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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Wednesday, October 31, 2001
PHA does OK in feds' inspection report
By LEIA HOLLAND
Staff Writer
PECOS, Wed., Oct. 31, 2001 -- The Pecos Housing Authority (PHA) Board of
Commissioners reviewed the inspection report given to PHA from the U.S. Department
of Housing and Urban Development REAC program during the monthly meeting
last night at the PHA/Farm Labor Housing (FLH) Administration Office.
During the month of June 2001, a HUD inspector came to Pecos to inspect
the PHA property project grounds including the office maintenance, laundry
rooms and a random number of individual units.
At a previous meeting Director Nellie Gomez told the commissioners that
the inspections went well and the HUD inspector found nothing wrong with
the PHA.
"There was no findings so we feel like we did real good on that," she
said.
During last nights meeting, the board received the score from the annual
inspections of 83 points, which upset some of the commissioners, according
to Administrative Assistant JoAnn Cranfill.
However, Cranfill said that she did not believe that the score was very
low considering some housing authorities in the state receives scores as
low as four to five points.
"It's not a bad score at all," she said.
Cranfill said that the HUD inspector chose to inspect 23 of the 130 individual
units under PHA.
According to the report, one unit had heavy pieces of furniture blocking
two windows, which is against regulation.
Cranfill said that the regulation allows only one of the windows to be
blocked and no more because in case of a fire there is more than one exit.
Despite the commissioners' disappointment, Cranfill said that she believes
that the PHA would do better on the inspections next year.
"I think we'll improve next year," she said. "This is still something
new to us."
The commissioners also discussed bids for a new mid-size van for the PHA
operations and decided to give Gomez the authority to test drive different
vans and decide which van she would like.
Upon recommendation from Gomez, the commissioners plan to approve the
purchase of a van during the next meeting.
The commissioners also discussed the update on the 2000 capital funds
budget as well as a land survey of PHA property on the south side of Interstate
20.
For FLH, the commissioners approved a proposed letter from Gomez to local
officials, growers, and interested parties requesting letters of support
or denial of support for the conversion of the FLH to Multi-Family Housing
status.
The commissioners have been discussing changing the FLH status to Multi-Family
Housing for quite some time.
In other business, the commissioners approved the minutes of previous
meetings and the monthly reports for both PHA and FLH.
Association offers home fix-up loans for seniors
PECOS, Wed., Oct. 31, 2001 -- If you are 62 years old or older you may
qualify for a one-percent loan to repair your home through the U. S. Department
of Agriculture.
The loans are available through the Pecos Housing Association _ a not-for-profit
group established through the Pecos Chamber of Commerce.
Chamber of Commerce board member Jesse Stephens is the chairman for the
association, which is not associated with the Pecos Housing Authority.
"Through this program a person can qualify for up to $20,000 that can
be paid back over 20 years at one percent interest," Stephens said. "I don't
see how you can beat it."
Stephens said that the monthly payment on such a loan was $4.60 for every
$1,000 borrowed.
"A person 62 years old with two people in the household and an annual
income of $14,300 would qualify for this loan," he said.
To apply a person must show sources of income including wages, investment
income, dividends and any other types of income he might have," Stephens
said.
"Anyone that feels they might qualify for this type of loan should pick
up a pre-qualification form at the Chamber office at 111 S. Cedar. All information
remains confidential," Stephens said.
RCH board plans to discuss contract on ambulance use
PECOS, Wed., Oct. 31, 2001 -- The Reeves County Hospital Board of Directors
is scheduled to discuss the interlocal agreement with the Town of Pecos City
for use of the ambulance service during the regular meeting at 6 p.m., Thursday
night in the classroom at Reeves County Hospital.
The Board will also discuss advertising for bids on oil and gas lease
located in Culberson County, as well as the monthly tax reports, financial
statements and payment of bills.
T-NMP holds events to mark Customer Apprectiation Week
PECOS, Wed., Oct. 31, 2001 -- Texas-New Mexico Power Company is inviting
all its customers to visit their local offices during Customer Appreciation
Week, which will be celebrated now through Friday.
"We want our customers to feel appreciated year-round, but we're making
an extra effort this particular week," said Angela Romero, West Texas Business
Unit Manager.
"We hope many will stop by to meet and visit with our local staff, whether
or not they need to pay their bills," she said.
Romero said all customers want is value and that means a product or service
of high quality combined with the courtesy of being cared about and treated
well. "It has been our mission to provide that service and courtesy for more
than 75 years, and our customers can expect that tradition to continue,"
she said.
Drop by the local office during the week of Oct. 29-Nov. 2 to take advantage
of Customer Appreciation Week.
Texas-New Mexico Power Company provides community-based electric service
to 85 cities and more than 238,000 customers in Texas and New Mexico. It
is wholly owned subsidiary of TNP Enterprises, Inc.
Weather
PECOS, Wed., Oct. 31, 2001 -- High Tues. 83. Low this morning 52. Forecast
for tonight: Partly cloudy. Lows 50 to 55. Southwest winds 10 to 20
mph. Thurs.: Mostly sunny. Highs 80 to 85. West winds 5 to 15 mph.
Thurs. night: Mostly clear. Lows 50 to 55. Fri.: Partly
cloudy. Highs around 80. Saturday: Increasing cloudiness. Lows 50
to 55. Highs 75 to 80.
Obituary
Aurora Adame
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 newsdesk@nwol.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 2001 by Pecos Enterprise
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