|
Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Tuesday, December 12, 2000
RCDC payments, insurance contracts approved
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, December 12, 2000 - Reeves County Commissioners approved requests
for payments to construction and architects working on the Reeves County
Detention Center's 1,000 bed-addition, along with a new supervisor for
the center during their regular meeting held Monday, in the third floor
courtroom.
The construction at the facility is nearing completion and new inmates
are being transferred in increments to the new sections in increments.
The addition will double the capacity of the prison, and in conjunction
with that expansion, commissioners approved a contract with a new RCDC
Assistant Warden Manuel Gomez.
Commissioners approved request for payment invoice no. 218- support
building finish out to DRG Architect in the amount of $1,166; DRG Architect's
request for payment invoice no. 219-expense reimbursement in the amount
of $4,988; Banes General Contractors request for payment no. 2 _ racquetball
court, for $3,783 and Banes General Contractor's request for payment no.
3- support building finish out in the amount of $78,360.
In other business, commissioners approved a letter of intent between
Reeves County and Texas Tech Health University Health Sciences Center and
FY 2001 Holidays for Reeves County employees.
During the lengthy meeting, several bids were awarded including for
general liability insurance to the Texas Association of Counties, the current
provider, in the amount of $11,908. TASC was the only bidder and the premiums
were almost identical to last year's, according to Reeves County Auditor
Lynn Owens. Auto Liability and physical damage insurance proposal was also
awarded to the Texas Association of Counties.
"We're paying considerably more than we did last year," said Owens.
"We experienced a heavy year of claims, which is probably why it went up."
Victor Uvalle, the TASC's new field representative for Reeves County
was on hand during the meeting. He told the court that the large number
of claims and the increase in vehicles was the reason for the rise in insurance
costs.
"You had twice as many claims, liability is actually down, but there
are more vehicles included," he said. "We are insuring more of your vehicles,
including the new bus for the RCDC. That's a very expensive vehicle."
Uvalle told the group that the insurance company does offer a simulator.
"This is a learning process, not a pass or fail test," he said.
He added that he would get with the TASC safety department and set up
a simulator for Reeves County, at the request of Reeves County Judge Jimmy
B. Galindo. "I think it would be a good idea to set up something," said
Galindo.
Insurance will cost $17,000 for physical damage and $14,448 for auto
liability.
Real/Personal Property insurance and heavy equipment insurance was also
awarded to the Texas Association of Counties. "The contents of our buildings
is higher than last year," said Galindo. The bid award was for $101,456.
"Actually, the cost per property has gone down," said Uvalle.
A bid for Asphalt, oils and emulsions went to Coke Materials. "We received
two bids, one from Bridges Asphalt and from Coke, and the one from Coke
is the best bid," said Owens.
Surface aggregates bid went to Trans Pecos Materials and motor fuel
oil bid went to Desert Distributors.
Commissioners agreed to re-bid the discarded food products bid.
"We only received one bid, but this one is a bit different," said Owens.
Owens said the bid came from the current provider, former Reeves County
Commissioner Ismael Dutchover. However, Dutchover stated in his bid award
that instead of paying the county for the discarded food, he wanted to
be paid.
Dutchover requested that he be paid $5 per day for discarded food at
the RCDC and $1 per day for discarded food at the Reeves County Sheriff's
Office.
"We used to get a token fee, but now he wants to get paid," said Owens.
"Since it was a bid for proposals, the court has the discretion to reject
it."
Owens said something needs to be done with the discarded food and a
contract must be agreed on soon.
"We had put out a bid for proposals, where someone would pay us, so
it would be non-responsive," said Galindo.
Galindo suggested re-bidding out for both. "We bid it out to buy it
or to haul it off and we might get more participants with the added issue,"
he said.
Janitor supplies were awarded to the different, lowest bidders. Floor
maintenance bid went to Triple I Supply; light bulbs, Gibson True Value;
trash bags, AA Chemical Co.; brushes and squeegees, Triple I Supply; paper
products, AA Chemical Co.; cleaning supplies, Triple I Supply; miscellaneous
to Basco Supply Co. and pre-portioned supply to AA Chemical Co.
RCDC architect Lorraine Dailey said that the ozone people would come
up with a product that is suitable for the new laundry at the prison. "We
have to come up with the chemical that they will be using, which will eliminate
the need for bleach and hot water," she said.
Isaac Lujan with Triple I Supply was on hand to provide information
to the court. Jesse Baeza with the Sheriff's Department said that he had
some problems with Triple I.
"I think their problem was with the wax," said Lujan. "But they can
order the higher-speed wax, it comes with the bid," he said.
Lujan spoke with Baeza at length about his problems and the two came
to a solution.
"As soon as you see a problem you need to contact the provider," said
Galindo. "I think he's willing to work with us and RCDC has no problems
with the provider," he said.
Baeza said he had not seen the list of what could be ordered and did
not know exactly what was on the bid award.
Inmate clothing bid was awarded to Robinson Textiles. RCDC employee
Adam Rodriguez told the court they were very happy with ICS. "They deliver
within a couple of days and we have had no problems with them, while Robinson
Textiles takes two weeks to deliver," he said.
Rodriguez added that with the small amount of storage space it was difficult
to order in large quantities. But Warden Rudy Franco said, "We won't have
a problem with that, though, once the new warehouse is completed."
The employee uniforms bid went to United and dental services to the
current provider and only bidder, Dr. David Lovett.
Inmate food and kitchen supplies consisted of eight categories and awards
went to the lowest bidders. General food supplies bid went to Ben E. Keith
Foods; general kitchen supplies to White Swan Foods; fresh meat, M&M
Packing Co.; bread products, El Paso Baking Co.; Dairy Products, Bell Dairy;
coffee, tea, spice to DeCoty Coffee Co.; refrigerated/frozen food to White
Swan Foods and tortillas to La Nortena Tortilla Factory.
All commissioners approved the bids and Reeves County Commissioner Precinct
2 David Castillo abstained from voting on the last item, due to a conflict
of interest as one of the owners of La Nortena.
Physician and medical services went to Dr. James Cam, the current provider
for the Reeves County Sheriff's Department, and Dr. Joseph Darpolor for
the Reeves County Detention Center.
Medical laboratory services were awarded to Trans Pecos Lab, who was
the lowest bidder, according to Owens.
A modification on a bid for inmate restraints was approved. "The bid
had already been awarded to GT Distributors, Inc.," said Owens. "However,
they called and said there were some numbers transposed and re-submitted
it," he said.
The bid was actually $500 less and commissioners gladly accepted the
change. "They're honest people," said Owens.
Red Bluff board weighs Malaga Bend decisions
By JON FULBRIGHT
Staff Writer
PECOS, December 12, 2000 - After seemingly having no options a couple
of months ago on restarting the Malaga Bend salt alleviation project, Red
Bluff Water Power Control Board members were debating what to do about
two options for getting the long-delayed project underway on Monday, during
their regular monthly meeting in Pecos.
Board members discussed, but took no action, on the alternative proposals,
along with a separate proposal for Red Bluff to create its own underground
water district. They also put off any action on a request by Conoco, Inc.
to run a pipeline from Red Bluff Lake to a planned gas field, after no
representatives from the company showed up for the 1 p.m. meeting.
Red Bluff's plan to transfer fresh water upstream to be used by Loving
Salt Co. was apparently blocked earlier this year by Interstate Stream
Commission officials in New Mexico. Loving Salt needed the water to clean
equipment that would be used in pumping brine water from Malaga Bend to
man-made ponds from which salt would be mined after the water evaporated.
Officials hoped the plan would sharply cut the salt levels of the Pecos
River in Texas and improve the water quality for area farmers.
In October, Loving Salt president Albert Wager came up with a new plan
in which Red Bluff would pay landowners south of Malaga Bend in New Mexico
for their water rights, which would then be used to supply Loving Salt
with their water.
But on Monday, both Wagner and Red Bluff general manager Jim Ed Miller
said they had talked with Pecos River Compact Commissioner J.W. Thrasher,
who said New Mexico officials may now allow the transfer of water upstream
by Red Bluff.
Wagner said notice of the alternate plan was posted last month in the
Carlsbad Current-Argus. "The Interstate Stream Commission did object, but
they said they would rescind if Texas and Red Bluff would apply to the
(Pecos River Compact) special master to have the compact redone to specify
the move of that water.
"J.W. Thrasher was in Santa Fe last week and struck a deal. He thinks
they can get the deal done," Wagner said.
Miller said if New Mexico allowed Red Bluff to transfer its water rights
upstream, "it would be a lot cheaper," though board members and Wagner
wondered if this might create problems with the water rights holders south
of Malaga Bend that could jeopardize the tentative deal made for the sale
of their water under a one-year contract.
"Why don't we go with J.W. and move the water upstream, and see if we
can still go along with this other plan," board president Randall Hartman
said, and Miller said he would talk with New Mexico attorney Tom Merrick
about either getting a new contract drawn up or reinstituting a contract
for water rights transfer drawn up several years ago.
One other problem mentioned by Miller was questions the Bureau of Reclamation
had about Loving Salt's environmental procedures. "Tom Bowles and Tim (Brown,
lawyers for the district) called and they think the first thing we need
to do before we get involved with anything else is to get this thing resolved
with the BRC, or we're going to be in a lot of trouble," Miller said.
Miller said the lawyers feared Red Bluff could be held liable for any
clean-up once a new agreement with Loving Salt was signed, but Wagner said
the two problems cited, batteries left out in the open and leaking hydraulic
waste oil, could be cleaned up quickly.
"I do know they will harp on it unless you have a container to contain
the oil drip," Hartman said, and Wagner replied the problem could be corrected
by today.
Board members were divided on the need to act on an underground water
district. The need to create a district was mandated in 1997's Senate Bill
1, but in a letter to the board Brown said Red Bluff would have to go through
the procedure of securing sponsors in the Texas House and Senate to create
a water district.
"If we want to (create) a district, we do need to go before the legislature,
but we can't get it done for this year," Hartman said, meaning any district
would have to wait for approval from the 2003 Texas Legislature.
"I think we need to do it, or else somebody else is going to do it,"
said board member Lloyd Goodrich, while board member and former state legislator
Dick Slack said he was "not quite ready to do it yet," because the district
could end up as a new taxing entity.
"If we form one under our own boundaries, we don't need to do that,"
Hartman said, though Goodrich added the district "would still have the
ability to tax" and any action on its creation would have to go before
the voters.
In other action, cash disbursements, accounts payable and the investment
committee report were all approved quickly at the outset of the meeting,
and the board was given an update on the Red Bluff Dam gate and tunnel
repair project.
Miller said workers for Orion Construction have cut the valves out of
the tubes and have burned out the underwater gouges so far. They workers
will be taking a break beginning on Thursday, and then will return after
Christmas to insert the new stainless steel tubes in the tunnels.
Board members also discussed placing purple "No Hunting" signs around
Red Bluff Lake and putting up road signs to direct drivers to the Sandy
Beach area at the lake.
Law academy graduates first class from new center
By LEIA HOLLAND
Staff Writer
PECOS, December 12, 2000 - The Pecos Technical Training Center of Odessa
College held a graduation ceremony and reception for seven graduates of
the 2000 Law Enforcement Academy Friday night at the Reeves County Civic
Center
"Odessa College has always had a Law Enforcement Academy in Pecos,"
Director of OC Pecos Michelle Workman, but this was the first one to utilize
the new Pecos Technical Training Center, which was completed in late May.
The graduates included Valedictorian Frank Sanchez, Salutatorian Christopher
Derrick, Corey Davis, Jesse Jones, Homar Lopez, Bart Sanchez and Randall
Wilson.
Workman said Pecos Police Investigator Paul Deishler has always been
in charge of the Academy so her staff didn't have to worry about a thing
as far as the Academy went, because Deishler handled everything from the
instructors to the graduation ceremony.
"He keeps a good eye on it," she said.
All seven graduates began their studies in the Spring of 2000 and continued
for 10 months.
Workman said they would meet from 6 p.m.-10 p.m., Monday-Friday in the
spring and fall and from 6 p.m.-10 p.m., Monday-Thursday in the summer.
"It was a long time commitment for them and their families," Workman
said.
She said the graduates' families, Deishler, Mayor Ray Ortega, Pecos
Police Chief Clay McKinney and OC Law Enforcement Department Chair Jim
McKown joined the graduates.
"He was very impressed with how hard they worked," Workman said of McKown.
She said Derrick gave a very emotional speech on behalf of the class.
"They've been together for so long that they've become like family,"
she said.
McKinney gave a speech as guest speaker and Ortega awarded the graduates
their diplomas.
Workman said the staff and instructors of OC Pecos are pleased to award
all the diplomas to the graduates.
"Overall, we're very proud of these men," she said.
The next session of the Law Enforcement Academy begins in January and
would last until December.
Registration for the Law Enforcement Academy as well as all classes
for the Spring 2001 semester is the week of January 8.
Pecos to miss worst of winter storm's effects
By LEIA HOLLAND
Staff Writer
PECOS, December 12, 2000 - While Texas may be facing its coldest weather
in two years over the next few days, the odds of Pecos seeing any significant
snow today and Wednesday has declined from earlier forecasts.
Meteorologist Dan Cook from the National Weather Service in Midland
said Pecos has a slight chance of snow today but not much of a chance of
freezing rain.
"We're looking for a little bit of snow today," he said.
Cook said the Pecos area was originally expected to see a significant
amount of snow but now he believes that there would not be more than one
inch of snow.
"I'd be surprised if there's a half-inch," he said.
Cook said that with the little chance of snow there is even a smaller
chance of freezing rain, which is good for travelers.
Most of the snow is falling in the Lubbock and Big Bend area with some
more further to the south in Mexico.
"Some stuff is kind of coming up from Mexico," Cook said.
But as always the cold weather is not expected to last long.
Temperatures are expected to rise back up in the 40s tomorrow and continue
rising later this week.
"It will probably be even warmer the day after," Cook said.
The Panhandle is expected to feel t he worst effects of the Arctic blast's
collision with Pacific moisture streaming from Mexico and New Mexico. It
is expected to trigger a band of snow and freezing rain across the Panhandle
eastward toward northern and central Texas, forecasters say. Temperatures
were in the single digits in some parts of the Panhandle.
"Sleet and snow, you can kind-of get around on," National Weather Service
meteorologist Skip Ely said. "Freezing rain, that is just miserable."
Snow was also expected in the northwestern half of North Texas, with
a mix of freezing rain, sleet and snow by early Wednesday. In the Hill
Country and along the Rio Grande, freezing rain and sleet will cause dangerous
driving conditions.
The stage was set for the storm on Monday, when the front brought the
chilliest conditions in years to parts of Texas. Temperatures dropped to
a teeth-chattering 13 degrees in Dalhart, while Amarillo and Borger tumbled
to 15 degrees.
Ely said the Panhandle will only see about an inch of snow, but as much
as four inches of snow could blanket areas along the Red River as the moisture
moves eastward. Freezing rain and sleet could glaze an area from Dallas
eastward to Louisiana.
"I don't like it; I don't like cold weather. I like summertime, but
I don't like winter," said Mae Frost, 77, a resident of Amarillo for 53
years. "It is not too bad, the sun is out, but the wind chill is terrible.
You can't be out too long or you'll freeze."
The Associated Press contributed to this report
Border Patrol agents uncover 88 pounds of cocaine Monday
PECOS, December 12, 2000 - U.S. Border Patrol Agents report making the
second major cocaine seizure in just over a week at the Interstate 10 Border
Patrol Checkpoint in Sierra Blanca.
The arrest occurred Monday and involved over 88 lbs of cocaine worth
an estimated $2.8 million. According to a Border Patrol press release,
agents manning the checkpoint also seized $27,000 of currency and two pistols
in the incident.
Two people, both United States citizens, were placed under arrest as
a result of the seizure. The two subjects, who were not identified, were
turned over to Drug Enforcement Agency officials and taken to El Paso.
The arrest took place a week after agents at Sierra Blanca arrested
two other people who were traveling on a bus headed from California to
Tennessee, after 14 pounds of cocaine was found inside a bag belonging
to them, located in the bus' luggage compartment.
Total value of the drugs seized in that incident was put at $448,000.
Entries sought for Christmas Lighting Contest
PECOS, December 12, 2000 - The Christmas Lighting Contest is underway,
and the Women's Division of the Pecos Chamber of Commerce is seeking homes
for nomination.
Homes can be nominated and called in to the Pecos Chamber of Commerce
at 445-2406.
Winning homes will win a prize and a plaque will be placed in the front
yard.
Deadline for nominations are at 5 p.m., on Thursdays and a home will
be selected each week. Winners will be announced on Fridays.
Weather
PECOS, December 12, 2000 - High Monday 66. Low this morning 23. Forecast
for tonight: Cloudy and cold with a slight chance of snow. Low around 20.
Southeast wind 5 to 14 mph. Chance of snow 20 percent. Little or no additional
snow accumulation. Wednesday: Cloudy. High 40 to 45. Southwest wind 10
to 20 mph. Wednesday night: Decreasing cloudiness. Low in the upper 20s.
Thursday: Partly cloudy. Lows in the 20s. Highs in the 40s.
Pecos Enterprise
York M. "Smokey" Briggs, Publisher
Division of Buckner News Alliance, Inc.
324 S. Cedar St., Pecos, TX 79772
Phone 915-445-5475, FAX 915-445-4321
e-mail news@pecos.net
Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium.
Copyright 2000 by Pecos Enterprise
|
