next year’s elections, and few challengers are on the horizon so far–either Democrats or Republicans.

Bastrop County Judge Ronnie McDonald, County Court at Law Judge Benton Eskew, County Clerk Rose Pietsch, Treasurer Kathy Schroeder and District Court Clerk Cathy Smith–all Democrats–have filed papers to place their names on ballots in the March party primaries. Others seeking Democratic Party endorsement in 2010 include incumbents Pct. 2 Justice of the Peace Raymah Davis, Pct. 3 Justice of the peace Kathy Hanna and Pct. 4 Justice of the Peace Larry Dunne. None have opponents from any party so far.

Donald “Dickie” Henderson has filed as a Democrat to seek the Pct. 1 Justice of the Peace position. Incumbent Pct. 1 JP Bill Weddle said today he probably won’t file until Jan. 4, the last day to get his name on the party primary ballot.

Donna Van Gilder is also seeking the JP 1 post on the GOP ticket, and she remains the only official Republican candidate in Bastrop County so far. GOP incumbents Pct. 2 County Commissioner Clara Beckett and District Attorney Bryan Goertz are expected to run again, but neither have filed with party officials, said Republican Party Chair Albert Ellison.

In an interview today Ellison said he expects more Republican challengers to step forward before the filing deadline.

No one to date has filed for the Pct. 4 County Commissioner seat currently held by veteran Democrat Lee Dildy who is widely expected to run again. Michael Flowers has indicated he may challenge Dildy in the Democratic Primary next March.

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Bastrop customers due $343,380 in deposit refunds

Monday, December 14th, 2009

Bastrop, Tx–City water and electric customers are being issued refunds of $343,380 in utility deposits beginning Dec. 15, a city council member says. The deposits are being refunded to qualified customers under new policies formally adopted by the Bastrop City Council last week.

The move had been in planning stages for about a year. By Christmas some 1,874 customers should receive refund checks, not credit against current and future bills, said Council Member Julie Hart in a Monday email to constituents.

Under earlier city rules, utility deposits were not returned to customers until the service was discontinued. That meant that even the best customers–those who always paid charges on time–could have their deposits held in city coffers for decades. Hart said one deposit being returned this week was first put down in 1920.

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Bastrop council OK’s utility deposit refunds by Christmas for good customers

Friday, December 11th, 2009

Bastrop, Tx–City utility customers who have paid their bills on time for at least a year are in line for water and electric service deposit refunds before Christmas. Those eligible for the refunds include residential and commercial customers, the city council agreed at a meeting Dec. 8.

Refund checks–not credit against current and future bills–should be in the mail by Dec. 15, City Manager Mike Talbot said in a Dec. 10 interview.

Those eligible for deposit refunds include customers who paid their bills late no more than twice in the past 12 months, said Talbot. The refund plan was approved, in general terms, when the council approved its operating budget for the 2009-10 fiscal year in September. Tuesday’s action authorized the refund action and included a broad overhaul of the city’s utility policies aimed at making Bastrop services more competitive with area cities, said Talbot.

Under revised rules adopted this week, new city customers may not be required to put down deposits for utility service if they can show a good record of payments to previous providers, said Talbot.

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Bastrop eyes Farm St. improvements near new city convention center

Friday, December 11th, 2009

Bastrop, Tx–When construction begins early in 2010 for Bastrop’s first convention center, some roadway improvements along Farm Street adjoining the site may be part of the project.

Following a hearing before the city council Dec. 8 at which some area residents called for street, traffic and pedestrian upgrades, City Manager Mike Talbot promised to study the issues and report back to the council in January. The convention center will front on Chestnut Street, but a secondary entrance and exit for the facility will be on Farm Street between Gills Branch and the Union Paccific Railroad west of Texas 95.

Amber Marsh told the council her street needs to be widened, vehicle traffic slowed between the highway and Mina Elementary and potholes fixed. She also urged adding sidewalks to improve safety for pedestrians in the area. Dorwin French echoed her concerns. “It’s about time to fix Farm Street,” he said.

Mayor Terry Orr said some street improvement costs might come from the convention center construction budget.

In a Dec. 10 interview Talbot said he is studying the issues and the city street budget and work force might be able to bear the expenses. The Dec. 8 hearing focused on creating a new CF zoning district for civic facilities and rezoning the civic center and city hall sites on Chestnut Street to CF.

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