Local
Hopkins County Commissioners Court Monday morning agreed to the establishment of a tax increment reinvestment zone (TIRZ) at the old Thermo mine property, which would see a certain portion of funds collected from business in the zone designated to go directly back toward infrastructure construction, improvements and upkeep for a portion of the area.
The reinvestment zone would encompass 4,333 acres of land.
City officials have been in negotiations with Ashoka officials so that a road can be installed and the necessary infrastructure built, main power structure replaced so that Ashoka can locate its rebar business in the old Thermo mine area.
Sulphur Springs City Council during the regular March meeting first hosted a public hearing to create a tax increment reinvestment zone for about 4,333 acres of land within the old Thermo mine property, now owned by the city. Then, the City Council approved on first reading the proposed Ordinance No. 2853, which creates the TIRZ Number Two, establishing the boundaries of the zone, a board of directors, tax increment fund, findings and provisions related to creation of the tax increment reinvestment zone, and includes a severability and repealer clauses, and provides an effective date.
In April, the Sulphur Springs City Council will meet again to consider on second reading and final approval the above, detailed as Ordinance No. 2853.
The contract would be for 30 years, ending on Sept. 30, 2055, officials noted at the March 5 City Council meeting.
“This resolution is for the county to participate in the Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone Number Two. The city is asking for 75% of participation of the real property increment that is created within the zone once development starts happening out at the former coal mine property,” Sulphur Springs Assistant City Manager Lesa Smith told the Commissioners Court at their regular meeting Monday, March 11. “We are asking 75% from the county, 75% from the hospital district and then we’ll participate at 75% as well.”
“This is very similar to the same agreement we got involved with the city with many years ago,” said Precinct 3 Commissioner Wade Bartley noted of the reinvestment zone created for the downtown district in 2007.
“Yes, it will work the same way, hopefully, on a much bigger scale for this,” Smith said.
Improvements will need water, sewer, roads and electrical improvements. Some electrical lines may need to be extended into the facility.
“We own the distribution lines, but they won’t be sufficient for the industry. They will need new lines,” said Sulphur Springs City Manager Marc Maxwell.
Those are part of the approved projects for the project to pay for, Smith noted.
The Commissioners Court agreed to participate.
RV Park
The Commissioners Court also gave approval to a preliminary plat for Daisy Daze RV Park. Initially, the applicant did not understand the requirements for an RV plat. However, after conversations, the plat was redone and all RV guidelines met. However, there are 60 slips for RVs. Anything above 55 has additional requirements for the number of showers, toilets, laboratories and laundry failities which are planned to attached to the office building, according to Steve Hudson, the county’s designee in the matter. Revisions will be worked through with county officials as plans progress toward the final plat.
Each site will have full service, offering RVs the opportunity to hook up to the utilities on site, Hudson said.
Equipment Purchase
Precinct 1 Commissioner Mickey Barker was given the go ahead to purchase a $67,750 Case backhoe purchased from ASCO through a BuyBoard contract. He is trading in one unit, with an expected $20,000 to be applied toward the purchase, leaving $47,750 which the commissioner will pay for outright out as there are funds in the Precinct 1 budget to pay for the purchase, County Auditor Shannah Aulsbrook explained.
Budget Amendments
Aulsbrook also presented for court approval budget amendments of $405,774 in rollover back or left over funds to be rulled back into the road and bridge funds for each preceinct. . Precinct 1 will receive $107,114, Precinct 2 $74,548, Precinct 3 $27,771 and Precinct 4 $196,341.
Another $100,000 was approved to be moved from the general fund into the courthouse maintenance fund for window repairs, elevator pump replacement, blinds, a new door in the basement, washing the courthouse, the deck and slate repair.
“Truthfully, it takes a lot of money to maintain this old courthouse, but people come from all over the world, all over the United States for sure to see it this courthouse and this square so we have to maintain. But it is expensive. All of these are necessities and we will get them done. Financially, we are in good shape to be able to do these things at this time,” County Judge Robert Newsom said.
Precinct 2 also received $145,012.79 in insurance proceeds for the precinct building repairs, which will go into the Precinct 2 miscellaneous budget. Aulsbrook also anticipates additional funding coming for items purchased by Precinct 2 and submitted to the insurance company to restore and/or replace items damages sustained as a result of the severe weather last June.
Grants/Agreements
Hopkins County has applied for funding from the Rural Law Enforcement Salary Assistance Program, to provide funding for the sheriff ’s office, district and county attorney’s offices for equipment and to amend salaries. The sheriff ’s office will receiving $350,000 and the district attorney's office $275,000.
“We will be getting three new deputies with this grant. This is a continuous grant too; it’s not something that drops off every year. So we are proud that the state is doing this,” Sheriff Lewis Tatum said.
Jail Administrator Kenneth Dean and Aulsbrook reported the county has an inter-local agreement with Van Zandt County to house inmates at a cost of $50 per day, plus their medical or anything else of that nature the inmate may cost the county. Typically, Dean noted, HCSO jail houses 15-20 Van Zandt County inmates per day.
Noted for the record is a lease agreement between the Secretary of Army and Hopkins County for use of the north tower.
The court approved an annual contract with Ark-Tex Council of Governments for purchase of juvenile services.
Hopkins County Fire Department has entered into an agreement with Sulphur Springs and Delta County Fire Department to apply for a regional grant for air packs.
The Commissioners Court agreed to pay $500 per department, for a total of $6,000 owed to Vickers Consulting Services, Inc., for grant writing services to help secure air packs. This includes $500 per volunteer fire department, which will benefit from the grant program is awarded. Sulphur Springs will be handling the paperwork associated with the grant program.
“The only way we can afford these is through grants. They are up to about $10,000 each now and they just keep going up. Most of our volunteer departments have four to six at their stations, and are just about out of date. I think they are a necessity,” Precinct 2 Commissioner Greg Anglin said.