Houston County News - Breakout

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William Shoemaker, the Mayor of Lovelady, converses with guests at the City Hall as the town celebrated its 150th anniversary last Friday. JAN WHITE | HCC

By Jan White
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LOVELADY – On Friday, August 12, the Lovelady City Hall opened its doors to welcome residents and guests to the ceremony celebrating the town’s 150th anniversary.

The building was decorated from floor to ceiling with pictures and displays depicting Lovelady’s rich history. Guest speakers at the event included Jim Refro, a Houston County Historical Commission representative, the Mayor of Lovelady Byron Shoemaker, and Houston County Judge Jim Lovell, who read a proclamation commemorating the city’s sesquicentennial birthday. Also attending was author Ralph Stenzel from Galveston County Historical Commission, who is creating a pictorial book about Lovelady’s history. Darrell Johnston, the Pastor of First Baptist Church in Lovelady, led the group in prayer.

A special guest at the event was Burtis Wooten, the younger brother of Tuskegee Airman Howard Wooten, whose pilot’s photograph was used by the U.S. Airforce to represent the famed Tuskegee Airman and adopted as the official image of the Tuskegee Airmen Foundation. 

Following the brief ceremony, attendees were invited to help themselves to cake and punch and explore the historical pictures and memorabilia scattered throughout the city hall.

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By Chris Edwards
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AUSTIN – For the first time in three years, the Texas Education Agency has released, on Monday, its accountability ratings for the state’s school districts as well as individual campuses.

The A-F letter grade rating system, which was adopted in 2018, after a bill passed during the 85th Texas Legislature to establish the system as a simplified means of evaluating the academic performances of Texas schools.

The system uses a series of letter grades, A through F, as one would receive on a school report card. It is based primarily on standardized testing results from students in grades three through 12 throughout the academic year.

“The ratings examine student achievement, student progress, efforts to close the achievement gap and postsecondary readiness,” according to the TEA accountability website.

This year’s slate of ratings is the first since 2019 due to two years of COVID-related pauses, according to a news release issued Monday by TEA to announce the ratings’ release. “These results show our state’s significant investment in the post-pandemic recovery of Texas public school students is bearing fruit,” said TEA Commissioner Mike Morath.

Across the state, 1,195 districts and 8,451 campuses were rated this year, with noted significant gains in students’ academic growth. This year saw 25% of districts and 33% of campuses improve their letter grade from 2019’s reports. 

All of Houston County’s five school districts made the passing mark, with Latexo and Kennard both earning “A”s; Grapeland and Lovelady receiving “B”s and Crockett ISD receiving a C.

Morath said the driving force behind the rise in the numbers is upon the shoulders of teachers and local school leaders. “Statewide policy in Texas continues to remain focused on meeting the needs of students, with an accountability system that supports high expectations…and an investment in evidence-based training for our teachers,” Morath said.

At the statewide level, 33.1%, or 396 districts, received an “A” rating, compared to 25.3% or 301 districts in 2019. Fifty-four percent of the state’s school districts, or 645, received a “B” grade with the 2022 results.

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By Jan White
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CROCKETT – At its meeting held on Monday, August 16, the Crockett City Council voted to increase the city taxes to the “Di Minimus” tax rate in order to fund an increase in salaries for essential city employees.

“This is the tax rate that funds the budget that we talked about. This is the di minimus tax rate. This is the tax rate of $0.68, a little over 68 cents per $100 of value. Based on the average property value from 2022, it will increase your property tax bill by about $84.94 per year.”

Angerstein went on to explain that they are given three different possible tax brackets that are given to the city by statute, but these all fell short of providing the city with the revenue needed to hire and retain law enforcement staff, fire department staff, and provide parity across the board with city maintenance employees. 

During the public hearing portion of the meeting, citizens were allowed to express their thoughts or concerns regarding the tax hike. Moosehead Café owner Buddy Clonts expressed dismay over the tax increase. “You know, they sock it to us over property taxes. Pretty big. So how much is that going to increase?” 

When city administrator John Angerstein explain that the taxes were based on increased property tax, Clonts responded, “Is the tax rate lower than last year or higher?”  “The di minimus rate is higher,” Angerstein responded. “So our taxes are gonna go way up,”

Clonts said. “Yes, sir,” Angerstein answered, “they are.” “They’re trying to run us out of business.”

“I don’t think that’s the goal of this council,” Ernest Jackson responded. He went on to say that while he understood Clonts’ concern, the increase is necessary to ensure the city hires and retains employees. “I’m a property owner too,” said Jackson, “and I understand. We don’t have the money to pay. But everybody in our city is called upon to do just a little bit more. So that when you have an issue, like a fire or need law enforcement, we have people here to respond.” 

Other comments were of a more positive note. “I’ll give the City of Crockett an ‘atta boy,’” stated Sherrill Woods. “You guys are lean on your city budget. I have seen very little waste. I commend each and every one of you.” 

After hearing the comments, the public portion of the meeting was closed, and the Council voted to approve the di minimus tax rate. The Council also voted to appropriate money to the Sinking Fund to pay interest and principal due on the City’s indebtedness and adopted the annual budget for the City of Crockett for the fiscal year 2023.

Approval was given for a specific use permit for Jeffery W. Darst of Possum Grape II, LLC to allow mixed commercial and residential use of the property located at 205 E. Goliad. 

The council then went on to discussions regarding the CEIDC budget for the 2022-23 fiscal year. Council members questioned CEIDC Executive Director James Gentry about the placement of some line items. Much of the conversation was about the proposed construction of an industrial-sized gas line. The discussion centered around whether to install the gas line now, when there are no current prospects to occupy the Industrial Park, or whether to wait until there is an interest or a commitment and then install the gas line. Councilwoman Marquita Beasley brought it to the attention of the council that the cost of the gas line was not actually included in the budget presented, “But it’s something to consider.” 

Gentry also explained the amount allotted for training and bonds, and insurance. New board members have specific economic development training they must go through, and other courses are also available such as sales tax and industry incentive education. The bond increase was due to a previous coverage oversight. 

Gentry was also questioned about the van used by the CEIDC. “What’s the purpose of the van?” asked Councilman Gene Caldwell. “The purpose of the van is to transport guests around town. We take them around town, give them tours of the facilities, the park. It’s a vehicle we’ve had for a number of years, and we use it for that purpose.” Gentry says the van was also used to provide food for the needy folks in the community and that he sometimes uses it when traveling out of town. 

“I’m assuming this is the truth,” Caldwell stated, “but the uh, car allowance. Is it supposed to go through payroll?” 

“I’m glad you bring that up,” Gentry responded. “In the five-and-a-half years I’ve been here, I have used very little of that $7,200. It was a standing amount with my predecessors to utilize it. I just chose not to use it.”

 “So you don’t get any of that money?” Caldwell questioned. “So you use your own personal vehicle and get mileage?” 

“Actually, I will use it to put gas in it when I’m traveling out of town to TEDC conferences or other conferences,” Gentry said. “I use the credit card to pay for my gas to and from, and that’s it.” 

Moving on to other topics, Gentry stated that $385k is still owed on the state school loan. Gentry stated that currently they are under budget for the 2021-22 year, and that the current budget is basically a flat line except for some increase due to inflation.

After a brief discussion, the council voted to approve the budget as presented, pending the need for a line item for prospect incentives such as the roof repair and the gas pipeline installation as capital expenditures.

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By Jan White
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CROCKETT – During the August 9 meeting of the CEIDC, Executive Director James Gentry presented a punch-list of items identified as necessary repairs to the Mary Allen Museum before the building could be opened to the public. Gentry and Museum board member David Beaulieu performed a ‘walk-through’ of the building and grounds and made a list of repairs, which they presented to the CEIDC board at the meeting. 

Dr. Thelma Douglass spoke on behalf of the museum, thanking the CEIDC for their cooperation in making some of the requested repairs. She also stated that volunteers would be working with Beaulieu and Pastor Johnie Wood of the First Presbyterian Church from Wednesday through Friday to help with repairs.

Also, Douglass presented two guests who were there to speak on behalf of a program the museum hopes to implement – The Mary Allen Educational Institute. Douglass believes that the museum should carry on as an institute of higher learning and in her words, “use the people here in our community and bring the workforce right here in our community and be able to get jobs for different people.” Douglass shared that there were many things in the works to help make that happen.

During the discussion, Michael Ewing, a long-term substitute teacher for CISD, who serves on the steering committee for the museum, spoke on the possibility of sponsoring an “Artist in Residency Program.” The program was created to allow an artist to live and work in the Westbrook Heritage House. This artist in residence will also act as the activities director and design programs hosted at the Heritage House. Alexandria Hubbard, designated as the first artist in residence, also spoke. Alexandria holds a bachelor’s degree from Prairie View A&M and uses her strong background in the mental health field that helps her “navigate social and cultural needs.” The residency is a year-long endeavor. 

Regarding the HVAC system at the Heritage House, the board voted to approve the purchase and installment of a three-and-a-half-ton Goodman cooling unit for the building. Gentry also read an extensive list of repairs that need to be done before the building is habitable, including replacement of the back door, foundation repairs to the front bricks, roof issues, power washing, replacing broken windows, and sheetrock repairs, and plumbing repairs. 

Douglass also introduced Dr. Angela Hale, who, along with her husband, owns a business that trains fiberoptics specialists in the Dallas area. Hale said that she felt there were opportunities in the Crockett area to train and retain workers. She has worked to form co-ops that bring low-cost broadband to rural areas. Her current project in Arkansas brought together thirteen co-ops who put together $1.3M in infrastructures, creating jobs that will stay in that area. She offered to speak to interested parties subsequent to the meeting.

The board also approved the modifications to the CEIDC by-laws regarding Article 6.03 accepting emails as a form of board communication and Article 7.03 approving the changing of the wording regarding audits of the Corporation. Attorney for the CEIDC, Bill Pemberton, was on hand to offer answers to any questions the board might have, but since the Crockett City Council had already approved the changes, CEIDC acceptance of those changes was merely a formality. 

A discussion followed regarding some of the details of the 2023 budget. During the discussion, Wade Thomas addressed the group about two items – one labeled “Draw Note” and the other “Prospect Incentives.”  “Those numbers,” said Thomas, “up to 2016 were $1.5M. At that point the City Council wanted that number dropped to $600k. That number has been carried on over the last five years. We had Mr. Bridges here, discussing a line of credit. Not to step on any toes, but we don’t have a line of credit. The $600k has been carried through the years more or less as a line of credit. It’s really not, and I’d like to see both of those numbers disappear. They don’t really exist. In the same meeting, Mr. Bridges said, ‘Y’all are good with us.’ That’s all I needed to hear. We can go to our banker for a short-term loan when we need it. I’d like to see those numbers disappear because they zero each other out and don’t really represent anything.” 

Additional discussion was held about the need to streamline other line items, but because of the deadline for presenting the budget to the City Council, it was questionable as to whether the changes could be made before the due date. 

The motion was made and seconded that the budget be approved as written pending the removal of the two $600k line items.

Because there was no amount given to the CEIDC for the cost of the forensic audits requested by the city, those numbers could not be included in the budget and will have to be addressed as needed at a future date. 

Before the meeting adjourned, Thomas addressed the board, “One of the items that I had hoped would be on the agenda tonight just didn’t get there, but it’s important to me. I would like to see how everyone feels about having a public meeting before our next scheduled meeting, and that has to do with our Prosperity loan. I think everybody knows I’d like to see that paid off. I want to get that before City Council sooner than later. We pay interest every day, and I would like that to go away.”  Thomas went on to say that he hoped they could have the additional meeting as soon as possible.