HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublicity Vol. 33 (Jan. 1985 - March 1985)NOTICE OF
PUBLIC HEARING:
The College Station Planning
and Zoning Commission will
hold a public hearing on the
question of granting a Con-
ditional Use Permit for the
location of a 12x23 Morgan
Building to house the society
of St. Stephen on the existing
Aldersgate United Methodist
site.
The request for Use Permit is
in the name of Aldersgate Un-
ited Methodist Church, 6501 E.
Hwy 6 Bypass, College Sta-
tion, TX 77840.
The hearing will be held in the
Council Room of the College
Station City Hall, 1101 South
Texas Avenue at the 7:00 P.M.
meeting of the Planning and
Zoning Commission on Thurs-
day, January 17,1985.
For additional information,
contact the City Planner's Of-
fice,(409)764 -3570.
James M. Callaway
Assistant Director of Planning
01 -02 -85
NOTI CE TO CONTRACTORS
Sealed proposals addressed
to the City of College Station,
Texas will be received for the.
construction of:
HOLLEMAN-DEXTER PLACE
DRAINAGE PROJECT
G- 83-83-10
until 2:00 o'clock P.M., Tues-
day, January 17,1985.
The project consists of install -
Ing 846 linear feet of drainage
pipe, installing junction
boxes, backfill, grading, and
sodding within a 20 foot wide
easement adjacent to the De-
xter Place Subdivision in Col-
lege Station, Texas.
Proposals will be received at
the office of Mr. Elrey Ash,
Irn
Director of Capital Col -
provements City
lege Station, Texas 77840.
Bidders must submit with
their bids a Cashier's Check
or a Certified Check in the
amount of five (5 %) percent of
the maximum amount of bid to
payable of h College Station,
the City on,
Texas, or a proposal bond in
the same amount from a Sur-
ety Company holding permit
from the State of Texas to act
as Surety, and acceptable ac-
cording to the latest list of
companies holding cer-
tificates of authority from the
Secretary of the Treasury of
the United States, as listed in
latest Revision -of Treasury
Department Circular 570, as a
guarantee that Bidder will en-
ter into a contract and ex-
ecute bond and guarantee
forms provided within five (5)
days after notice of award of
contract to him. Bids without
checks, as stated above, or
proposal bond will not be
considered.
In accordance with Article
5160, Revised Civil Statutes of
Texas, 1925, as amended, the
successful as will be re-
quired to furnish not only a
performance bond in the
amount of the contract, but
also a payment bond for the
protection of all claimants
supplying labor and materials
as defined in said law. The
bonds must be executed by an
Company
approved Surety
holding a permit from the
State of Texas to act as Surety
and acceptable according to
the latest list of companies
holding certificates of author-
ity from the Secretary of the
Treasury of the United States,
or other Surety acceptable to
the Owner.
The Owner reserves the right
to reject any or all bids and to
waive informalities. In case of
ambiguity or lack of clearness
in stating the price in the bids,
the Owner reserves the right
to consider the most advanta-
geous construction thereof or
to reject the bid. Unreasona-
ble or unbalanced unit prices
will be considered sufficient
cause for rejection of any bid.
Bidders are required to in-
spect the site of the work and
to inform themselves regard
ing local conditions under
which the work is to be done.
Attention is called to the pro-
visions of the Texas Minimum
Wage Act of 1970 and Article
5159a, Revised Civil Statutes
of Texas, concerning the
prevailing wage rate applica-
ble in municipal contruction.
Contract Documents'. Pro-
posal Forms and
Specifications may be ob-
tained from the City En-
gineer's Office, 1101 Texas
Avenue, College Station,
Texas 77840, upon deposit of
$25.00, which sum will be re-
funded provided the bidder
meets the requirements
stated in the Special
Conditions.
01 -02- 85,01 -05-85
01 -06- 85,01 -16-85
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
The College Station Planning
and Zoning Commission will
hold a public hearing . n the
question of rezoning 'he
following property:
Lots 5 -19, Block D, University
Park Section 1. To be rezoned
from Apartment District R-4 to
General Commercial District
C -1. The application is in the
name of Mack Randolph and
Burl McAlister, P.O. Box 10250,
Co l l ege Stati on, Texas 77840.
The said hearing will be held
in the Council Room of the
College Station City Hall, 1101
South Texas Avenue at the
7:00 P.M. meeting of the Plan-
ning and Zoning'Commission
on Thursday, January 17,1985.
For additional information,
please contact me.
James M. Callaway
Ass't. Director of Planning
01 -02 -85
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
The College Station Planning
and Zoning Commission will
hold a public hearing on the
question of rezoning the
following property: A 10.88
acre tract of land on the south
side of S.H. 30 (Harvey Road)
at the intersection of Stal lings
Drive and S.H. 30 from A -P Ad-
ministrative Professional to
C -1 General Commercial. Ap-
plication is in the name of
Gary Payne.
The said hearing will be held
in the Council Room of the
College Station City Hall, 1101
South Texas Avenue at the
7:00 P.M. meeting of the Plan-
ning and Zoning Commission
on January 17, 1985.
For additional information,
please contact me.
James M. Callaway
Asst. Director of Planning
01-02 -85
THE EAGLE /WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 1985
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CS may members expressed concern By HUGH S Wri N N speed 1 limits on he city's major north- said, he study u w arr an te d . w l take abut three 6 Normally, Boriskie said, a speed W
limit is established at the speed x
Changes in the speed limits on south thoroughfare may be too high. weeks. traveled by 85 percent of he traffic.
Texas Avenue in College Station Currently, the lowest speed limit It will encompass the entire length In other traffic concerns, College
could be made in about two months, a on Texas Avenue is 40 miles per hour of Texas Avenue from the south Col- Station Traffic Engineer John Black
state official indicated Wednesday. on he north end. lege Station city limit to the north said surface tiles marking the lanes on
College Station Mayor Gary Hal- Traffic Engineer George Boriskie boundary, he said. FM 2818 should alleviate left -turn
of the highway department said the The entire process usually takes problems on that road. Council mem-
ter, some members of the City Coun- last time the limits on Texas Avenue about two months, he said, although bers had expressed some concern ab-
cil and city staffers met before Christ - were revised was in 1976. the weather can impede the comple- out the potential for accidents there
mas with officials of District 17 of he
Texas Department of Highways and da a s s ai d
then artme mend l to the department s- is involved h bec use � The e tiles h f will be installed k when
Public Transportation.
The meeting was set up after coun city any changes that the study indi- Texas Avenue is a state artery, Texas weather permits, Black said.
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rdin anc e o s a ro causes stir
sl n o p p
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By HUGH NATIONS
Staff Writer
A proposed new sign ordinance
prompted a businessman this week to
charge that the city government of
College Station is anti- business.
Other businessmen in the city also
expressed reservations about the
proposal, although one agreed that,
"basically, it's a good ordinance."
Edwin Pilger, operator of a service
station at Harvey Road and Texas
Avenue and a tire store on University
Drive, contended that the ordinance
w ill cost College Station customers.
"The city councilmen are profes-
sors," Pilger said, "and they've nev-
:pr (Seen out in the real world.
' `I think they try to be a little bit too
"strict." He said the attitude of the
City Council is anti - business.
Pilger's service station has a sign
88 feet tall. Signs in the city now are
limited to a height of 35 feet,
although the proposed ordinance
would permit signs of up to 50 feet on
the East Bypass.
Since Pilger's sign predates the
ordinance, it would not be affected.
Instead, it would be what is called a
"non- conforming" sign. As such, it
could not be enlarged, but would be
permitted to remain.
But some City Council members
have expressed interest in completely
prohibiting signs exceeding the
height limitation and requiring that
they be dismantled or reduced in
height.
Former City Council candidate
Steve Parker, operator of an automo-
tive service center on Longmire
Drive, contended that the city should
be prepared to reimburse the owners
for any signs that have to be disman-
tled.
"Basically, it's a good ordi-
nance," Parker said, although he said
overhead power lines are a greater
source of visual pollution than signs.
Former councilman and former
Planning and Zoning Commission
member Roy Kelly said the proposed
revised ordinance'is a farce.
"The new one is worse than the
existing one," Kelly said.
Kelly said the ordinance is contra-
dictory because it limits the size and
number of signs, yet it is based par-
tially on the premise that "the prolif-
eration of signs creates commercial
confusion and makes it difficult for
travelers and motorists to locate the
goods and services they seek."
"Who looks for signs? Motor-
ists," Kelly said.
Limiting the size and number of
signs, he contended, will create
rather than alleviate traffic problems.
Kelly said that College Station,
with its large percentage of universi-
ty- connected residents, has not
wanted to accept businessmen in city
government.
But the presence of the university
created the need for businesses and,
he said: "It takes both of us to sur-
vive."
Director Arthur Wright of the
Texas Real Estate Research Center
questioned a provision of the ordi-
nance that would prohibit signs iden-
tifying apartment projects of less than
24 units.
"A small business operator ought
to be able to put a sign out in front of
his property," said Wright, who
owns numerous residential rental un-
its in the city.
The Planning and Zoning Com
mission already has approved the
proposed revisions to the sign ordi-
nance, and the City Council is sche-
duled to hold a public hearing on it
Jan. 24.
Among other things, the proposed
ordinance essentially would limit the
number of signs per business location
to one, prohibit rooftop signs that ex-
tend over the eave and require that
off - premises signs be torn down.
0
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The Eagle Saturday, January 5, 1985
NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS
Sealed proposals addressed
to the City of College Station,
Texas will be received for the
construction of:
HOLLEMAN- DEXTER PLACE
DRAINAGEPROJECT
G- 83 -83 -10
until 2:00 o'clock P.M., Tues-
day, January 17,1985.
The project consists of install-
ing 846 linear feet of dtainage
pipe, installing junction
boxes, backfill, grading, and
sodding within a 20 foot wide
easement adjacent to the De-
xter Place Subdivision in Col-
lege Station, Texas.
Proposals will be received at
the office of Mr. Elrey Ash,
Director of Capital Im-
provements, City Hall, Col-
lege Station, Texas 77840.
Bidders must submit with
their bids a Cashier's Check
or a Certified Check in the
amount of five (5%) percent of
the maximum amount of bid
payable without recourse to
the City of College Station,
Texas, or a proposal bond in
the same amount from a Sur-
ety Company holding permit
from the State of Texas to act
as Surety, and acceptable so-
cording to the latest list of
companies holding cer-
tificates of authority from the
Secretary of the Treasury of
the United States, as listed in
latest Revision of Treasury
Department Circular 570, as a
guarantee that Bidder will en-
ter into a contract and ex-
ecute bond and guarantee
forms provided within five (5)
days after notice of award of
contract to him. Bids without
checks, as stated above, or
proposal bond will not be
considered.
In accordance with Article
5160, Revised Civil Statutes Of
Texas, 1925, as amended, the
successful Bidder will be re-
quired to furnish not only a
performance band in the
amount of the contract, but
also a payment bond for the
protection of all claimants
supplying labor and materials
as defined in said law. The
bonds must be executed by an
approved Surety Company
holding a permit from the
State of Texas to act as Surety
and acceptable according to
the latest list of companies
holding certificates of author-
ity from the Secretary of the
Treasury of the United States,
or other Surety acceptable to
the Owner.
The Owner reserves the right
to reject any or all bids and to
waive informalities. In case of
ambiguity or lack of clearness
in stating the price in the bids,
the Owner reserves the right
to consider the most advanta-
geous construction thereof or
to reject the bid. Unreasona-
ble or unbalanced unit prices
will be considered sufficient
cause for rejection of any bid.
Bidders are required to in-
spect the site of the work and
to inform themselves regard-
ing local conditions under
which the work is to be done.
Attention is called to the pro-
visions of the Texas Minimum
Wage Act of 1970 and Article
5159a, Revised Civil Statutes
of Texas, concerning the
prevailing wage rate applica-
ble in municipal contruction.
Contract Documents, Pro-
posal Forms and
Specifications may be ob-
tained from the City En-
gineer's Office, 1101 Texas
Avenue, College Station,
Texas 77840, upon deposit of
$25.00, which sum will be re-
funded provided the bidder
meets the requirements
stated in the Special
Conditions.
01 -02- 85,01 -05-85
01-06- 85,01 -16-85
_ — - Bryan- College Station Eagh
Page 2A
Mall to
include.
985
k
— - -- Saturday, January 5, 1
new Penney's store
' d 1 em
• By HUGH NATIONS
Staff Writer
Construction has begun on the
$3.75 million third and final phase of
Pgst Oak Mall, including the con-
struction of a new J.C. Penney store.
The expansion also will include a
cafeteria, with the operator to be
announced later, and space for 20 to
25 more retail shops. Altogether, it
will total about 140,000 square feet.
The expansion will increase the
mall's square footage 18 percent, to
912,809 square feet.
Completion is expected by Nov. 6,
1985.
Penney plans to vacate its present
quarters in Bryan's Manor East Mall,
a move that will cost the City of
Bryan almost $100,000 in sales and
property taxes.
Don Sewell, manager of Post Oak
Mall, said construction on the new
weeks ago. It is going up on the west
side of the mall, near Wilson's.
College Station Building Official
Coy Perry said the application for the
Penney's building permit listed the
cost of construction at $2,735,000.
J.C. Penney Inc., will build and
own the store, although it will be on
land leased from the mall. The store
will cover about 86,000 square feet.
The remaining square footage is a
project of CBL & Associates Inc., the
owners and developers of the mall.
That portion of the current expansion
apparently will cost $1,023,000,
based on the application for a build-
ing permit filed with the city.
The Penney's store in Bryan has
sales of $8 -10 million a year, on
which the City of Bryan collects a
sales tax of 1 percent. At the smaller
$8 million figure, the city would lose
$80,000 annually in sales tax re-
unnne
In addition, Penney s a v or
taxes on its inventory for 1984 ran
$17,198.
The new Post Oak Penney's will be
one of the first stores projecting Pen-
ny's new image of a quality, high -
fashion department store.
"That's where we're going to have
to go," Penney's Manager Calvin
Greinert said. "That's where the
quality stores are, even though sales
have held up real well here."
Penny's will be the sixth anchor
store in the mall. In October, Foley's
opened a two -story 104,000 square
foot store, which was the second
phase of the mall construction
program.
The original department stores
were Sears, Dillard's, Wilson's, and
Beall's. With the completion of the
final construction phase, the mall will
have 160 mall shops plus the anchor
tenants.
Construction workers ready grounds at the J.C. Penney site at me rum vun ,.. -
0
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0
NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS
Sealed proposals addressed
to the City of College Station,
Texas will be received for the
construction of:
HOLLEMAN - DEXTER PLACE
111
108 legal Notices
DRAINAGE PROJECT
G- 83 -83 -10
until 2:00 o'clock P.M., Tues-
day, January 17,1985.
The project consists of install-
ing 846 linear feet of drainage
pipe, installing junction
boxes, backfill, grading, and
sodding within a 20 foot wide
easement adjacent to the De-
xter Place Subdivision in Col-
lege Station, Texas.
Proposals will be received at
the office of Mr. Elrey Ash,
Director of Capital Im-
provements, City Hall, Col-
1 eg a Stall i o n, Texas 77840.
Bidders must submit with
their bids a Cashier's Check
or a Certified Check in the
amount of five (5 %) percent of
the maximum amount of bid
payable without recourse to
the City of College Station,
Texas, or a proposal bond in
the same amount from a Sur-
ety Company holding permit
from the State of Texas to act
as Surety, and acceptable ac-
cording to the latest list of
companies holding cer-
tificates of authority from the
Secretary of the Treasury of
the United States, as listed in
latest Revision of Treasury
Department Circular 570, as a
guarantee that Bidder will en-
ter into a contract and ex-
ecute bond and guarantee
forms provided within five (5)
days after notice of award of
contract to him. Bids without
checks, as stated above, or
proposal bond will not be
considered.
In accordance with Article
5160, Revised Civil Statutes of
Texas, 1925, as amended, the
successful Bidder will be re-
q
P
a m
al
pr
The Eagle Sunday, January 6, 1985
108 legal Notices
supplying labor and materials
as defined in said law. The
bonds must be executed by an
approved Surety Company
holding a permit from the
State of Texas to act as Surety
and acceptable according to
the latest list of companies
holding certificates of author-
ity from the Secretary of the
Treasury of the United States,
or other Surety acceptable to
the Owner.
The Owner reserves the right
to reject any or all bids and to
waive informalities. In case of
ambiguity or lack of clearness
in stating the price in the bids,
the Owner reserves the right
to consider the most advanta-
geous construction thereof or
to reject the bid. Unreasona-
ble or unbalanced unit prices
will be considered sufficient
cause for rejection of any bid.
Bidders are required to in-
spect the site of the work and
to inform themselves regard-
ing local conditions under
which the work is to be done.
Attention is called to the pro-
visions of the Texas Minimum
Wage Act of 1970 and Article
5159a, Revised Civil Statutes
of Texas, concerning the
prevailing wage rate applica-
ble in municipal contruction.
Contract Documents, Pro-
posal Forms and
Specifications may be ob-
tained from the City En-
gineer's Office, 1101 Texas
Avenue, College Station,
Texas 77840, upon deposit of
$25.00, which sum will be re-
funded provided the bidder
meets the requirements
stated in the Special
Conditions.
wired to furnish not only a 101 -02 - 85,01 -05-85
erformance bond in the 01406- 85,01 -16-85
ount of the contract, but —
so a payment bond for the 108 I eral Nd�
otection of all claimants �`J°
•
•
f03 LepINUM
BID NOTICE
The City of College Station is
accepting bid(s) for:
TRAFFICSIGNAL
'EQUIPMENT
until 2.00 p.m., January 30,
1905, at which time the bids
will be opened in the office of
the Purchasing Agent at the
City Hall. Specifications may
be obtai ned at the offi ce of the
Purchasing Agent. All bids re-
ceived after that time will be
returned unopened. The City
of College. Station reserves
the right to waive or reject any
and all bids or any and all ir-
regularities in said bid and to
accept.the offer considered
most advantageous to the
City. These items may be pur-
chased'with Revonug Sharing
Funds.
01- 07.85,0'_14 -85, Bid No.85 -37,
The Eagle Monday, January 7, 1985
0
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Parks board meets today
The College Station Parks and Recreation Board will
meet at 7 p.m. today in departmental headquarters in
Central Park. Among the items on the agenda are a
review of the results of a recent community needs sur-
vey, and discussion of 1985 capital improvements pro-
jects.
The Eagle Tuesday, January 8, 1985
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Parks board meets today
The College Station Parks and Recreation Board will
meet at 7 p.m. today in departmental headquarters in
Central Park. Among the items on the agenda are a
review of the results of a recent community needs sur-
vey, and discussion of 1985 capital improvements pro-
jects.
The Eagle Tuesday, January 8, 1985
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CS to consider
contract for
rail crossing
L
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
The College Station City
Council will hold a public
hearing on the question of re-
zoning the following property:
A 4.48056 acre tract of land
located at the northeast cor-
ner of the intersection of
Texas Avenue and S.H. High-
way 6 (Bypass), from Admin-
istrative- Professional District
A -P to General Commercial Di
strict C -1. Application is in the
name ofJohn W. Haney, Sr.
The said hearing will be held
in the Council Room of the
College Station City Hall, 1101
A brief statement of the na-
ture of this suit is as follows, to
wit:
CIVILSUITE
If this citation is not served
within ninety days after the
date of its issuance, it shall be
returned unserved.
The officer executing this writ
shall promptly serve the same
according to requirements of
law, and the mandates hereof,
and make due return as the
I aw d i rects.
Witness, W.D. Burley, Clerk of
the District Court of Brazos
County, Texas.
Issued and given under my
hand and the seal of said court
at Bryan, Texas, this the 26th
day of December A.D. 1984.
W.D. Burley Clerk,
District Court
Brazos County, Texas.
By Christine Williams, Deputy.
01-02- 85,01 -09.85
01- 16- 85,01 -23.85
NOTICEAFFORDING
OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC
HEARING
The State Department of
Highways and Public Trans-
portation is planning for the
widening of Loop 507 (Texas
Ave -nue) between FM 2818
and SH 6, a distance of 0.7
miles.
This construction will include
converting a section of 2 -lane
roadway to a 4 -lane roadway
with a continuous left turn
lane with safety standards.
Maps and other drawings
showing the proposed loca-
tion and design, environmen-
tal studies and other informa-
tion about the proposed pro-
ject are on file and available
for inspection and copying at
the Resident Engineer's of-
fice at North Texas Avenue
and Fifteenth Street, P.O. Box
3249, Bryan, Texas 77805. Also,
the maps and drawings show-
ing the proposed geometric
o'clock A.M. of the first Mon-
day next after the expiration
of forty -two days from the date
of the issuance of this citation,
same being the 11th day of
February A.D. 1985, to Plain-
tiff's Petition filed in said
court, on the 26th day of De-
cember A.D. 1984, in this
cause, numbered 26,229 on the
docket of said court, and
styled First National Bank of
Bryan, Plaintiff, vs. Leon W.
C ampbell, Defendant.
South Texas Avenue at the
7:00 P.M. meeting of the City
Council on Thursday, January
24, 1985
For additional information,
please contact me.
James M. Callaway
Assistant Director of Planning
01 -09-84
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
The College Station City
Council will hold a public
hearing to consider an ordin-
ance amending Section 8 of
Ordinance 850 of the City of
College Station, Texas, relet-
ing to signs, generally regulat-
ing their location, height and
area, and providing for an
effective date.
The hearing will be held in the
Council Room of the College
Station City Hall, 1101 South
Texas Avenue at the 7:00 P.M.
meeting of the City Council on
Thursday, January 24, 1985.
For additional information,
please contact me.
Jane R. Kee
Zoning Official
01 -09-85
The College Station City Council
on Thursday will consider a contract
with Southern Pacific Transportation
Co. to build the Holleman Street rail-
road crossing.
Late last year, two Texas A &M
students were killed trying to cross
the railroad tracks at Luther Street.
The city wants to close the Luther
crossing to regular traffic and open a
Holleman crossing with signals.
But both the railroad and develop-
ers on the west side of the tracks have
delayed on the proposal.
City Manager North Bardell said
Tuesday that the city is considering
funding the cost of the crossing itself,
rather than seeking financial con-
tributions from developers. The con-
tract with Southern Pacific will be
considered at the council's 7 p.m.
regular meeting.
At its workshop at 5 p.m. today in
City Hall, the council is to discuss an
ordinance authorizing the sale of $35
million in utility revenue refunding
bonds.
Proceeds from the sale of the re-,
funding bonds will be used to satisfy
the city's outstanding utility revenue
bond debt. The complex transaction
should save several million dollars'
over the life of the bonds.
In addition, the council Thursday
will consider adopting a dental insur-
ance plan for employees.
The proposal calls for the city to be I
self- insured. The plan would be free I
for employees, but premiums would
be charged for dependents. j
40 THE EAGLE /WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 1985
r�
A
And some just want to serve
While having a drink recently with one of our local
elected officials, I asked why he had run for the city
council.
With a studied facetiousness, he replied that he had
run just to be of service to the community.
He should have known he couldn't get away with that
sort of reply. I wasn't about to let him off the hook that
easy.
So, after a few guffaws and some not -too- gentle prod-
ding, he finally owned up: The real reason he had run for
the council was that he just wanted to prove he could
win.
But the truth is he was still lying like a cur skulking
around a garbage can.
I know the real reason he had run for the City Council
was just what he had attempted to pawn off on me at first:
He wanted to serve his community.
They are a peculiar breed of men and women, those
people who who seek to serve on local governing bodies,
city councils and school boards in particular.
Nothing requires them to do it. The vast majority of
the time, they seek public office solely because they
want to serve.
There is a vast difference between a school trustee or
councilman and a politician.
Politicians are the water witches of public life. They
seek power, are drawn to it as irresistably as a willow
twig twitching over an underground stream.
Frequently, money is an added benefit of the power
they wield, but seldom is it an end in itself. When it does
become the end, rather than simply a bonus, it often
leads to destruction. Consider Spiro Agnew.
There is no power vested in a school board member or
a city councilmen.
As individuals, they can't hire and fire. As indi-
viduals, they can't parcel out dollars to chosen projects
or persons. As individuals, they can't determine policy.
City government, school government, is government by
consensus.
HUGH NATIONS
City Hall Report
Occasionally, someone will run for local government
office just because they're angry over a particular issue.
They don't like a book in the high school library, or they
figure their street is exempt from having to carry traffic
like other arteries.
But those are one -issue candidates, and if elected they
shortly lose interest in the job. They leave, or the electo-
rate finally identifies them as what they are, and then
they're replaced by one of those many people who just
want to make the community a better place.
It may be a corporate executive who knows he will be
transferred in a few years, but wants to help while he's
around. It may be the latest of several generations in the
community. It may be a housewife, or a retired profes-
sor, or a local businessman.
But almost all share one trait: They want to serve their
community. They want to fix your potholes, and pick up
your trash on time, and keep the peeping toms away
from your windows.
They're also willing to do it knowing that whatever
stance they take on almost any issue, somebody's going
to complain.
I don't know why they're willing to do it. I wouldn't,
and I'don't think many of the rest of us would put up with
it for long. But they do, and we all benefit.
So just once, I'd like to say something different to
them. I think I'm probably speaking for quite a few of
US.
Thanks. You're appreciated.
THE EAGLE /WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 1985
•
C
•
1 killed; 1
injured in
tower fall
By VIRGINIA KIRK,
Staff Writer
Two men fell 40 feet into a College
Station water tower Thursday, killing
one and injuring the other.
A lug on a cable holding the men
broke about 4 p.m. as they were
welding the roof on the 211 -foot -tall
tank under construction on Texas 6
.South at Greens Prairie Road, fore-
man Mike Butler said.
Floyd Higgins of Louisiana died
Thursday evening at St. Joseph Hos-
pital. Ryan Lindberg of Wisconsin
was in stable condition there. They
are employed by Hydro Storage Inc.,
a contractor out of Franklin, Tenn.,
Turn to I MAN, page 8A
Workers use a crane to lower one of the men from the tower.
THE EAGLE /FRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 1985
Fagle photos by Bill Meeks
THE EAGLE /FRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 1985
1 man killed;
.1 injured in
tower fall ti
From page ]A
r
that specializes in building water;
towers.
Three other workers used a crane
on the top of the roof to lower a',
stretcher into the bowl where the men
fell. It took about 15 minutes each to
move the men over the side and down"
to the ground, Butler said i
"All of us are trained in CPR and
first aid," Butler said. College Sta-
tion fire fighters were on the scene,l
T g^" but Hydro Storage employees did thef
p� rescue without help.
If the crane had not been on th
roof, workers would have had to g
up a 12 -foot wide tunnel and use a
rope to get the men out. It would have
taken more manpower and morel
time, said Elrey Ash, College Station
director of capital improvements. i
Higgins had just arrived in Colleg�
Station Thursday afternoon to joi
the crew. He had worked on othe4
water towers before, Butler said.. I
Butler had hoped the seven -mangy
crew would finish the project in two'
weeks, but work now will be slowed
down. The crew has been workinK
here for four months.
h
� o pen
CS clinic
P
clinic
site
plan _
University Drive
gy DAV1U NUNNELEE
Staff Writer os it-
Scott and white memorial gr and
al of Temple plans Lo break outpa_
s College $4 million
before ollege Station 4 1-
tient clin build the clinic on a .
plans to University
► B
acre site at Glenhaven an Scott
Drive were ann ounced by Kerm
Clinic Pies s on erence 1° Col -
White at a p
on
K nudsen Thursday • ill handle
lege Station
Knudsen said the initia Y will em-
outpatients only and in internal
p l o y 12 to 15 P y. farm Y
pediatric- and
medicine, Pe . n ecologc 1 sex-
cine, obstetrics, other surgic
getter al surgery
Clinic 9
xiy
not implying that there are aces
'
thats in the medical sery
b added before the clinic rnajor gaps
vices may now provided." rowth will depend
d still others
opens, an could r be intro- said future g velopment.
if waracee He aor 25 n need and econo
office s pace on de
duced in the future, „we've been pleased with the
clinic will have
physicians. impor- ublic's rpo nse to y hope all our cthat this
Our goal is to identify any certainl
service not availaBut par, and
taut, ne cessary,, Knudsen said
and provide it,
Employee parking
ame kind of
clinic will receive the
a cceptanc e, t ' Knudsen said. is the
St clinic
The �t�ihite to
first attempt by Scott and group of
a multi- specialty g roof
bring ether under one
physicians tog
Turn to SCOT[', page 5A
Scott and White to open clinic
From page ]A
outside Temple, Knudsen said. The
hospital's clinics in Belton, Moody
and Killeen offer only family medi-
cine and pediatrics services.
"Our mission is to deliver compre-
hensive, high quality, personal health
care," Knudsen said.
While general surgical procedures
will be performed, Knudsen said the
clinic has not been designed to handle
day- surgery patients.
"We will be looking at that ques-
tion, but our current building plans do
not include that," he said.
Physicians for the clinic will be
recruited from Temple and Bryan -
College Station, as well as around the
state, Knudsen said. A support staff
of 48 to 60 people initially will be
employed.
Knudsen said Scott and White has
been contacted by a few local physi-
cians about working at the new clinic.
He said the facility should strengthen
rather than threaten the local medical
community.
"In no way is this being estab-
lished to capture patients for Tem-
ple," he said. "We want to streng-
then the community and its health
care services. There is competition in
the health care services, but the pub-
lic makes the choice of where they
want to receive their care."
Of the 392,000 outpatient visits to
Scott and White through August
1984, 5 to 6 percent were made by
Bryan - College Station residents,
Knudsen said. He said referrals from
the College Station clinic will be
made to the appropriate facility, in-
cluding Scott and White in Temple.
"If a service can be safely pro-
vided here, we will utilize that ser-
vice here," he said. "Beyond that,
it's really the patient's choice."
Knudsen said Scott and White does
not plan to bring its Health Mainte-
nance Organization plan to the Col-
lege Station clinic.
"We have not filed an application
with the State Board of Insurance to
do that," he said. "We feel that a
successful HMO requires a high -
quality health care system, and we
feel we would be wrong to consider
the establishment of the HMO at the
onset. "
But he added that the health plan
could be introduced in the future.
Under the plan, patients pay a set fee
that covers or reduces future medical
bills.
"If at some point in time we feel it
is possible, that system would be
offered," he said. "It would involve
physicans with Scott and White and
physicians in this community. It
would also involve the hospitals of
this community."
The new clinic, designed by the
Temple architectural firm of Logsdon
and Voelter, will initally provide
physicians and staff with 15,000 to
16,000 square feet of space. The cli-
nic will be expanded to a maximum
of 30,000 square feet as the practice
grows.
Don Nelson, Scott and White's
Director of Public Affairs, said the
initial construction should be com-
pleted by October.
Knudsen said Scott and White offi-
cials have studied the feasiblity of a
clinic in College Station for three
years. The hospital has been in-
terested in expanding here since be-
coming affiliated with Texas A &M
University in 1974. A &M uses Scott
and White as a teaching hospital for
its medical students.
co
rn
D
h
Q
H
w
W
a
0
W
w
x
H
H -1
C'
New Year's
nightclub
rule. OK'd
The College Station City Council'
decided Thursday to do it right once,
instead of doing it again almost every
year for New Year's Eve.
Council approved an ordinance
that permits nightclubs to stay open
until 1 a.m. when New Year's Eve
falls on a weeknight.
Previously, the council had to do
what it did Dec. 31: approve a special
ordinance each time New Year's Eve
and a weeknight coincided. Other-
wise, revelers would have had to cut
short their merrymaking at midnight.
In other action, the council:
■ Delayed action on a request
from Texas A &M University that,
University Drive be renamed "Uni-
versity Drive West" from Texas
Avenue west. City Manager North
Bardell said the change could cause;
problems in street numbering. He
was instructed to meet with universi-
ty officials.
■ Agreed to rezone eight acres on
the north side of Southwest Parkway,
400 feet west of Welsh Street, from
low density apartments to medium'
density use.
cS council
approves
dental plan
The College Station City Council
gave city employees free dental care
and new computer equipment Thurs-
day night.
But it also gave itself a break: The
council no longer must hear em-
ployee disciplinary appeals.
The council approved a dental self -
insurance plan expected to cost
$30,000 annually. It pays for most
preventive care, not including ortho-
dontic work. Dependent coverage
will cost $8 a month.
Also approved was $19,440 for
computer terminals for the Central
Fire Station, the Police Department,
and Municipal Court.
The appellate process for em-
ployee disciplinary matters was re-
vised to eliminate the right of appeal
to the city manager, and a subsequent
appeal to the council. Appeals will
now be taken first to the personnel
manager, then to a review board.
The review board will consist of
three councilmen and two senior city
staffers.
THE EAGLE /FRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 1985
01
t
o pay for railroad
o crossing at Holleman
C
By HUGH NATIONS
Staff Writer
The city of College Station says it
will pay for a Holleman Drive rail-
road crossing to replace the fatal
Luther Street crossing.
But it may be up to a year before
the crossing is completed and in use.
The City Council agreed Thursday
to pay Southern Pacific Transporta-
tion Co. $128,730 to build the cros-
sing. The city also will build the cros-
sing approaches for an estimated
$14,810.
Capital Improvements Director
Elrey, Ash said Southern Pacific will
build the crossing with funding pro-
vided by the city. Of the total
$143,540 co$t of the crossing,
$112,600 will be for signals.
Ash said the railroad insisted that it
have at least a year to complete the
new crossing, "and we were lucky to
get that."
He said the signals must be de-
signed specifically for the crossing.
Southern Pacific has only one signal
installation. crew for the entire state,
which is one reason the railroad in-
sisted on a year for construction, he
said.
Holleman Drive, a major street, is
south':of Luther Street, but deadends
on both sides of the Southern 'Pacific
tracks just a few feet west of Well-
born Road. The area across the tracks
received the proposed agreement
is developing rapidly, mostly in
from the city but had misplaced it.
apartments.
The railroad ultimately agreed to
Two Texas A &M students were
build the city- financed and signalized
killed in auto -train collisions at the
crossing, but then another hitch crop -
Luther Street crossing on succeeding
ped up. Developers on the west side
nights last September. The Luther
of the tracks supposedly had agreed
Street crossing has no signals.
to help pay for the crossing, but after
After the collisions, the city dis-
the long delay, the city never could
closed that it had been trying for a
get them to contribute.
year to get an agreement from South-
As a result, the city decided to pay
ern Pacific to build a crossing with
for the crossing itself, using bond
signals at Holleman Drive. .
funds approved in the January elec-
The city did not wish to pay for the
tion .
cost of signalizing the Luther Street
When the signalized Holleman
crossing because plans call for Holle-
crossing is completed, the Luther
man to carry most of the traffic.
Street crossing will be closed to
Southern Pacific finally said it had
traffic.
Bad
start-
We are still waiting for a good single reason behind
the City of College Station decision to go back to a
monopoly cable TV service, which provides less flex-
ibility and charges a higher price for a comparable
package. In the meantime, anger is being turned into
letters to the editor, and here are some facts that do
point to a criticism which cannot be labeled as either
"premature" or "unfair."
On Jan. 4, 1 received a notice (my first contact with
McCaw Cablevision) stating that "your account is past
due and will be disconnected (sic) unless your balance
is paid in full (on receipt) ", and showing a $47.31
amount due (for the months of December and January,
at $23.65 per month). Since my bank pays these bills
through monthly drafts, there I run to my bank to see
why December has not been paid, only to find out that
indeed it has (and at the new rate of $23.65). A little
annoyed I tried then to call the company at the number
indicated in the bill, and here I am, steaming for almost
24 hours while getting a busy signal. To add insult to
injury, the notice received on Jan. 4 states that it takes
into account payments received by Jan. 10. When my
daughter says a thing such as this, she is grounded for
not telling the truth.
As we teach our economics students, a monopoly is
inefficient, and if the monopolist is not smart it can
even be abusive. The least we would deserve is to be
abused with some touch of elegance, and this could
have included a direct notice clearly stating billing
procedures and the date at which the monopoly takes
over and the higher price is in effect, rather than in-
accurate and harassing billing.
L. Auernheimer
College Station
•
THE EAGLE /FRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 1985
d
Laurels
To the Gleissner Council of the Knights of
Columbus, No. 1834, which during 1984 raised
and distributed some $27,000 for community,
.church and youth activities. The Catholic family
fraternal service organization distributed much of
that money to various community groups on Dec.
18.'
To Herman D. Brown of College Station, who
has been presented an honorary life membership
award by the National Vocational Agriculture
'Teachers' Association. Brown is a professor of
agriculture education at Texas A &M University.
To Dr. John R. Hoyle of College Station, who
has been named to an eight- membef committee
which will select an exeputive director for the
:American Association of School Administrators.
To Don Martell, a local developer who has
'been named an honorary member of the Texas
Society of Architects. Before going into private
business, Martell was a professor of architecture
in structural design at Texas A &M.
To College Station City Councilwoman Vicky
.Reinke, for her service to the city. Mrs. Reinke
'has resigned her post effective Jan. 21 because she
:and her husband will be moving to Maryland.
To David Barron, a local attorney who will be
sworn in next week as the new assistant district
attorney for Madison, Grimes and Leon counties.
THE EAGLE /SATURDAY, JANUARY 12, 1985
40
•
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
You are hereby
Of the City of College
notified that on Thursday, January 24, 1985, the City Council
Station, Texas, intends to have a hearing to consider the
question of the award of bids for mineral leases covering oil, gas and other
in, on and under the following described tracts of
hydrocarbons property
owned or claimed by the City of College Station:
Tract 1- 47,200
acres on Krenek Tap Road and East By -Pass
Tract 2 - 1.000
acres at Foster and Walton
Tract 3- 1.800
acres at Montclair and Park Place
Tract 4 - 10.670
acres at Haines and Dexter
Tract 5 - 15.550
acres at Anderson and Southwest Parkway
Tract 6 - 7.950
acres at Holleman and Eleanor
Tract 7- 5.440
acres at University and Tarrow
Tract 9 - 4.560
acres at Merry Oaks
Tract 10- 7.500
acres at Highway 30 and Stallings
Tract 11 - 1.000
acres at Munson and Francis
Tract 12 - .687
acres at Southland and Oney Hervey
Tract 13- 44.650
acres at Research Boulevard near Graham Road
Tract 14 - 16.100
acres at Francis and Puryear
Tract 15- 4.360
acres at Montclair and Luther
Tract 16 - 36.310
acres at Texas Avenue near Krenek Tap Road
Tract 17 - 3.500
acres at 1101 Texas Avenue
Tract 18 - 2.350
acres at Jersey and Holick
Tract 19 - .200
acres at Patricia Street Parking Lot
Tract 20 - 14.650
Tract 21 - 9.740
acres at Morgan Rector League East of East By -Pass
acres out of Boriskie Tract Morgan Rector
Tract 22 - 6.500
acres near Post Oak Mall
Tract 23 - 1.850
acres at Wellborn Road and Church Street
Tract 24 - 4.000
acres at Texas Avenue and Holleman
Tract 25 - 6.043
acres at Dowling Road and Quail Run Estates
Tract 26 - 20.960
acres at Krenek and Texas Avenue
Tract 27 - 43.500
acres at Texas Avenue and Anderson
Tract 28 - 7.690
acres on north side of Southwest Parkway out of Brentwood
Subdivision
Tract 29 - 9.200
acres at Jersey and Dexter
Said Public Hearing will be held during the regular meeting of the City
Council at 7:00 P.M. in the City Hall, 1101 South Texas Avenue, College Station,
Texas. For additional information, telephone the Office of the City Attorney,
• 764 -3515. 1 - 14-85
BID NOTICE
The City of College Station is
accepting bid(s) for:
TRAFFIC SIGNAL
EQUIPMENT
until 2:00 p.m., January 30,
1985, at which time the bids
will be opened in the office of
the Purchasing Agent at the
City Hall. Specifications may
be obtained at the office of the
Purchasing Agent. All bids re-
ceived after that time will be
returned unopened. The City
of College Station reserves
the right to waive or reject any
and all bids or any and all ir-
regularities in said bid and to
accept the offer considered
most advantageous to the
City. These items may be pur-
chased with Revenue Sharing
Funds.
01 -07- 85,01- 14 -85, Bid No.85 -37.
NOTICE OF
PUBLIC HEARING
You are hereby notified that
on Thursday, January 24, 1985,
the City Council of the City of
College Station, texas, in-
tends to have a hearing on the
question of amending Chap-
ter 3, Section 1 B of the Code of
Ordinances of the City of Col-
lege Station relating to Build-
ing Regulations. The amen -
dement as proposed relatesto
Emergency Egress Opening
(Building Code Section
1104.4) and provides for win-
dows of a minimum net clear-
ing of 24"x20" in sleeping
rooms.
Said Public Hearing will be
held during the regular meet-
ing of the City Council at 7:00
P.M. in the City Hall, 1101
South Texas Avenue, College
Station, Texas. For additional
information, telephone the
Office of the City Attorney,
764 -3515.
01 -14-85
THE EAGLE /MONDAY, JANUARY 14, 1985
Trogdon resigns
� StageCenter post
By DANIEL NEMAN
Staff Writer
In yet another blow to StageCenter's continuity,
president Steve Trogdon announced his resignation
and walked out of a board meeting Friday.
The move was the latest in a season that has some-
times seemed as filled with trauma as one of the com-
munity theater's annual melodramas.
Last year the troupe learned that its tax- exempt sta-
tus had expired many years before. While that was
being corrected, the City of Bryan condemned
StageCenter's home on the Municipal Golf Course,
forcing the players out before they had arranged for a
new location.
Trogdon would only cite personal reasons for his
resignation, but Wendell Landmann, vice president of
the Board of Governors, said it came after the
StageCenter board decided to vote one at a time on four
points Trogdon had proposed as a package.
Trogdon had warned that he would resign if the
resolutions were voted upon individually, Landmann
said. When the board ignored his warning, he
announced his resignation and left the meeting.
"I know he's been awfully, awfully busy," said
board member Wanda Daisa, head of special events.
"This year's been a terrible year to be president. This
move has really been a hassle, and Steve has been worn
out. "
Both Landmann and Daisa stressed that StageCenter
operations will not be changed by Trogdon's action.
Landmann acted as president after Trogdon left Fri-
day's meeting, and another meeting has been set for
Sunday.
At that meeting, or the following one, board mem-
bers will have to vote whether to accept Trogdon's
resignation. If they do, they will have to select a new
president.
In the meantime, Landmann said, he would try to
talk Trogdon into reconsidering his action. Daisa said
that no matter who is president, the community theater
will complete its season, even though it still has no
permanent home.
Murder at the Vicarage, the next production, will be
performed at the First Presbyterian Church in Bryan
Jan. 31 -Feb. 2 and Feb. 7 -9.
Bus Stop also will be performed, though the dates
and stage are not yet set. The final scheduled play,
Present Laughter, may be postponed until next season.
In its place, Daisa said, the theater may present its
traditional melodrama production.
THE EAGLE /TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 1985
C7
•
C
Council wants
crossing closed
at Luther Street
By MICHAEL CRAWFORD
Staff Writer
The College Station City Council
last week moved closer to its goal of
substituting a Holleman Street rail-
road crossing for the one on Luther
Street where two Texas A &M stu-
dents were killed in September.
Council members unanimously
approved a resolution Thursday au-
thorizing Mayor Gary Halter to exe-
cute an agreement with Southern
Pacific Transportation Co. to con-
struct a Holleman crossing.
The agreement calls for the city to
pay $14,810 to finance the roadbed
through Southern Pacific's right of
way and $128,730 for installing elec-
tronic signals and preparing the
crossing site.
Holleman Street presently does
not cross the railroad, but is com-
plete except for the Southern Pacific
easement west of Wellborn Road.
The agreement was negotiated
more than a year ago, but city offi-
cials charge . that Southern Pacific
dragged its feet on final approval.
The city tried to finance the cross-
ings with money raised from devel-
opers in the area, but city attorney
Cathy Locke said the city did not re-
ceive a response. The $143,540 will
be taken from bond money ap-
proved by voters in January 1984.
The railroad company must pro-
vide the labor, equipment and
materials' for adjustin& electrical and
communication facilities, prepare
the track, stabilize the crossing site
and install the timber crossing.
The City of College Station plans
to close the Luther Street crossing
because it is unable to handle in-
creased traffic from development in
the area. Capital improvements di-
rector Elrey Ash said construction of
the crossing would take at least a
year.
In other business, the City Coun-
cil also approved an application by
Alan R. Sumner to rezone 7.99 acres
of land on Southwest Parkway from
low density to medium density
apartments. The 4 to 1 vote allows
the land between the Oakwood and
Brownstone apartments to be devel-
oped for 192 luxury units. The dis-
senting vote was cast by Councilman
Pat Boughton who said the current
restrictions, established eight years
ago, should not be changed.
The Council postponed a decision
on a recommendation from the
Committee to Rename Roads on the
West Side of Texas A &M that Uni-
versity Drive (FM 60) be designated
"University Drive West" from the
West Loop (FM 2818) to Texas Ave-
nue.
THE BATTALION /TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 1985
C:
Public Utility Commission of
Texas
Monday, January 28, 1985, 10 a.m. The
Hearings Division of the Public Utility
Commission of Texas rescheduled a meeting
to be held in Suite 450N, 7800 Shoal Creek
Boulevard, Austin. According to the agenda,
the division will conduct a hearing and a
prehearing conference in Docket 4650 —ap-
plication of the City of College Station to
amend its certificate of convenience and
necessity within Brazos County, and Docket
5763 — application of Wellborn Water Sup -
Ply Corporation to amend its certificate of
convenience and necessity within Brazos
County. The meeting originally was sched-
uled for December 18, 1984, as published
at 9 TexReg 5487.
Contact: Rhonda Colbert Ryan, 7800 Shoal
Creek Boulevard, Austin, Texas .78757,
(512) 458 -0100.
Filed: January 8, 1985, 1:42 p.
TRD- 850183
THE TEXAS REGISTER /TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 1985
Distress signal
Oh, oh, can we expect excellence and high quality
from the new cable TV company when a distress signal
has already been displayed. Note page 25 of McCaw's
recent Wavelength section of the Eagle. The Texas
flag is upside down on the drawing in column one.
Another "point," the points of the star on the Texas
flag print on page 24 are not oriented correctly. A point
of the star should be toward the white (top) of the state
flag.
Perhaps its time to look other means of obtaining TV
signals.
Ron Andrews
Bryan
Aft
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
The Zoning Board of Adjust-
ment for the City of College
Station will consider a request
fora variance in the name of:
Brooks Catlin
P.O. Box 9054
College Station, Texas 77840
Said case will be heard by the
Board at the regular meeting
in the Council Room, College
Station City Hall, 1101 Texas
Avenue at 7:00 P.M. on Tues-
day, January 22,1985.
The nature of the case is as
follows:
Request for variance to front
and side setback require-
ments as set forth in Table A
Ordinance 850 at the re-
sidence at 207 Ember Glow
Circle.
Further information is availa-
ble at the office of the Zoning
Official of the City of College
Station, (409) 764-3570.
Jane R. Kee
Zoning Official
01 -16-65
NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS
Sealed proposals addressed
to the City of College Station,
Texas will be received for the
construction of:
HOLLEMAN- DEXTER PLACE
DRAINAGEPROJECT
G- 83 -83 -10
until 2:00 o'clock P.M., Tues-
day, January 17,1985.
The project consists of install-
ing 846 linear feet of drainage
pipe, installing junction
boxes, Nckfill, grading, and
sodding within a 20 foot wide
easement adjacent to the De-
xter Place Subdivision in Col-
lege Station, Texas.
Proposals will be received at
the office of Mr. Elrey Ash,
Director of Capital im-
provements, City Hall, Col-
lege Station, Texas 77840.
Bidders must submit with
their bids a Cashier's Check
City hall meetings moved
Regular public meetings of College Station's City
Council and Planning and Zoning Commission will be
moved until city hall renovations are complete.
The meetings will be held in Room 101 of the Com-
munity Center at 1300 Jersey for four to six weeks
beginning Feb. 8.
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
The Zoning Board of Adjust-
ment for the City of College
Station will consider a request
for a variance in the name of:
David A. Brochu
800 Woodland Parkway
College Station, Texas 77840
Said case will be heard by the
Board at the regular meeting
in the Council Room, College
Station City Hall, 1101 Texas
Avenue at 7:00 P.M. on Tues-
day, January 22, 1W5.
The nature of the case is as
follows:
Request for variance to rear
setback requirement as set
forth in Table A Ordinance 850
at the residence at 800 Wood-
land Parkway for the addition
ofa375square foot room,
Further information is availa-
ble at the office of the Zoning
Official of the City of College
Station, (409) 764-3570.
Jane R. Kee
Zoning Official
61 -16 -65
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
The Zoning Board of Adjust-
ment for the City of College
Station will consider a request
for a variance in the name of:
Cecil B. Ryan represented by
Richard Ryan
1205 Deacon
College Station, Texas 77840
Said case will be heard by the
Board at the regular meeting
in the Council Room, College
Station City Hall, 1'.01 Texas
Avenue at 7:00 P.M. on Tues-
day, January 22,1985.
The nature of the case is as
follows:
Request for variance to rear
setback requirements as set
forth in Table A Ordinance 850
at the residence at 1205 De-
acon (Lot 3 Block 52
Southwood Valley Sec. 14A)
for the construction of a 206
square foot wood frame
building.
Further information is availa-
ble at the office of the Zoning
Official of the City of College
Station, (409) 7643570.
Jane R. Kee
Zoning Official
01 -16-85 -- —
THE EAGLE /WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 1985
4W
Focus on the issue
Perhaps it was too much to hope that past town/
gown, or business vs. academic conflicts in College
Station had become nothing more than historical
memories. It seems the current that unwelcome
city's sign regulations has triggered ain.
and unwarranted division o m reading he three articles
This is the feeling I g
in the Eagle dealing with this matter, and especially the
most recent, which featured reactions to the proposed
changes from three local businessmen.
The first of the three who were quoted claimed that
"the city councilmen are professors and they've never
been out in the real world." His view that "thattit be
of the City Council is anti- business" appeared
shared by another of the trio. Their unjustified concern
is surprising since the fact is, in this
government has other
instances, College Station city g
very sympathetic to business. In the case in point, the
committee that helped develop the sign ordinance revi-
sions was comprised almost exclusively of real estate,
construction and other business people with a vested
interest in signs and their regulation.
As for the makeup of the two key bodies that deal
with community development issues, of the 14 mem-
bers of the Planning and Zoning Commission and the
City Council, 5 are professors. Not a disproportionate -
ly high number considering the location here of the
second largest institution of higher learning in the
Southwest. Anyway, one wonders why the fuss about
professors playing a role in making decisions which
affect their community, especially professors from
TAMU, an institution not known as a hotbed of im-
practical students or professors.
Those who may be concerned about an anti - business
attitude in College Station city government should be
aware that current and previous councils have ;ranted
nearly all requests for commerical rezoning, a number
of which were not in conformance with the Council's
development plan. They y he
minutes and zoning map or — more dramatically —
observe the present vacant office and retail space.
The present sign ordinance has some shortcomings.
The proposed changes do also, most noticeably in their
failure to handle effectively the nonconforming sign
problem. The Council has its work cut out for it with-
out getting embroiled in non - issues such as "business
climate." The ordinance deserves the Councils' se-
rious attention on its merits. A broader public's atten-
tion is d be needed protected and if welare v isual e nvironment to keep ours a
should
cut or two above the average.
Jim Gardner
College Station
THE EAGLE /FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 1985
N,
THE EAGLE /SUNDAY, JANUARY 20, 1985
'+Ilr
In accordance with Article
LEGALNOTICE
_
NOTICETOCONTRACTO
5160, Revised Civil Statutes of
ORDINANCE NO. 1564 WAS
(ADVERTISEMENT)
Texas, 1925, as amended, the
PASSED AND APPROVED ON
Sealed proposals addressed
successful Bidder will be re-
JANUARY 10, 1985, BY THE
to the City of College Station,
quired to furnish not only a
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
Texas will be received for the
performance bond in the
OF COLLEGE STATION meet
in session in the
construction of traffic signals
amount of the contract, but
ing regular
Council Room of the College
at the intersections of:
also a payment bond for the
Station City Hall, said meeting
Southwest Parkway
protection of all claimants
having been posted in accord -
Anderson St.
SOUthwestParkway - GladeSt.
supplying labor and materials
as defined in said law. The
ance With Art. 6252 -17.
The above- referenced
Southwest Parkway
bonds must be executed by an
o r a n d
once, signed by the Mayor and
approved Surety Company
duly recorded in the official
Southwood Dr.
Parkway - Welsh
holding a permit from the
records of the City of College
Southwest
State of Texas to act as Surety
Station, has the following
Ave.
Wellborn Rd. (FM 2154) -
and acceptable according to
the latest list of companies
heading.
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING
Holleman Dr.
holding certificates of
CHAPTER I, SECTION 13 OF
FM 2818 -Welsh Ave.
2:00 PM January30,196
authority from the Secretary
THE CODE OF ORDINANCES,
CITY OF COLLEGE STATION,
until
Proposals should be ad-
Black,
of the Treasury of the United
States, or other Surety ac-
TEXAS, PROVIDING FOR ES-
HOLDING A
dressed to Mr. John
Traffic Engineer, City Hall,
ceptableto the Owner.
The Owner reserves the right
TABLISHMENTS
LATE HOURS PERMIT FOR
OF MIXED BEVER-
P.O. Box 996, College Sta-
to reject any or all bids and to
THE SALE
AGES OR BEER AND WINETO
tion, Texas 77840.
with
waive informalities. In case of
REMAIN OPEN AND SERVE
Bidders must submit
bids a Cashier's Check
ambiguity or lack of clearness
SUCH BEVERAGES UNTIL
their
Certified Check in the
in stating the price in the bids,
1.00 A.M. ON JANUARY 1 OF
SUCH
or a
amount of five ( percent of
the Owner reserves the right
to consider the most advant-
EACH YEAR WHEN
DAY FALLS ON A WEEKDAY,
am
the maximum amount of bid
ageous construction thereof
AND PROVIDING FOR POS-
payable without recourse to
or to reject the bid. Un-
SESSION AND CONSUMP-
the City of College Station,
I reasonable • or unbalanced
TION OF ALCOHOLIC BEV-
Texas, or a proposal bond in
the amount from a Sur -
unit prices will be considered
ERAGES IN PUBLIC PLACES
same
ety Company holding permit
sufficient cause for rejection
UNTIL 1:00 A.M. ON JANUARY
from the State of Texas to act
of any bid.
Bidders are required to in-
1, OF EACH YEAR WHEN
SUCH DAY FALLS ON A
as Surety, and acceptable ac-
to the latest list of
spect the site of the work and
WEEKDAY.
No. 1564
carding
companies holding certifi-
to inform themselves regard-
ing local conditions under
Ordinance was pas -
sed in accordance with Sec -
cates of authority from the
Secretary of the Treasury Of
which the work is to be done.
tions 105.03 through 105.05 of
the Alcoholic Beverage Code
the United States, as listed in
Attention is called to the pro-
visions of the Texas M inimum
and under the home rule
latest Revision of Treasury
powers granted to the City un-
Department Circular 570, as a
Wage Act of 1970 and Article
der the onstitution and Laws
guarantee that Bidder will
enter into a contract and exe-
5159a Revised Civil Statutes
Texas, concerning the pre- i
of the State Charter.
Said Ordinance is onfile inthe
cute bond and guarantee
of '
licablein
official records of the City f
Ty
forms provided within five (5)
vaiIingwagerateapp
municipal construction.
College Station at the City
Hall, 1101 South Texas Ave -
days after notice award of
to him. Bi ds without
Contract Documents, PrOPO-
Specifications
nue, College Station, Texas,
this
contract
checks, as stated above, or
sal Forms and
be obtained from the City
and a full text of ordin-
ance is available at the office
proposal bond will not be
may
Engineer's Office, 1101 Texas
oftheCitySecretary.
considered.
Avenue, College Station,
01 -20- 85,01 -21-85
Texas 77840, at no charge.
01 -13- 85,01 -2 -85
THE EAGLE /SUNDAY, JANUARY 20, 1985
'+Ilr
College Station
{v
Population: 52,144 (est. )
City offices: 1 101 S. Texas
Telephone: 764 -3500
Although the city of College Sta-
tion was not incorporated until 1938,
its major inhabitant — Texas A &M
University — was created 76 years
earlier.
Brazos County residents donated
$50,000 and 2,000 acres to establish
a land grant college in what is now
College Station under the Morrill Act
of 1862. The Agricultural and
Mechanical College of Texas opened
in October 1876 with 150 students.
The college prospered, but most
students lived either on campus or in
Bryan. A general store was built
across the campus at what is now
Northgate.
In 1938, three men — J.T.
McNew, Ernest Langford, and Gibb
Gilchrist — circulated petitions call-
ing for an election to create the city of
College Station. The proposition suc-
ceeded. The city was named after a
railroad flag stop at Texas A &M.
By 1940, business had started de-
veloping in the city, and in 1945 the
city gained many residents because
the A &M college Board of Directors
ordered the faculty to move off
campus.
The city has grown rapidly along
with Texas A &M University. Its
population in 1940 was 2,184. As of
Dec. 31, 1983, the State Department
of Highways and Public Transporta-
t; -, n estimated the population of the
city at 52,144.
The city is planning a high -tech
industrial park south of town,
athough the park is many years away
from completion.
College Station also has entered
into an agreement with the Trinity
River Authority to construct a 30 -60
megawatt hydroelectric plant at the
Lake Livingston dam. The hyd-
roelectric plant is intended to provide
a significant portion of the city's elec-
trical needs at a cheaper cost than
power from fossil fuels.
In December 1983, College Sta-
tion joined with the cities of Cald-
well, Kirbyville and Newton to form
the Lone Star Municipal Power
Agency. All four cities own their own
electrical utility systems; they formed
the LSMPA to pool their resources in
the purchase and possible generation
of power.
The city government operates its
own police, fire and emergency
medical units. College Station is a
home -rule city functioning under the
council - manager form of govern-
ment. Seven council members, in-
cluding the mayor, are elected at
large for two -year, staggered terms.
City elections are held on the first
Saturday of April.
The council appoints the city man-
ager, city attorney, city judge, and
city secretary. All other employees
are hired by the city manager.
The council meets every second
and fourth Thursdays at 7 p.m. in the
council meeting room at City Hall. It
also has a workshop session at 4 p.m.
on the second and fourth Wednesdays
of each month.
The College Station Planning and
Zoning Commission, a seven -
member body appointed by the coun-
cil, meets the first and third Thurs-
days of the month at 7 p.m. in the
council meeting room. The chairman
is Steve Hansen, 693 -3955.
The Parks and Recreation Advis-
ory Board meets on the second Tues-
day of every month at 7 p.m. in the
park headquarters in Central Park.
The chairman is Judy LeUnes, 693-
9148.
City Government
Gary Halter, Mayor 845 -2152
Elected to council in 1975; re-
elected twice; elected mayor 1980;
re- elected twice; current term exires
1986. Born in Amarillo. Associate
professor of political science, Texas
A &M. Wife, Linda; children.
City Council:
R.C. "Bob" Runnels
Mayor Pro Tem 845 -7653
Elected to council in 1980; re-
elected twice; current term expires
1986. Born in Houston. Assistant
professor of meteorology, Texas
A &M. Wife, Sandra; three children
Pat Boughton, 693 -1564
Elected to council in 1978; re-
elected three times since; current
term expires 1986. Has served as
mayor pro tem. Born in College Sta-
tion. Homemaker. Husband,
Richard; four children.
Alvin Prause, 779 -4440
Elected 1981, re- elected once; cur-
rent term expires in 1985. Born in
Yoakum. Pediatrician. Wife, Yvonn-
e; two children.
Lynn McIlhaney 693 -1973
Elected 1982; re- elected 1984; cur-
rent term expires 1986. Housewife.
Husband, George; four children.
Gary Anderson 775 -5252
Elected 1983; term expires 1985.
Born in Big Spring. Business consul-
tant. Wife, Judy; twin daughters.
Councilwoman Vicky Reinke res-
igned effective Jan. 21. Her position
was to be filled in the April election.
Council Coodinator.
Pam Jones, 764 -3541
City OflFicials
City Manager
North Bardell, 764 -3510
Asst. City Mgr, Finance Dir.
A.E. Van Dever Jr., 764 -3555
City Atty: Cathy Locke, 764 -3515
City Secy: Dian Jones, 764 -3512
City Judge:
Claude Davis, 779 -2211
Police Chief
Marvin Byrd, 764 -3605
Fire Chief
Douglas Landua, 764 -3780
Director Capital Improvements
Elrey, Ash, 764 -3570
Utilities Director
George Ford, 764 -3688
Parks Director
Stephen Beachy, 764 -3773
Director Public Services
Alfred Miller, 764 -3690
City Planner
Al Mayo, 764 -3570
Utilities Office Manager
Linda Piwonka, 764 -3535
Community Center Director
Peggy Calliham,764 -3720
Personnel Manager
Karen Dickson, 764 -3517
Recorded Info.: 764 -3704
THE BRAZOS VALLEY ALMANAC (SUPPLEMENT TO THE EAGLE)/
SUNDAY, JANUARY 20, 1985
LEGALNOTICe
ORDINANCE NO. 1584 WAS
PASSED AND APPROVED ON
JANUARY 10; 1985 BY THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF COLLEGE. STATION meet -
ing in regular session in the
Council Room of the College
Station.City Halt; said meeting
having been Posted in accord -
ance with Art. 6252 -17, . ':
The above- referenced -0'rdin -
ance, signed by the Mayor and
duly recorded in the official
records of. the City bf:College
Station,, has the 'following
headina:
CITY OF COLLEGE STATION,
TEXAS, PROVIDING FOR ES-
TABLISHMENTS HOLDING A
LATE HOURS PERMIT FOR
THE SALE OF MIXED BEVER-
pGFS OR BEER AND WINE TO
REMAIN OPEN AND SERVE
SUCH BEVERAGES UNTIL
1:00 A.M. ON JANUARY 1 OF
EACH YEAR WHEN SUCH
DAY FALLS ON A WEEKDAY,
AND PROVIDING FOR POS-
SESSION AND CONSUMP-
TION OF ALCOHOLIC BEV-
ERAGES IN PUBLIC PLACES
UNTIL 1:00 A.M. ON JANUARY
1, OF EACH YEAR WHEN
SUCH DAY FALLS ON A
WEEKDAY.
Ordinance No. 1564 was ppas-
sed in accordance with Sec-
tions 105.03 through 105.05 of
the Alcoholic Beverage Code
and under the home rule
Powers granted to the City un-
der the Constitution and Laws
ofthe State Charter.
Said Ordinance is on file in the
official records of the City of
College Station at the City
Hall, 1101 South Texas Ave -
nue, College Station, Texas,
and a full text of this ordin-
ance is available at the office
of the City Secretary,
01 - 20- 95.01 -21 -85
PUBLIC AUCTION
HO: City of College Station
NHEN: Saturday, January 28,
1985 at 10:00 A.M.
WHERE: City of College Sta-
tion Warehouse located at
2813 Texas Avenue (across
from K -Mart behind the Police
Deppartment).
WHAT: Rifles, shotguns, misc.
Swimming pool (dome), and
hardware.
Bicycles - approximately
50+
Cars- approximateley 13+
Backhoas - two each
(minimum bid)
Tractor with front end loader
(minimum bid)
Bucket with controls for dig -
gertruck(minimum bid)
Water Meters (sold in lots)
Upright Piano, Pool Table
Miscellaneous Equipment
All equipment to be sold "as
is, where is ", for cash or
cashier's check. Items to be
auctioned may be inspected
from 9:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. on
January 25, 1985 and from 8:30
A.M. to 10:00 A.M. on January
28, 1985 at the above men-
tioned location.
12- 31- 84,01- 18.85,01 -22-85
01- 24- 85,01 -25- 85,01 -26-85
THE EAGLE /MONDAY, JANUARY 21, 1985
Agency to
By DIANE BLAKE BOWEN
Staff Writer
HUNTSVILLE — The Lone Star
Municipal Power Agency board of
directors voted Monday to begin
negotiations with Gulf States Utilities
to get cheaper power rates for its
member cities.
The LSMPA, composed of the
cities of College Station, Caldwell,
Kirbyville and Newton, will send a
letter to GSU proposing that a new
agreement with the agency supercede
the. cities' existing contracts.
The agency hopes to obtain better
electricity rates than the cities could
get individually.
The letter wilt request that the new
contract have a primary term of five
years, which could be terminnted on
negotiate t - or lower power rates
two years' written notice; and that a
provision for contract renewal be in-
cluded.
Another provision of the contract
would be an option to participate in
future GSU generation and transmis-
sion facilities. It would include terms
allowing sell -back to GSU up to the
maximum amount allowable under
current regulations.
A third part of the contract would
allow the LSMPA to get some of its
power elsewhere after the primary
term expires.
The board's action Monday was
only to begin negotiations with GSU;
further action will be needed later to
finalize the agreement.
In other business, the board voted
to nursue the idea of buvine from
GSU its substations in Caldwell, Kir-
byville and Newton, at a cost of about
$1 million.
The purchase would allow the
three cities to buy power at the
wholesale transmission rate, rather
than at the wholesale distribution rate
they currently get.
If the cities had the transmission
rate now, they could save a total of
$520,000 a year, not subtracting the
costs of operation and maintenance,
said LSMPA board president North
Bardell.
00
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t No protection
Savage assumes parks role
Rhoda Savage has been named parks superintendent
for the City of College Station. She replaces David
Whatley, who resigned to become director of parks and
recreation for the City of New Braunfels.
As superintendent, Savage is responsible for the
maintenance of more than 300 acres of park land and the
facilities located on them. She supervises 24 full -time
College Station Parks and Recreation Department em-
ployees.
Savage, born in Edinburg, holds a bachelor's degree
in zoology and a master of science degree in physical
education, both from Texas A &M University. She has
been employed by the city's parks maintenance division
since 1981, when she joined the staff as a seasonal
grounds worker. In the last four years, she worked her
way up through the ranks to the position of West District
supervisor.
Doug Cochran is the new West District supervisor
Cochran received a bachelor of science degree in recrea
tion and parks from Texas A &M in 1982.
I do not know all of the facts concerning the increase
in cable -TV rates, since I have not been here for much
of the time that the discussion has been going on. But I
do know that one of the functions of local government
is to regulate the utility company monopolies for the
benefit and the protection of all segments of the
citizens. Allowing the newly- created McCaw cable
monopoly to eliminate the minimum service level with
the corresponding minimum rate fails to protect that
segment of the citizens that neither want nor possibly
can afford the higher priced, more - channel service that
McCaw is forcing upon us.
McCaw probably does need some rate relief. But
their proposal is like the auto companies joining to
form a monopoly, then deciding that the cheapest car
that they will sell to the captive public is a Cadillac. It's
time that the city council worry more about protecting
the citizens than protecting McCaw. And it's time that
the EagI do a little investigative reporting, even at the
expense those full page ads that McCaw has been
buying in the paper.
J.L. Gattis
College Station
THE EAGLE /TUESDAY, JANUARY 22, 1985
1W
Jones resigning seat
on CS school board
By BRAD OWENS
Staff Writer
College Station school board
member Tony Jones will resign in
April, putting four of seven school
board seats on the line in the April 6
election.
Jones is moving to Austin. His loss
means that a majority of the board
seats could change before a new su-
perintendent is selected.
Rodney Hill, who was appointed
in July to replace Mike Fleming, has
said that he will not seek election in
April. Three -year terms are ending
for Chuck Giammona and Joe Tem-
pleton, but both said Wednesday that
they plan to run for re- election.
Jones said he hopes the board will
not choose a superintendent to re-
place Dick Burnett, who has
announced his resignation, until the
new board is in place.
Turn to 4 SCHOOL, page 14A
Jones: Moving to Austin
4 school board seats • on line in election
From page ]A
Board President John Reagor said
he wants the post - election board to
choose the new superintendent.
Several board members pointed out
that a prospective superintendent will
be hesitant to take the job from a
board facing a major shuffle.
"If I was going to be hired by a
board that wasn't going to be there, 1
wouldn't want any part of it," one
board member said.
Deanna Wormuth, co- chairman of
the superintendent search committee,
said the committee may go ahead and
recommend an unusually good candi-
date if it feels the district would lose
the candidate by waiting until after
the election.
Hill said the board should move
quickly to hire a new superintendent.
"Most of the superintendents'
contracts come up for renewal in
February," Hill said. "They're not
going to be sitting on their hands
waiting to see what College Station is
going to do."
Giammona said the final hiring de-
cision should be left to the new board,
but the committee should send its
nominations to the board before the
election.
Jones, who operates a commercial
construction firm here, said he and
his family will be moving within a
few weeks. He has an offer to join a
construction firm in Austin and also
is thinking about going to law school.
Times are bad here in his business,
Jones said.
"In 1984, jobs in the area we
wanted to work with were going so although several community groups
cheap that we found it very hard just are rumored to be lining up candi-
to make a living," he said. dates.
Jones, who also has served on the
city council and the planning and
zoning commission, said that College
Station politics involve more conflict
and gossip than is healthy.
"There are a lot of people out there
who would like to be on the council
and the school board but do not want
to get down to that level of squab-
bling and arguing," he said.
"All these camps that people are in
are detrimental to the work of the
school board. The kids are getting
lost in these political fights."
Most of the board members said
they don't know of anyone planning
to run for the school board this year,
"I'm not going to solicit anybody
to take my position; it's up to the
community to do that," Jones said.
Giammona said his main reason
for running is to create more stability
on the board. He noted that in three
years he has served with 12 different
board members.
Candidates this year can choose a
variety of terms. Jones, the board
secretary, has two years remaining on
his term. The seat occupied by Hill
will be up for election again next
year.
Filing for the four positions begins
Feb. 4 and ends Mar. 6.
O
CT
a
S
_A:�,
W
16
1)
•
Wrong stand
I am amazed sometimes at the stand taken at times
by the media. I can understand their thinking some-
times because they are on the sides of big. business .of
whom they benefit. In a recent Eagle, the stand of the
associate editor was against the undefended public and
for big business such as McCaw Cable Co.
He stated, "both city councils held public hearings
before any franchise ordinance was approved" and this
is true — but when we have public officials elected to
represent us, why should we (the public) have to gather
in a smoked - filled room to argue our point?
I have attended these so- called public hearings, such
as when a proposal for increased property tax is
brought up. Hundreds of people show up but very few
are given the opportunity to express their views. When
the meeting is over "up go the taxes," so why the
meeting?
Our officials were well aware of the financial condi-
tions of the elderly on fixed incomes and the not -so-
elderly on small salaries, who cannot afford the in-
creased costs demanded of them. Yes, there are a lot of
rich with videocassette recorders, etc. who could be
affected, but I believe you should be thinking of the
less fortunate who cannot meet these vast increases
demanded of them and should take it all into considera-
tion when granting all of those increased costs deman-
ded by the phone company, the utility companies, oil
companies, etc.
The viewing public has paid for all of these televi-
sion programs over and over many times by buying the
products of all of the sponsors who have paid dearly to
the networks that bring us the programs. Now the cable
companies who are not thinking of the poor public but
are in this to make "big bucks" are charging us again
and at their set monthly rates.
I'll bet the response to a public hearing now would
be much greater, no one knew at the time the other
public hearing was held that McCaw would dictate to
the public that an increase in cost per month would be
in effect, take it or leave it.
J.H.D. Sutton
College Station
THE EAGLE /THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 1985
•
CS council meets tonight
The mayor will sign a proclamation designating the week of Feb. 10-16'
as "United States Jaycee Women Week" at a regular meeting of the College
Station City Council at 7:00 p.m.
Other business will include a public hearing on amending the city's sign
ordinance to regulate the location, height and area of signs.
A starting date for the ordinance will also be decided.
The Council will also consider an agreement with the State of Texas in
assuming control, maintenance, supervision and regulation of certain state'
highways within College Station city limits.
The meeting will be held in the College Station Community Center on
Jersey Street, - -
aliov.l Th�tsdaY, U �4 I�tg�
(; "able television a luxury, not a utility
In the last few weeks, there have
been several letters to the editor
printed in the Eagle expressing dis-
satisfaction with McCaw Cablevi-
sion's 28- channel basic package
offering.
A lot of writers, including Mr. J.'
L. Gattis whose letter appeared in
Tuesday's paper, make a basic
assumption that is incorrect. That is
that cable television is a utility and
should be regulated as such.
The fact is that cable television is a
luxury. Regulation of utilities stems
from the life - and -death nature of the
service, be' it telephones, electricity
or natural gas.
Though the cable company won't
like to hear this, the truth is that many
people live full and healthy lives
without cable, some without even a
television set.
A close friend of mine does not
have a TV. While I am religiously
watching Dallas, Hill Street Blues,
Knots Landing, The Cosby Show,
Kate & Allie, Newhart, Miami Vice,
St. Elsewhere and other shows that
total about 25 hours a week, my
friend is going to movies or plays,
reading books, playing games with
.his family, visiting with neighbors
and thoroughly enjoying life. Some-
times I envy him.
. Does he miss TV? Not a bit. He
keeps up with the news through the
newspaper and radio and is probably
much better informed than I am.
There are hundreds of other fami-
lies in our community who have TV
sets, but no cable., They watch Ch. 3
and Ch. 15 and get a pretty good
menu of news, entertainment an
educational programs. They can con
verse on the latest misdeeds of J. R.
Ewing, the heroics of Thomas Mag
num or the predicaments of Bob Ne
whart. They can enjoy Masterpiece
Theatre, National Geographic Spe
vials, Mystery!, Sesame Street, Mis
JIM BUTLER
Television
ter Rogers' Neighborhood, get
national news from Dan Rather and
local news from Ch. 3.
Are their lives poorer for not hav-
ing cable? I doubt many would say
SO.
If, somehow, cable could be
proven to be a life -or -death service,
only then would the city government
have the responsibility of ensuring
that everyone in the community have
access to a minimum of service at a
price even the poorest could afford.
But what is "minimum service ?"
Perhaps the avid sports fan would
argue that ESPN should be part of an
11- channel basic. Many would de-
mand Cable News Network. Others
want their MTV. Concerned parents
would insist on Nickelodeon for their
children. Baseball fans would protest
heavily (as they did a couple of years
ago) if WTBS or WGN wasn't part of
the "minimum service." Country
music lovers would demand The
Nashville Network. Those with a re-
ligious outlook would be upset if
CBN was not included.
You see, different people have
different interests. That is the whole
idea of cable, to provide something
for everyone within the system's
channel capability.
d When McCaw conducted its Pick
Six survey last June in an effort to let
subscribers design their own 11-
channel basic, the results, if adopted,
would have been a disaster. There
would have been two NBC affiliates,
three CBS affiliates and three ABC
affiliates, one PBS affiliate and two
independents.
To raise rates from $6 to $7.50 (or s
maybe more) for what would have
been a lineup inferior to what Com-
munity Cablevision or Midwest
Video offered, for what would have
amounted to only six choices, would
have been irresponsible on McCaw's
part, even though the citizens voted
for such a lineup.
Instead, McCaw went to a citizen's
advisory committee to seek a solu-
tion. The committee was composed
of two city council members from
each city, a representative from the
churches, one from the schools, one
from the Cable Improvement Asso-
ciation, one from a senior citizens'
group ... and me.
After two lengthy meetings, the
only reasonable solution — keeping
in mind that cable is NOT a necessity
— was to offer a full lineup to every-
one at a reasonable cost.
As far as a reasonable cost, I've
said it before and I'll say it again,
compare a fee of $12.50 per month to
any other entertainment value in the
community, and cable comes out on
top. A ticket to Willie Nelson was
$11.50. A ticket to a Texas A &M
football game is $15. A family of four
can go to one movie for about $14.
For $12.50, cable is providing
hours and hours of entertainment,
news and education and a variety
large enough to satisfy almost every
interest.
A major consideration was that a
two -tier service — basic and ex-
tended basic — would require a con-
verter, thereby removing the remote
)ntrol capability of TV sets and
'CRs. I assure you that more people
, ere upset at losing the remote con -
ol capability than having to pay
lore for 28 channels. One 85 -year-
Id woman who has a 91- year -old
usband was near tears when when
he called me and complained that
he might lose her remote control.
Again, the 28- channel basic would
olve that problem for a lot of subscri-
bers.
Once that decision was made, the
community was informed through the
Eagle and other news media. When
McCaw notified the city councils,
there were 30 days for citizens to reg-
ster their opinions. The number of
complaints was minimal.
So that's how it happened. And
subscribers who read the Eagle were
kept informed every step of the way.
So what's to investigate, Mr.
Gattis?
If, in the future, McCaw does not
deliver the improved signal quality
and customer service it promises,
then subscribers will have legitimate
complaints.
As for the basic package, I prop-
osed such a plan in a column last
April. I'm glad it happened. I feel my
responsibility is to see that subscri-
bers get the best value for their
money, and the 28- channel basic is it. I
C?
st K-9 unit pup arrives
By VIRGINIA KIRK
Staff Writer
He's still a puppy, but it won't be
long before this German shepherd
becomes streetwise.
The first member of College Sta-
tion's K -9 unit arrived from Illinois
on Saturday and will begin his police
dog training in two weeks.
Uno Pooh was bought for $800
from a breeder in Illinois with a
donation from the Don Dale family,
owners of Pooh's Park.
"He's real lovable, and he's taken
to the new surroundings pretty
good," said Patrol Officer Wayne
Thompson, who will be the dog's
master.
Uno Pooh, an 8- month -old puppy,
will be trained at no cost by Dan
Linder, owner of Action Dogs
U.S.A. in Navasota.
"I'm tired of seeing all these peo-
ple in the area do things and get away
with them," Linder said. He bought
a female dog from the same breeder
and plans to someday breed the two
to start more K -9 units in the area, or
to expand College Station's
program.
The dog comes from good German
stock, Linder said, adding that the
breeder breeds some of the best
police dogs in the country.
Uno Pooh weighs about 40 pounds
right now and should grow to 80 to
85 pounds.
"That will make him good for
agile jumps," Linder said.
tte spas a iot o3 spire and. energy.
He's already barking at everything
he sees."
Uno Pooh will start with obedi-
ence training and should be ready in
three to four months to track lost chil-
dren or elderly people, Linder said.
"We will also be socializing the
dog — driving him around in the
police car, getting him used to the
beat," Linder said.
Thompson said: "I'm really sur-
prised at how far along he's come. I
can walk off from him at the police
department and he starts looking for
me."
Linder said the dog will stay with
Don Dale, left, sirs vvi!h TI— Pooh and D-' cer Wayne Thownson
Thompson every night and be trained
three to four days each week.
"The idea is for the dog to grow up
to want to protect his master," Lin-
der said.
Uno Pooh will learn trailing but
will not be able to track criminals and
protect himself for another eight
months. He then will start retrieving
and learn to chase balls injected with
drugs to do narcotics detection.
Police Chief Marvin Byrd said he
is happy that the dog is guaranteed —
if he doesn't work out, the breeder
will replace him with another dog.
Byrd said the city will be paying
for the dog's food and the K -9 unit's
expenses eventually will be worked
into the city budget as a separate
item.
The Dale family asked that the dog
be named Pooh because Don Dale
owned a dog named Pooh that died in
1983. The first Pooh was familiar to
many area children because he spent
so much time at Pooh's Park.
"I'm glad the dog they bought is
not an attack dog but will just catch
burglars," Don Dale said. "I hope
they can get a Dos Pooh and a Tres
Pooh and another one every year."
THE EAGLE /THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 1985
Eagle photo b} David Einsel
City appoints Pedulla
Gas rate decision delayfd
The College Station City Council decided Wednesday
to wait up to 90 days before deciding whether to allow
the Lone Star Gas Co. a rate hike.
The company is asking for a 4.72 percent increase in
total.revenues in College Station to offset increases in
operating expenses, said Dan Weber, district manager
for Lone Star.
The council said the legal departments of College
Station and Bryan will study the request together before
making a recommendation.
Lone Star is asking for a 6.72 percent increase for
Bryan customers. — DIANE BLAKE BOWEN
Sign ordinance hearing set
G
A public hearing on College Station's proposed sign
ordinance will be held at 7 p.pn. today in City Hall.
If adopted, the ordinance would limit to one the num-
ber of signs permitted per business, require the removal
of off - premises signs and prohibit rooftop signs that
extend over the eave.
Also planned tonight are public hearings on whether
the city should rezone a tract of land on Texas Avenue
and Highway 6 from administrative- professional to
general commercial, and. on an amendment to the build-
ing code providing for windows in sleeping rooms. —
DIANE BLAKE BOWEN
The City of College Station has chosen a local sculp-
tor to be its Texas Sesquicentennial artist -in- residence.
Although he is living in Houston this year as an
artist -in- residence at the Museum of Fine Arts, Albert
Pedulla still lists College Station as his permanent
address. He is the son of Beverly and Albert Pedulla.
A graduate of A &M Consolidated High School,
Pedulla attended North Texas State University in Denton
in 1979 -80 and then transferred to Carnegie- Mellon
University in Pittsburgh, Pa. An art major at Carnegie -
Mellon, he specialized in sculpture and drawing and
spent three semesters in an interdisciplinary program in
history, philosophy, literature and European cultural
studies. He received a bachelor of fine arts degree in
December 1983.
Pedulla was the 1981 -82 recipient of the Charles K.
Archer Scholarship, awarded to a student who shows
talent in the areas of sculpture and drawing. He was on
the Dean's List for three semesters.
While Pedulla was at Carnegie- Mellon, one of his
sculptures was selected for a group show at the Pitt-
sburgh Plan for Arts Gallery. He served as assistant
director of the university's Visiting Artist Series, help-
ing to organize one -week sabbaticals for five nationally
known artists. He worked as a gallery assistant in Pitt-
sburgh in 1981 -82 and was employed as primary artist'
for a small design firm in Ocean City, N.J., during the
'summer of 1983.
This won't be the first time Pedulla has been em-
ployed by the City of College Station. He was assistant
director of its community swimming program, head
lifeguard at Adamson and Thomas Pools and assistant
i
coach of the Aggie Swim Club in the summer of 1982.
One of 16 artists from across the United States to be
awarded a 1984 -85 residency at the Glassell Wing of the
Houston Museum of Fine Arts, Pedulla is also teaching
sculpture and drawing at the Alfred C. Glassell Museum
School. The residency provides him with a stipend and
studio space and equipment.
The College Station City Council has approved the
expenditure of $15,000 to fund its Sesquicentennial
artist -in- residence program. Charles Szabuniewicz,
one of the city's representatives on the Brazos County
Sesquicentennial Commission, says that a matching
grant will be applied for through the Brazos Valley Arts
Council.
Szabuniewicz says that during his Sesquicentennial
residency, Pedulla will create a work for Richard Carter
Park, the City of College Station's project for Texas's
150th anniversary celebration. Named for the first white
settler in Brazos County, the park will be located on
approximately 6.179 acres in Glenhaven subdivision,
which fronts on the East Bypass.
0 THE EAGLE /THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 1985
CS residents save $4 million
College Station residents saved $4.4 million Thursday
night.
it
The city council approved the sale of $34 million in
refunding utility revenue bonds, and proceeds from the sale
will be placed in an escrow account to pay off the city's $39
million in outstanding utility revenue bonds.
The result will be $4.4 million in savings over the 17 -year
life of the refunding bonds.
The effective interest rate for the refunding bonds will be
8.71 percent, a financial adviser for the city told the council.
The effective rate for outstanding bonds is 9.17 percent.
The state attorney general would not approve the use of a
surety bond to underwrite the refunding bond's reserve fund,
the adviser said. However, the use of an insurance policy was
approved, automatically rating the bond AAA.
—DIANE BLAKE BOWEN
CS mulls utility rebate
College Station council members have asked to see prop -
Duck pond won't
osals on how they can spend the city's $700,000 rebate from
Gulf States Utilities.
be filled in
The money was returned to the city after it was found that
GSU overcharged its customers from 1981 to 1983.
City Manager North Bardell outlined four options on what
Ducks and geese living in the Col -
the city cotild do with the money:
lege Station police station pond can
■ Keep it as income,
rest easy: Council members decided
■ Keep it in a reserve account for special energy projects,
Wednesday to alter their home's
■ Return it to the people who paid it in, or
location rather than fill it in.
■ Return it to current customers. '
Planned additions to the police
Bardell said the third option would be nearly impossible
station will partially cover one end
because of the transient nature of College Station utility
of the pond, making it necessary to
customers. The money would be all used up looking for
fill in at least part of it. But council i
them, he said.
members accepted capital improve-
Under the fourth alternative, the average rebate per re-
ments director Elrey Ash's recom-
sidential customer would be about $30, credited to utility bills
mendation that the pond be enlarged
over a period of four months.
on the north side to make up for
Councilwoman Pat Boughton said she thought the city
ving to fill in the other end.
should use the money on energy projects, saving consumers
The city plans to build a two -story
more in the long run.
Mayor Gary Halter agreed.
addition to the building, with the
possibility of expanding it to five
"We're not talking about big bucks here to each indi-
stories later if needed.
vidual," he said. By spending the money on energy projects,
"you're
Ash said it would be cheaper to
in essence retuming it to them, only in an indirect
expand the pond than to fill it in
way."
But council member Lynn Mcllhaney said the residents
completely, since the dirt from the
she's spoken with want the money back.
excavation could be used to fill in
Bardell said he could prepare reports on at least two energy
the other end. —DIANE BLAKE
projects which could save the city from $100,000 to
BOWEN
$200,000 a year. — DIANE BLAKE BOWEN
THE EAGLE /FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 1985
•
0
CS sign ordinance put on hold
By DIANE BLAKE BOWEN
Staff Writer
College Station's new sign ordi-
nance was put on hold Thursday so
the city can evaluate suggestions for
its improvement.
The city council tabled the ordi-
nance and appointed a six - member
committee comprised of three coun-
cil members and three planning and
zoning commission members. It was
given one month to prepare a new
sign ordinance proposal.
Among the items the council said
should be reviewed are:
■ The six -month amortization rule
for illegal signs. Mayor Gary Halter
said he believes the ordinance should
allow five or six years for com-
pliance.
■ The appeals process. Council
member Lynn McIlhaney said the
restrictions placed on appeals should
be studied.
■ The 90 -day allowance for repair
of non - conforming signs. Council
member Pat Boughton said non-
conforming signs that are more than
50 percent damaged should be
brought into compliance rather than
simply repaired.
■ The section instructing the zon-
ing official to pick up prohibited
signs without notifying the owner
first. Council member Alvin Prause
owners should be notified.
Most residents who spoke at the
public hearing Thursday said they
generally favor the ordinance, but ...
■ Sonny Gibbs, speaking for a
sign company and the Village Shop-
ping Center, asked that restrictions be
lifted on message center signs. The
signs, similar to time and temperature
signs, use lights to display messages.
A Village Shopping Center
spokesperson from Dallas said such
signs provide public information,
serve as "somewhat of a landmark,"
create public interest and eliminate
the need for banners and paper signs
in store windows.
■ Ray Martin, a member of the
planning and zoning commission,
said that allowing banners and flags
in commercial zones but not in re-
sidential areas "defeats the overall
intent of the ordinance."
■ Phil Springer, owner of the
McDonald's restaurant on Texas
Avenue, spoke against the amortiza-
tion rule, saying that businesses
should not have to tear down signs
that complied with previous ordi-
nances.
"Visibility in my business is ev-
erything to me," he said.
■ Ken Broach, whose Shell gas
station sign is higher than the prop-
osed 35- foot -high limit, objected to
allowing signs up to 50 feet high on
the East Bypass.
City auction set Saturday
The city of College Station will hold an auction at 10
a.m. Saturday.
The auction will be at the city warehouse, located
behind the police station at 2613, Ave.
Among the items to be auctigid vehicles,
firearms, bicycles, salvage equipment, two backhoes, a
tractor, stereos, car radios, a Minolta camera, furniture
and a pool table.
Prospective buyers can see the items in the warehouse
from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. today and beginning at 8 a.m.
Saturday.
THE EAGLE /FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 1985
CS considering sign regulations
By MICHAEL CRAWFORD
Staff Writer
Signs within College Station city
lit were granted a temporary re-
prieve Thursday night.
The College Station City Council
sent to committee an ordinance
which would regulate the height and
location of new signs and require old
ones to be brought into compliance.
Portable signs, signs painted on
rooftops and signs with flashing,
blinking or traveling lights would be
prohibited.
The Council cited businesses en-
gaged in "an endless battle for a
higher and more visible sign" and
the desire for an attractive commu-
nity as the reasons for the ordinance.
The ordinance was unanimously
referred to a special committee con-
sisting of three Council and three
Planning and Zoning Commission
members. The committee must re-
turn the ordinance with suggested
changes in one month.
A section of the ordinance prohib-
ited political signs from carrying any
commercial message and those signs
larger than two square feet could not
be within 10 feet of a roadway. Can-
didates would be required to deposit
money with the City Secretary in or-
der to post signs and must remove
them within 10 days after an elec-
tion. The city could charge up to
$20.00 per sign removed by city per-
sonnel. The forfeiture would come
from the deposited money.
That part of the ordinance would
be difficult to enforce, said City At-
torney Cathy Locke.
Portable sign.
"We visited with the Houston City
Attorney and they have a big prob-
lem with political signs," Locke said.
"They spend days cleaning them
UP."
Council members were uncom-
fortable with the time limit allowed
for existing signs to conform to the
signs would be required to conform
to the ordinance or be removed
within six months. Signs taller than
35 feet must meet the new codes
within two years.
Businesses affected by the pro-
posed changes can request exemp-
tion, but they must show that en-
forcement of the regulations would
new or tnance. create a substantial hardship to the
Off - premise signs and prohibited _ applicant.
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High -rise sign.
•
Ordinance gets a real hearing
An amazing thing happened on the
way to a new sign ordinance in Col-
lege Station.
After listening to several citizens'
comments during a public hearing
Thursday, College Station City
Council members tabled action on the
ordinance so they could consider sug-
gestions on how to improve it.
I've been to dozens of public hear-
ings in other cities. They usually
progress this way: The hearing is
opened, several citizens speak their
mind on whatever matter is at hand,
the council or board thanks them for
coming, then it closes the hearing and
proceeds to approve the proposed
measure.
Now, in all fairness, the governing
body may previously have consi-
dered every single question the
citizens raised. Every objection may
have been examined and already
overruled.
But to the people who take the
trouble to participate, their efforts
seem futile. The citizens leave feel-
ing frustrated and angry, believing it
was a waste of their time to come,
since the board apparently had made
up its mind beforehand.
It's the sort of thing that seems to
encourage apathy. Why bother? Who
cares?
So what a pleasant surprise it was
that the College Station council de-
layed action on the ordinance, which
was recommended for approval by
the planning and zoning commission
on a 5 -1 vote, and which received lots
of praise (with some reservations)
from almost everyone speaking at the
hearing.
One question raised at the hearing
definitely will be considered by the
council's special committee to revise
the sign proposal. In accord with the
suggestion, Council member Lynn
Mcllhaney said the committee should
look at restrictions placed on the
appeals process for businesspeople
who believe they have an exception.
It will be interesting to see if com-
mittee members incorporate a sug-
gestion by former council member
and planning and zoning commission
member Jim Gardner. Among other
things, he objected to a grammatical
error in the proposed ordinance.
The committee has one month to
study the ordinance and come up with
a new proposal.
THE EAGLE /FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 1985
Laurels
To the Stephen F. Austin FFA Greenhands chapter, which is
sponsoring a children's barnyard exhibit through today at Manor East
Mall.
To Herbert Richardson, dean of engineering at Texas A &M,
honored by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
To Bryan High senior Nicole White, one of five Texas students
named to the Honors Group in the Science Talent Search sponsored
by Westinghouse.
To Charley V. Wootan, director of the Texas Transportation Insti-
tute, honored with a distinguished service award from the Transporta-
tion Research Board.
To John E. Flipse, Texas A &M associate dean of engineering,
appointed chairman of a presidential committee, the National Advis-
ory Committee for Oceans and Atmospheres.
To the Brownie Troops 1162 and 1164 at College Hills Elementary
in College Station, for raising money for new American and Texas
flags for their school.
To Albert Pedulla, selected as College Station's artist -in- residence
for the Texas Sesquicentennial. Pedulla, a sculptor, is the son of'
Albert and Beverly Pedulla of College Station.
To the Texas A &M basketball team, winner over UT for the ninth
straight time.
To A &M basketball star Kenny Brown, leading the nation in free
throw shooting percentage.
To Herman Sebastian Jr. and H. LaVerne Backhus, winners in
Navasota City Council elections last week.
CS employees
get handbook
A new personnel handbook for city
employees has been adopted by Col-
lege Station council members.
The handbook sets forth new rules
on overtime and compensatory time
and a new appeals process for em-
ployee grievances.
Now the city will allow an em-
ployee to accrue no more than 16
hours of comp time. If more are
accumulated, the city will pay time
and a half for hours worked.
The previous policy placed no
limit on comp time.
In the appeals procedure, a new
review board comprising three coun-
cil members and three senior staff
members will be appointed. The
board will hear appeals from em-
ployees who first have taken their
problems to their department head
and then to the personnel office.
In other action, the council proc-
laimed the week of Feb. 10 -16 as
"United States Jaycee Women
Week. "
THE EAGLE /SATURDAY, JANUARY 26, 1985
Texans facing serious
4W
water problems
By RICHARD COLE
Associate Editor
At 7 a.m. an alarm goes off some-
where in Suburbanville. A man
stretches, gets out of bed and goes to
the bathroom to get a drink of water.
He lets the water run for a minute,
waiting for it to get cool. By the time
his glass is filled with 8 ounces of
cool water, 5 gallons have raced
down his pipes.
A few minutes later, he flushes the
toilet. Another 6 gallons go down the
drain.
Then it's time for his shower. He
turns the water on, gets in the shower,
and 10 minutes later emerges clean
and refreshed — while 70 more gal-
lons of water have been added to his
water bill.
The man has been up for 15 mi-
nutes and already has "used" 81 gal-
lons of water.
If each of the other three people in
his family does the same, in that sing-
le hour they will have used at least
324 gallons of water, all before 8 in
the morning. Over a year's time, that
one hour of water usage every mom-
ing by this single family amounts to
117,936 gallons.
■■■
And what of it'?
Despite all the talk of a water crisis
in Texas, the fact is more than half the
state is blessed with enough water
stored underground to supply cities,
incNorie.s and irrieated aericulture.
TEXAS WATER:
A Resource
0 1 in Peril?
At a glance...
The amount of time it takes to plan
and construct major water projects and
the enormous importance of an adequ-
ate water supply to the Texas economy
are among the reasons why water has
become a mapf concern of many local
and state officials.
ment of Water Resources, most other
parts of the state have access to
enough groundwater to at least supp-
ly domestic needs.
The Brazos Valley, in particular,
seems extraordinarily blessed when it
comes to water. In addition to the
roughly 40 inches of rainfall the val-
ley receives each year, the area sits
atop a vast underground "reservoir"
of water.
One expert says the amount of wa-
ter currently being pumped from the
Simsboro Sand by Bryan, College
Station and Texas A &M University
could be quadrupled without serious-
ly diminishing either the quantity or
the quality of water stored in the
'ie beneath the
earth's surface.
Indeed, the only real limiting fac-
tor seems to be how much those en-
tities are willing to pay for new wells
and additional pipelines to raise more
of that water to the surface and trans-
port it back to where it will be used.
■■■
So, does Texas face a genuine wa-
ter crisis?
In a word, yes. At least to the ex-
tent that the state cannot afford to
continue using water at the rate and in
the ways water has been used over the
past 50 years, Texas' potential water
crisis is genuine.
And despite the relative good for-
tune of this area, it is a matter for local
concern as well. Although the Brazos
Valley appears to have an adequate
supply of water available to meet the
demands of even the most optimistic
growth projections, it shares an in-
terest in helping find solutions to the
water problems plaguing other re-
gions of the state.
We don't live in a vacuum — the
local economy is affected directly by
the relative health of the state eco-
nomy. And to a great extent, the
health of the state economy depends
upon the availability of an adequate
supply of water in every region.
So it really does make a difference
that our friend in " Suburbanville" —
and millions of others like him —
each wastes a few thousand gallons of
Turn to AVAILABILITY, 9A
THE EAGLE /SUNDAY, JANUARY 27, 1985
G
•
College Station's `best auction
ever collects about $17,300
By DAVID NUNNELEE
Staff Writer
The city of College Station didn't
need to raise taxes to collect approx-
imately $17,300 on Saturday.
The money was collected from
people bidding on surplus, aban-
doned and confiscated merchandise
held by the city at public auction.
City purchasing agent Virginia
McCartney said the auction was the
best attended and most profitable
ever. About 160 people crowded into
the city warehouse to inspect the mer-
chandise, which included guns,
cameras, cars and trucks, bicycles, a
piano and a pool table.
About 130 people placed bids, and
everything but a swimming pool
dome sold in about three hours.
"This is the best (auction) we've
ever had," McCartney said.
The highest bid received at the auc-
tion was $1,775 for a hydralic back -
hoe. A second backhoe sold for
$1,500.
All 22 abandoned vehicles were
sold, as were 38 guns.
McCartney said the guns confis-
cated by the police department
offered the most competitive stretch
of bidding. The rifles, shotguns and
pistols that could be legally sold
brought $3,000.
McCartney said illegal weapons
such as sawed -off shotguns and pis-
tols known as Saturday Night Spe-
cials are destroyed by police when
confiscated.
Sixty unclaimed bicycles found
new owners at the auction, and some-
one bought himself a pool table for
$200. The city even was able to sell
seven drums of used water meters for
scrap.
McCartney said the surplus mer-
chandise was considered by the city
to be unsalvageable or economically
unfeasible to maintain. Other goods
can be sold by the city if they go
unclaimed.
Money collected from the sale of
surplus equipment will go into the
fund which originally funded the
purchase of the equipment, McCart-
ney said. The rest of the money will
go into a special receiving fund.
McCartney said another public au-
ction probably will held in September
or October.
Firmer action needed
The citizens of Bryan and College Station should be
thankful to Mr. J.L. Gattis for his letter printed in the
Eagle Jan. 22, 1985, citing the lack of protection our
city councils exhibited in agreeing to let McCaw eli-
minate the minimum level -lower cost service.
Mr. Gattis correctly analyzed the situation, and his
comparison with a monopolistic automobile industry
forcing us to all buy Cadillacs was superb.
However, even good letters to the editor like Mr.
Gattis' do not carry much weight at city hall. The two
councils' actions were at least calloused disregard for
our rights and needs, and firmer action is surely
needed.
I believe a movement should be launched to enjoin
both cities to protect their citizens and get the twelve
channel -lower cost service restored. Such action
would get popular support for if not done, McCaw can
continue its' monopolistic practice without restraint
from now on.
J.W. Lassiter
Bryan
0
THE EAGLE /SUNDAY, JANUARY 27, 1985
e Availability of water
fuels Texas' growth
From page ]A
cheap and seemingly plentiful wate
every year. Or, more to the point, th
inefficient methods of agricultur
irrigation — which accounts for 7
percent of all Texas water use
wastes millions of gallons of wate
every year.
Indeed, the casual waste of enor
mous quantities of water, in bot h
domestic and agricultural settings
suggests the ultimate challenge pose d
by Texas' various water problems
altering the way we think about wate
to more accurately reflect its true
value and importance to our lives.
■■■
e
Right now, most of the time in
most of the cities and towns in Texas,
there's plenty enough water for
routine use. But in the long run, we
cannot afford to continue to squan-
der, however innocently, so precious
a resource. Nor, given the enormous
lead time required for most major wa-
ter projects, can we afford not to plan
today for the water needs of
tomorrow.
But as the accompanying map
clearly illustrates, those suffering im-
mediate water shortages tend to be far
more supportive of proposed solu-
tions to Texas' water problems than
do those who live in areas with
adequate to generous annual rainfall.
Three times since 1969, in fact,
Texas voters have turned down major
proposals to finance statewide water
development. A fourth such proposal
well may be submitted to voters by
the current Texas Legislature.
In a real sense, what is at stake is
r the shape of the state's future. As
at much as the availability of oil, the
al availability of an adequate water
2 supply has fueled Texas' phenomenal
growth in recent decades.
r Apart from the direct domestic
needs of the state's 16 million resi-
dents, massive quantities of water are
required to sustain the Texas eco-
nomy. For example, it takes about
480,000 gallons of water to produce
enough grain to raise one steer,
r another 1,000 gallons to raise the
wheat for a single loaf of bread and
yet another 1,000 gallons to manu-
facture a single automobile. The pro-
duction of a single cotton dress, from
the time the seed is planted until the
seamstress sews her last stitch, re-
quires 1,500 gallons.
In short, water is not simply impor-
tant to the state's economic health
it is essential.
During the next week, the Eagle
will examine in a series of stories the
Brazos Valley's water supply situa-
tion, the water problems facing the
state as a whole and the options avail-
able to address these problems.
There's very Iittle doubt that future
generations will find water enough to
drink in Texas. Whether they also
will find water enough to raise crops
and cattle on the High Plains or ex-
pand population centers and provide
for new industries, however, depends
almost entirely on what we do today
to ensure an adequate supply of water
for tomorrow.
Staff writer Rhonda Hoeckley con-
tributed material to this story.
THE EAGLE /SUNDAY, JANUARY 27, 1985
Lasting obligation
® Firm A agrees to provide a service to its customers in
return for a payment, thus creating a contract. The
obligation of A to provide that service is a liability,
accepted in exchange for the payment.
Firm B now acquires Firm A. The acquisition does
not make the liability disappear or go away.
A number of people in this community paid a one
time fee to the cable company to provide FM service
with the TV cable service. The liability to provide the
FM service without additional payment was created.
When McCaw assumed service, the liability to pro-
vide the FM service without additional payment did not
disappear. Thus, to bill and collect a monthly fee for
FM service is a legal issue, possibly prompting a class
action suit. More importantly, it is an ethical and
moral issue.
Both public notice and expression of public concern
now exists to McCaw and those who have and may
grant authority to operate and regulate service. We
trust McCaw and appropriate individuals will act
accordingly.
John C. Groth
College Station
• THE EAGLE /MONDAY, JANUARY 28, 1985
•
•
0
Practice steps
College Station firefighter Gary Stevener climbs skyward up a
100 foot rescue ladder off Southwest Parkway during a shift exer-
cise Sunday.
THE EAGLE /MONDAY, JANUARY 28, 1985
Eagk Photo by David dined
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In
Houston water problems may help B -CS
By HUGH NATIONS
Staff Writer
Houston's need for water ultimately may provide Bryan-
College Station with an alternate source of its own.
Some 60 percent of the 425 million gallons per day that the
city uses is groundwater. Because of the heavy pumping,
Houston's west side is sinking.
Houston wants to substitute surface water for most of the
groundwater it is using now. As Brazos River Authority
general manager Carson Hoge notes, it makes sense for
Houston to get water for its west side from the Brazos River
Basin, which skirts Houston on the west.
A dam on the Navasota River watershed, probably at
Panther Creek, is a logical source for Houston to obtain that
Brazos Basin water, BRA planner Tom Ray said.
Hoge has said BRA would be willing to supply Bryan-
College Station with water from one of three lakes at $115 per
acre foot, or 35 cents per 1,000 gallons. But there is one
significant reservation.
To get that price, the cities probably need to decide before
1991 or 1992.
Ray explained that authority is already studying the con-
struction of a reservoir above Possum Kingdom Lake, west
of Fort Worth. If local governments here agree to buy water
from that reservoir now, later they could take it out of another
lake farther south.
If the north Texas reservoir is indeed built, it would not be
completed until 1991 or 1992, Ray said. Bryan- College
Station would not be required to pay for any water until then.
Once the reservoir is completed, though, the local govem-
ments would be required to pay a reservation fee, even if they
did not want the water at that time.
That reservation fee now tuns around $24 an acre foot,
about one -fifth of the proposed cost of the water, were it
actually used.
If the water is reserved, and if the Panther Creek dam is
ever built, the reserved allocation of water could then be
transferred to water stored in the Panther Creek reservoir.
A reservoir of Panther Creek's size will require financing
beyond the capabilities of Bryan- College Station. And that's
where Houston comes in. The metropolis is the logical senior
partner in such a venture, Ray said.
The Houston City Council is now considering whether to
commission the drafting of a $3 million, 18 -month study to
develop a master water plan.
It is unlikely that the city would commit to build a Panther
Creek reservoir until the plan is completed, said Dan Jones, a
spokesman for the Houston city administration. And Jones
noted that Houston has other alternatives, such as drawing
additional water from either the Trinity or the San Jacinto
basins.
The catch for Panther Creek is that, based on construction
cost estimates by the U.S. Arty Corps of Engineers, water
from a reservoir there would cost about $250 per acre foot.
To get water from Panther Creek at $115 per acre foot,
Bryan- College Station would have to reserve an allocation by
the time the reservoir above Possum Kingdom is completed.
CS water dispute
Harte -Hanks News Service
AUSTIN — A dispute over who will provide water tc
residents and businesses along Highway 30 in College Sta-
tion may be over.
Parties involved in a hearing Monday at the Public Utility
Commission announced a tentative settlement that could gc
to the three- member commission sometime in March for
final approval.
Changes were still being made Monday to a map outlining
which areas will be served by College Station and which will
ix° served by Wellborn Water Supply Corp. or Wixon Water
Supply Corp. ,
But basically, "they agreed to allow the city to have the
It's time for
a moratorium
Isn't it time we had a moratorium
on letters to the editor regarding
McCaw Cable? I've had as much
trouble as anyone — from physical
threats by an installer to frequently
interrupted service — but enough is
enough!
Why don't you just say "No more
letters about cable" for six months
or so — so we can get back to War
and Peace, God and atheism,
Prochoice vs. Prolife, College Sta-
tion vs. Bryan, Kristen and Louis —
all of which are infinitely more in-
teresting than another complaint ab-
out CATV.
John C. Key, M.D.
Bryan
may be over
area within its city limits, said Austin attorney Michael
Simmons, who helped represent College Station along with
Cathy Locke, acting city attorney. Those limits were ex-
tended recently, he added.
The city has been serving Koppe Corp. since about 1980.
The corporation's water system supplies the 48-unit Uni-
versity Acres duplex development and a 148 -unit mobile
home park owned by Rolling Ridge Park Ltd.
That area is now in Wellborn's service area, and Koppe
President Edsel G. Jones intervened in the hearing to protest
earlier plans by College Station to give up serving the two
developments to Wellborn.
Another cable
`headache'
May I take a few lines of your
paper to add my complaint to the
ever growing discontent of the city
monopoly?
In December, I called McCaw
Cable, 846 -0282. I had a complaint
about the TV reception and a ques-
tion about billing. On both questions
I was told I would have to call 846-
2229.
So, yesterday I called the 846-
2229 number to complain about the
color level, lines, snow, etc. on my
TV. I was under Midwest Cable for
over 1 years and I never called
about my TV reception. In fact, I
never called Midwest. I think that
speaks for "competition."
Anyway, the lady told me she
would have to have someone call
me. I said, "Okay, I would like to
know about this billing I've re-
ceived." The voice on the other end
said, "you will have to ask that of
the person who I will have call
you. "
� Now what number do we call?
never received a call back either.
Service? If we don't pay by the I Oth,
it's disconnected, but don't ask them
for deadlines. Just stay home and
wait. Some life!
Thanks! "Twin City," I could
have lived without another
headache!
Shame on you Jim Butler!
According to McCaw, you fibbed to
Santa. They told me they had no-
thing to do with the early conversion
numbers in the paper. The paper was
solely responsible.
Of course, at the time I wondered
how the Eagle got hold of the num-
bers if McCaw had nothing to do
with it. Also, I was immediately sent
a conversion list. Convenient seeing
as how they had nothing to do with
the early unveiling.
They can't even take the jaff when
it is due!!
Dolores Schoffner
Bryan
0 THE EAGLE /WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 1985
m CS police computer almost wrinkle -free
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By VIRGINIA KIRK
Staff Writer
Police dispatchers in College Station have done a lot
of scowling in the past few weeks, but it's all starting to
pay off — they think.
The city's $166,000 Nixdorf public safety computer
system has been operating for two months now, and
employees still are ironing out wrinkles and entering
new information.
The arrival of all the new equipment has made the
dispatching office a very warm room, but that's not why
some employees are sweating.
"We're the guinea pigs," one dispatcher said. The
dispatcher said she still has a lot of questions about how
the system works, but it gradually is becoming easier to
operate. Taking information down manually now seems
a lot more difficult.
The computer is used to dispatch police and fire units,
pinpoint the nearest streets to any address in the city,
keep track of which units are closest to a call, list every
radio transmission from officers and warn dispatchers if
an officer is taking too long on a call and should be
checked.
It also stores police offense reports, lists descriptions
and serial numbers of stolen property and ties in with the
Texas and National Crime Information Centers to run
arrest checks, records manager Bob Norton said.
Eventually, the computer will list all traffic and park-
ing citations, the status of municipal court cases and the
charges and bonds of city jail prisoners. It also will
generate warning notices to people who owe fines and
put out arrest warrants when tickets are overdue.
For the detective division, the computer will list sus-
pect descriptions, look for similarities in crimes and
pinpoint areas that need more police protection, Norton
said.
The police department and municipal courts have nine
terminals, and the fire department has two more. The
city council recently approved the purchase of three
more terminals at $1,500 each.
A field engineer from Nixdorf is training employees
on the system and has helped adapt it to the department's
needs.
"I'm becoming more pleased with it," Norton said.
"We have a lot of modifications to make so it will do
what we need in our environment, but we're just getting
to the point where we can see the benefits.
"But much to my chagrin, we're still writing some
things down." The system slowly is helping to get calls
dispatched faster, but some logs have not been put into
the system yet.
Norton said no dispatchers have been replaced, but in
the future new dispatchers will have to be able to type.
Computer experience also will prove helpful.
The system had a lot of downtime at first, but Norton
and Nixdorf officials finally traced the problem to an
emergency generator. All the power circuits in the com-
puter go to a panel tied into the generator, which turned
out to have a timer problem, Norton said.
The system could be set up to do a crime prevention
bulletin board similar to Bryan's CrimeByte, but Norton
does not want to give hackers a chance to break the
system's security codes. Norton is considering using a
micro - computer in the office to start a bulletin board for
personal computer users.
The fire department is just starting to enter all its
information and programs into the system, and should be
using it for dispatching in another month, Lt. Thomas
Goehl said.
The fire department, which uses different codes and
signals from the police department, will train every
firefighter to operate the system, Goehl said.
Building inspection reports and emergency phone
numbers for building owners or managers also will be in
the system, Goehl said.
L -1
•
LEGALNOTICE
ORDINANCE NO. 1567 WAS
PASSED AND APPROVED ON
JANUARY 24, 1985, BY THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF COLLEGE STATION,
TEXAS, meeting in regular
session in the Council Room
of the College Station City
Hall, said meeting having
been posted in accordance
with Art. 6252 -17. At said
meeting, the City Council
heard evidence concerning
the need for egress or rescue
windows from sleeping rooms
of residences and, further,
heard evidence concerning
the mi -nimum size re-
quirements of said windows.
The above- referenced Or-
dinance, signed by the Mayor
and duly recorded in the of-
ficial records of the City of
College Station, has the
following heading:
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING
CHAPTER 3, SECTION 1, SUB-
SECTION B(27) OF THE CODE
OF ORDINANCES OF THE
CITY OF COLLEGE STATION
RELATING TO BUILDING
REGULATIONS, EM-
ERGENCY EGRESS OPEN-
ING (BUILDING CODE SEC-
TION 1104.4), AND PROVID-
ING FOR WINDOWS OF A
MINIMUM NET CLEAR
OPENING OF TWEN-TY -
FOUR (24 ") INCHES BY
TWENTY (20 ") INCHES IN
SLEEPING ROOMS.
Ordinance No. 1567 shall be-
come effective and be in full
force and effect from and after
its passage and approval by
the City Council of the City of
College Station and in accor-
dance with the City Charter.
The complete text of the
above -named Ordinance is on
file at the Office of the City
Secretary and may be obtain-
ed at the City Hall, 1101 South
Texas Avenue, College Sta-
tion, Texas,
02 -01- 85,02 -02 -85
LEGAL NOTICE
ORDINANCE NO. 1570 WAS
PASSED AND APPROVED ON
JANUARY 24, 1985, BY THE
CITY OF OLLLEGE STATION, TEX-
AS, meeting in regular sea
sion in the Council Room of
the College Station. city
i said meeting having been
1
posted in accordance with Art.
1 6252 -17.
The above- referenced Ordin-
signed by the Mayor and
duly recorded
o ded in theffical
records of the City of College
Station, has the following
AN ding: VACATING
TION OF A P UTILITY
EASEMENT THE
ROBERTSON IN SURVEY S N
BRAZOS COUNTY, TEXAS,
THROUGH THAT 956.10 ACRE
TRACT OWNED BY W.D.
FITCH, BEING A PART OF A
TWENTY
EASEMENT�LAND U TILITY
BEING
MORE PARTICULARLY DE-
SCRIBED ON EXHIBIT ''A"
ATTACHED HERETO.
In exhange for the abandon-
ment of the easement descri-
bed in
ance No. 1570, the need for re-
location of the easement
across the property s
dressed by the conveyance by
W.D. Fitch of a utility ease-
ment described in Exhibit "B"
in Ordinance No.1570.
The complete text of the
above -named Ordinance is on
file at the Office of the City
Secretary and may be obtain-
ed at the City Hall, 1101 South
Texas Avenue, College Sta-
tion,Texas.
02 -01- 85 ,02 -02
LEGAL NOTICE
ORDINANCE NO. 1571 WAS
PASSED AND APPROVED ON
JANUARY 24, 1985, BY THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF COLLEGE STATION, TEX-
AS, meeting in regular ses-
sion in the Council Room of
the College Station City Hell,
said meeting having been
posted in accordance with Art.
'6252 -17.
The above- referenced Or-
dinance, signed by the Mayor
and duly recorded in the of-
ficial records of the City of
College Station, has the
following heading:
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING
CHAPTER 4, SECTION 1, SUB-
SECTION F(3) OF THE CODE
OF ORDINANCES OF THE
CITY OF COLLEGE STATION,
TEXAS, RELATING TO EX-
EMPTIONS FOR THE SALE
OF CHRISTMAS TREES
WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF
THE CITY OF COLLEGE
STATION.
In addition to exemptions
previously allowed for the
sale of Christmas trees, Or-
dinance No. 1571 prescribes a
method whereby employees
or agents selling Christmas
trees shall be exempt from
individual application re-
quirementsfor licensing.
Ordinance No. 1571 shall be-
come effective and be in full
force and effect from and after
its passage and approval by
the City Council of the City of
College Station and in accor-
dance with the City Charter.
The complete text of the
above -named Ordinance is on
file at the Office of the City
Secretary and may be obtain-
ed at the City Hall, 1101 South
Texas Avenue, College Sta-
tion, Texas.
02-01- 85,02 -02-
THE EAGLE /FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1985
Cn
•
CJ
A solution to
cable gripes?
In answer to many complaints in
the Eagle concerning McCaw's
monopoly on the TV cable system, I
offer this suggestion. But first let me
say this: about 14 years ago, a gg{{Rup
of us — consisting of docfor$,
lawyers, bankers, businessmen both
big and small, common laborers,
blacks, whites, hispanics, etc. who
didn't want zoning imposed on this
old established town (which would
in effect have destroyed years of in-
dividual planning) — bound
together, worked hard at informing
the citizens of the unfairness in-
volved, and beat zoning by a vote of
almost 4 to 1. It was almost time to
elect a new mayor and several coun-
cilmen (called commissioners at that
time), so the same group picked a
mayor and the commissioners who
were in favor of a second cable
franchise out of our group and
elected all of them — thus no more
monopoly.
It would be interesting to know
how many would like to be involved
in curing the problem; maybe
together we could repeat what we
did 14 years ago. If so, write
approved on this letter, sign your
name and send it to 2324 Oxford
Street. I will see what can be done.
Hubert H. Graham
Bryan
LEGAL NOTICE
ORDINANCE NO. 1570 WAS
PASSED AND APPROVED ON
JANUARY 24, 1985, BY THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF COLLEGE STATION, TEX-
AS, meeting in regular ses-
sion in the Council Room of
the College Station City Hall,
said meeting having been
Posted in accordance with Art.
6252 -17.
The above - referenced Ordin-
ance, signed by the Mayor and
duly recorded in the official
records of the City of College
Station, has the following
heading:
AN ORDINANCE VACATING
AND ABANDONING A POR-
TION OF A PUBLIC UTILITY
EASEMENT IN THE S.W.
ROBERTSON SURVEY IN
BRAZOS COUNTY, TEXAS,
THROUGH THAT 956.10 ACRE
TRACT OWNED BY W.D.
FITCH, BEING A PART OF A
TWENTY FOOT UTILITY
EASEMENT, AND BEING
MORE PARTICULARLY DE-
SCRIBED ON EXHIBIT
ATTACHED HERETO.
In exhange for the abandon-
ment of the easement descri-
bed in Exhibit ''A'' in Ordin-
ance No. 1570, the need for re-
location of the easement
across the property is ad-
dressed by the conveyance by
W.D. Fitch of a utility ease-
ment described in Exhibit "B"
in Ordinance No. 1570.
The complete text of the
above -named Ordinance is on
file at the Office of the City
Secretary and may be obtain-
ed at the City Hall, 1101 South
Texas Avenue, College Sta-
tion, Texas.
02 01- 85,02 -02 -85
LEGAL NOTICE
ORDINANCE NO. 1567 WAS
PASSED AND APPROVED ON
JANUARY 24, 1985, BY THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF COLLEGE STATION,
TEXAS, meeting in regular
session in the Council Room
of the College Station City
Hall, said meeting having
been posted in accordance
with Art. 6252 -17. At said
meeting, the City Council
heard evidence concerning
the need for egress or rescue
windows from sleeping rooms
of residences and further,
heard evidence concerning
the mi -nimum size re-
quirements of said windows.
The above- referenced Or-
dinance, signed by the Mayor
and duly recorded in the of-
ficial records of the City of
College Station, has the
following heading:
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING
CHAPTER 3, SECTION 1, C SUB-
SECTION B(27) OF THE ODE
OF ORDINANCES OF THE
CITY OF COLLEGE STATION
RELATING TO BUILDING
REGULATIONS, EM-
ERGENCY EGRESS OPEN-
ING (BUILDING CODE SEC-
TION 1104.4), AND PROVID-
ING FOR WINDOWS OF A
MINIMUM NET CLEAR
OPENING OF TWEN-TY -
FOUR (24 ") INCHES BY
TWENTY (20 '') INCHES IN
SLEEPING ROOMS.
Ordinance No. 1567 shall be-
come effective and be in full
force and effect from and after
its passage and approval by
the City Council of the City of
College Station and in accor-
dance with the City Charter.
The complete text of the
above -named Ordinance is on
file at the Office of the City
Secretary and may be obtain-
ed at the City Hall, 1101 South
Texas Avenue, College Sta-
tion, Texas.
02 -01- 85,02 -02 -85
LEGAL NOTICE
ORDINANCE NO, 1571 WAS
PASSED AND APPROVED ON
JANUARY 24, 1985, BY THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF COLLEGE STATION, TEX-
AS, meeting in regular ses-
sion in the Council Room of
the College Station City Hall,
said meeting having been
posted in accordance with Art.
6252 -17.
The above - referenced Or-
dinance, signed by the Mayor
and duly recorded in the of-
ficial records of the City of
College Station, has the
following heading
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING
CHAPTER 4, SECTION 1, SUB-
SECTION F(3) OF THE CODE
OF ORDINANCES OF THE
CITY OF COLLEGE STATION,
TEXAS, RELATING TO EX-
EMPTIONS FOR THE SALE
OF CHRISTMAS TREES
WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF
THE CITY OF COLLEGE
STATION.
In addition to exemptions
previously allowed for the
sale of Christmas trees, Or-
dinance No. 1571 prescribes a
method whereby employees
or agents selling Christmas
trees shall be exempt from
individual application re-
quirements for licensing.
Ordinance No. 1571 shall be-
come effective and be in full
force and effect from and after
its passage and approval by
the City Council of the City of
College Station and in accor-
dance with the City Charter.
The complete text of the
above -named Ordinance is on
file at the Office of the City
Secretary and may be obtain-
ed at the City Hall, 1101 South
Texas Avenue, College Sta-
tion, Texas.
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THE EAGLE /SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1985
•
Three CS council seats up for grabs
0
By DIANE BLAKE BOWEN
Staff Writer
Three College Station City Council
seats will be up.for.grabs this spring.
The terms of Vicky Reinke, Alvin
Prause and Gary Anderson will end in
April. Reinke resigned her position in
January when she moved away from
the area, and it has been left open.
Anderson and Prause could not be
reached for comment on whether they
will run.
Several College Station residents
said they have been considering mak-
ing a bid for a council seat.
Terri Tongco, who lost to Pat
Boughton in the 1983 council race,
said she will run, probably for Reink-
e's place. Tongco is a nurse for Texas
Instruments and wants to run "so that
I have direct input into what's happen-
ing to tax funds and so forth within the
city."
Jim Gardner, a planning and zoning
commissioner in 1968 -70 and 1974.
76, and a city council member for two
terms in 1974 -78, said he is consider-
ing making another go of it.
"I'm thinking seriously about it,"
he said, "because of my continued
interest in the city and its growth —
hopefully planned growth."
Gardner said he has not decided
which place he'll try to win if he runs.
"It depends on who runs," he said.
"Some people I would want to run
against, others I wouldn't.''"
Gardner lost to Anderson in 1983.
Another resident considering a bid
for a council seat is Roy Kelly, also a
former member of both the council
and the planning and zoning commis-
sion.
"I have not really and truly com-
mitted yet, but I'm thinking about it,"
said Kelly, who owns A- I Auto Parts.
Others who said they had consi-
dered running but decided against it
are Mazda dealer Fred Brown, attor-
ney Wes Hall and Anco employee
Dick Haddox. Hall is a former plan-
ning and zoning commission member.
THE EAGLE /SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1985
u
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CS police to renovate.
station, get more space
By TRENT LEOPOLD
Staff' Writer
Plans are underway for a new Col-
lege Station police station and the
renovation of the current facility.
Mike Greer, an architect with
Trant Emmett and Associates, is
working on the drawings for the new
building.
He said Monday he has not yet
started on the actual floor plans for
the new building, but is currently
working with rough drafts.
"The Present police station build-
ing will be remodelled and a new,
additional building will be built," he
said. "The new tau lding will be adja-
cent to the existiffig one."
Greer said r urrent plans are to
build a two -story building capable of
holding three additional levels if the
building needs to be expanded in
the future.
"Part of the duck pond near the
Present building also will have to be
filled in to make room for the new
building," Greer said. "However, the
pond wil l be expanded so it will be at
least as big as it is now."
College Station Police Chief Mar-
vin Byrd said the police department
needs the new building because it
has outgrown the present location at
2611 A Texas Ave. -
"We moved into our current loca-
tion after being housed in the same
building as the College Station Fire
Department," Byrd said. "Before
that we were at a building in North -
gate.
"We have simply outgrown our
current facility, and need larger
uarters to conduct business in an ef-
ic
ient t manner. It's not that our pre-
sent building is falling apart or any-
thing."
College Station citizens voted in
favor of a bond about one year ago
designed to provide funds for the
new building.
Once the final plans are com-
pleted, city administrators will take
bids from various contractors and
award one or more of them the job.
THE BATTALION /TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1985
CS t' readies for I st part
By BRAD OWENS
Staff Writer
Better late than never for the Col-
lege Station Teen Center's first party
weekend.
Shenanigans, the newly opened
Teen Center, will have a dance from
7 p.m. to midnight today for high
school students, and another record
hop from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday for
students in grades six through eight.
The dances were scheduled for last
weekend, but were canceled because
of icy conditions. The center has been
open every day after school this
week, but students so far have shown
little interest.
"A few kids have come by to
join," said Community Center
Director Peggy Calliham, "but I
think it will take the dances and par-
ties to really get them over there.
"The kids were really excited last
week, and it's kind of lost its
momentum. "
Calliham said students can attend
the center without charge this
weekend, and membership won't be
required until more students show an
interest in the center.
The Teen Center is adjacent to the
College Station Community Center
in the old band hall building. The
building was remodeled at a cost of
$85,000 through a federal grant.
The success of the Teen Center,
which has been in ,development for
two years, lies largely with the 15
teenagers appointed by the city coun-
cil to the Teen Center Board last
May. The board has been raising
money, making rules and sprucing up
the building since then.
Now they are nervous about their
first event.
"Our main concern right now is
getting people here," said Sherri Be-
nedict, who got together with other
board members to decorate for the
dances. "My brother says the high
school people think it's kind of a
square place."
But board members said they think
people gradually will start stopping
by Shenanigans after school, and that
it will soon have plenty of members
and weekend parties.
"There's just no place for kids to
go," Jennifer Welch said. Shenani-
gans will be especially popular with
students at Oakwood Middle School
and A &M Junior High, Welch said,
because they can walk there from
school and study, listen to music,
play games, talk or just goof off until
their parents finish work.
Welch said she hhpes high school
students will give the place a chance,
too.
One drawing card is the low $10
cost of memberships, which last
through August. The center's hours
are from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays
through Thursdays, 3 p.m. to mid-
night Fridays and 7 p.m. to midnight
Saturdays.
Adult staffers hired by the city will
be there during open hours, and board
members said Shenanigans will have
a mix of fun and wholesomeness.
"We want to keep the trust of the
council and the parents," Eric Wal-
ley said.
"People say, `The Teen Center.
There's going to be adults there! "'
But she said the staffers are laid -back
and easy to get along with.
Board members said the Teen Cen-
ter will provide a place to party for
students who choose not to drink on
the weekends.
When it comes to drinking, Welch
said, "Either you do or you don't.
But if you don't, there's no place to
go "
The board gathered donations of
$1,900 during the year, and raised
another $600 by selling parking dur-
ing Texas A &M football games, set-
ting up a dunking booth at the Bohe-
mian Festival and selling miniature
pine trees. They furnished the center
with donated chairs and tables con-
verted from electric wire spools, and
added some decorative lights.
The most essential furnishing was
a large stereo system. Board mem-
bers tested it last week and found it
more than able to generate the timber -
rattling sounds that a good party re-
quires.
The board also bought an alarm
system, and plans to buy a television
and videocassette recorder.
Later the students hope to book a
high school rock group, Eddie and
the Alliance, for a dance at Shenani-
gans, and add a more exotic lighting
system.
They said they expect attendance
to start small and build as teens find
the center to be an inexpensive and
entertaining place to hang out.
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Center may finally
lay charge to rest
"There's nothing to do."
For the parents of teenagers,
those are four of the most dreaded
words in the English language.
But the parents of College Station
teenagers can now counter that
complaint with an "Oh, yes there
is!" of their own.
Shenanigans, the College Sta-
tion teen center, is finally open.
Located adjacent to the city's
Community Center on Jersey
Street, Shenanigan's is intended as
a place were junior high and high
school students can study, listen to
music, talk, play games or just
hang out. It will be open from 3
p.m. until 6 p.m. Mondays
through Thursdays, from 3 p.m.
until midnight Fridays, and from 7
p. in. until midnight Saturdays. An
adult staff will be on hand during
operating hours.
Special events, such as
tonight's record hop for students in
grades six through eight, will be
featured regularly. Eventually,
memberships in the teen center
will be required for participation in
its activities; initially, however,
events such as tonight's dance will
be held at no charge.
Because adults figured so prom-
inently in the planning and realiza-
tion of the center, it will no doubt
suffer an early reputation as being
"square." But teens who give
Shenanigan's a chance may find,
to their surprise, that can be as
interesting and stimulating a place
as they make it.
And who knows — ultimately,
Shenanigan's may finally lay to
rest the charge, "There's nothing
to do."
Firm fined
after fatal
tower fall
s The company that employed a
man who fell off a College Station
Zater tower and died Jan. 10 has
teen fined $490 by the Occupa-
Jonal Safety and Health Adminis-
Sheldon Biber, the president of
f drostorage Inc., of Franklin,
i enn., said the company does not
I lan to appeal.
. In its report. OSHA found two
liolations: The scaffolds and their
components were found incapable
I;f supporting at least four times the
►n ►mum intended load; and the
' calf -inch wire rope used to support
goof- welding scaffolds near the
k 0eo' the water tower were incap-
f supporting six times their
gated load.
�, Floyd Higgins, of Louisiana,
ell 40 feet into a bowl in the top of
the tower and died that evening.
Another worker, Ryan Lindberg,
was injured in the same accident,
but was released from the hospital
the following day.
THE EAGLE /SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1985
•
•
A
ADVEi�IBEMENTFO DIBR g
You are invited to bid on the
following project:
Addition and Modifications to
CENTRAL FIRE STATION
Project No. G84 -84-02
SCOPE OF WORK: Includes
but is not necessarily limited
to the construction of a single
Story office addition and
modifications to portions of
the existing single story fire
station located at the corner
of Texas Avenue and Gilchrist
Street in College Station,
Texas.
RECEIPT OF BIDS: Sealed
proposals will be accepted at
the office of Director of Capi-
tal Improvements, City Hall,
1101 Texas Avenue, College
Station, Texas, 77840 until 2
P.m., Thursday, February 28,
1985, at which time they will be
opened and read aloud.
INFORMATION & BIDDING
DOCUMENTS: Plans, Speci-
fications and Bid Documents
maybe obtained by contact-
ing Holster & Associates, 7607
Eastmark, Suite 200, College
Station, Texas, 77840, (409)
693-3179. A plan deposit of
$100.00 which may be in the
form of a check drawn on the
firm's business bank account
or a certified or cashier's
check made payable to the
Architect, will be required for
each set of Drawings and
Specifications.
General Contractors may ob-
tain two sets of Drawings and
Specifications by deposit.
Mechanical, Electrical, and
Plumbing Subcontractors may
obtain one set of Drawings
and Specifications by deposit.
Thee contractors may obtain
additional sets and all other
,Subcontractors and Material
Suppliers may obtain sets of
Drawings and Specifications
for the purchase price of one
hu-nd ed dollars ($100.00) per
,het irlthe form of two checks
•fCr fifty dollars ($50.00) each
payable to the Architect.
Full deposits will be returned
to those bidders who submit a
competitive bid at the time
and place specified and who
return the Drawings and
Specifications to the Ar-
chitect in good condition
within fifteen days after the
date of bid opening. One half
of the deposit will be returned
to those bidders who receive
Drawings and Specifications
by deposit but discover they
will be unable to submit a bid
and return the Drawings and
Specifications to the Ar-
chitect in good condition
within five days from the date
they received them, but not
later than seven days prior to
ryte bid opening date. No full
I ands will be made on pur-
chased sets; however, one
half of the purchase price will
THE EAGLE /SUNDAY,
be refunded to those who re-
turn the Drawings and
Specifications to the Ar-
chitect in good condition
within fifteen days after the
date of bid opening. No partial
sets of Drawings and Specifi-
cations will be issued.
Each bidder shall submit with
his proposal an acceptable
bidder's bond made payable
to City of College Station,
Texas, in the amount of not
less than 5% of the total of the
bidder's proposals as a
guarantee that, if awarded the
contract, the bidder will
promptly enter into a contract
with the Owner and provide
the required performance and
Payment bonds and
insurance.
The Owner reserves the right
to reject any or all bids and
waive informalities and
irregularities.
No bidder may withdraw his
bid within 30 days after the
actual date of the opening
thereof.
02.05- 85,02_06- 85,02_10-M
FEBRUARY 10, 1985
•
0
Park development heariniz set
Public hearings will be held
tonight on the development of three
parks in College Station.
Development of Richard Carter
Park, Windwood Park and the 400 -
acre regional park will be discussed at
7 p.m. in room 127 of the Commun-
ity Center, 1300 Jersey St.
The hearings will be held during
the College Station Parks and Recrea-
tion Board meeting.
Board members also will discuss
entering into an agreement with
Texas A &M for the use of Hensel
Park.
Also on the agenda is a discussion
of the winter pool operations. The
board will consider cutting the pool's
operating hours because it no longer
has an airdome.
THE EAGLE /TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1985
• TO WHOM ITMAYCONCERN:
The Zoning Board of Adjust-
ment for the City of College
Station will consider a request
fora variance in the name of:
Gary Nelson
110 Pershing
College Station, Texas 77840
Said case will be heard by the
Board at the regular meeting
in the College Station Com-
munity Center, Room 127,1300
Jersey, College Station,
Texas on Tuesday, February
19,1985 at 7:00 p, m.
The nature of the case is as
follows:
Applicant requests a variance
to the rear setback in order to
construct a carport 13 feet
from the rear lot line at 110
Pershing, College Station,
Texas.
Further information is availa-
ble at the office of the Zoning
Official of the City Of College
Station, (409) 764 -3570.
Jane R. Kee
Zoning Official
02 -13-85
0
TO WHOM IT MAy
The College Station City
Council will hold a public
hearing on the question of re-
zoning the following property:
Lots 5-19, Block D, University
Park Section 1 from Apart.
ments LOW Density District R-
4 to General Commercial Dis-
trict C -1. Application is in the
name of Randy Goldsmith, Inc.
The said hearing will be held
in the College Station Com-
munity Center, 1300 Jersey at
the 7:00 P.M. meeting of the
City Council on Thursday,
February 28,1985.
For additional information,
please contact me.
James M. Callaway
Assistant Director of Planning
02 -13-85
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
The College Station City
Council will hold a public
hearing on the question of re-
zoning the following property:
A 53.38 acre tract (the pro-
Posed Southwood Valley Sec-
tion 25, Blocks 45 & 65),
located between Welsh
Avenue and Rio Grande
Boulevard, along the pro-
posed extension of Deacon
Drive, from Agriculture -Open
District A -O to Single Family
Residential District R -1. Ap-
Teen center
update
I would like to express my appre-
ciation to Brad Owens and the Eagle
Editorial Board and to all of the con-
tributors, parents and the College
Station City Council for their sup-
port of the idea for Shenanigans
Teen Center.
I think a report on the Grand
Opening weekend is in order. As we
had expected, the Friday night dance
for the high school got off to a rather
slow start with about sixty students
coming and going throughout the
evening. I think this was partly due
to inadequate publicity at the high
school and to the unpredictable na-
ture of high school students.
The Saturday night dance was en-
tirely a different story. There must
have been 200 or more students
there for the entire three hours. We
are still in the process of working out
rules, regulations, policies and proc-
edures as we evaluate the center's
activities and crowd, but it is appa-
rent that there is definitely a need.
We want parents and students to
feel free to make recommendations
that will be considered. For the pre-
sent, my staff and I recognize the
need to make some minor changes in
times and age groups to safely
accomodate the students.
1.) Friday nights will be alter-
nately designated for 6th graders and
junior high students. The first and
third Friday will be for junior high
and the 2nd and 4th for 6th graders.
Occasional 5th Friday's will be open
to both. The hours will be from 7 -10
p.m. After school hours will remain
THE EAGLE /WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1985
from 3 -6 p.m.
2.) Saturdays will remain high
school nights from 7 -12 p.m. unless
they prove to be inadequately
attended by the high school stu-
dents. (This is entirely up to them,
however. We won't try to push them
into coming because there are others
who will use it if they don't.)
3.) Membership cards will be re-
quired for all 6th -8th graders after
Feb. 14.
Membership for high school stu-
dents will be put on hold temporarily
until interest builds.
4.) Rules and regulations will be
strictly enforced for everyone's
safety and enjoyment and not just
because they are teenagers. Even the
adults who party at the Community
Center have guidelines and rules
within which they can socialize.
Again, our many thanks for your
encouragement and support. We
hope to provide a place that the com-
munity will be proud of.
Peggy Calliham
Community Center Director
College Station
0
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CS to change streetlights
The blueish glow emitted from the city of College Station each night
will change to orange this year.
The city council decided Wednesday to change its mercury vapor
streetlights, which give out a blue -green light, to high - pressure sodium
lights, which give out a yellow- orange glow.
The change will save the city $51,323 and 958,600 kilowatt-hours of
Shear city every year, said College Station energy specialist Charlie
The sodium lamps emit more light using less energy than the mercur-
ies, Shear said. A mercury vapor light puts out 40 to 60 lumens (a
measure of light intensity) per watt; alight
80 to 120 lumens per watt. high - pressure sodium light puts out
Maintenance for the new lights also will be easier, he said.
Changing the city's 1,735 streetlights will cost about $117,322, he
said. He suggested the money be taken from the Gulf States Utilities
rebate.
GSU has returned to College Station $700,000 that it overcharged the
city for electricity in 1981 -82. _ DIANE BLAKE -BOWEN
CS City Counc
The College Station City Council
will meet at 7 p.m. today in the Col-
lege Station Community Center,
1300 Jersey Ave.
Council members will award bids
it meets tonight
for construction of a drainage project
next to the Dexter Place subdivision.
They also will consider a site plan for
Wayne Smith Park and a develop-
ment program for Richard Carter
Park.
THE EAGLE /THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1985
•
•
•
College Station
to install 6 new
traffic signals
By MICHAEL CRAWFORD
Staff Writer ,
It will soon take longer to travel
down Southwest Parkway. The Col-
lege Station City Council Thursday
authorized the construction of six
traffic signals — four to be on South-
west Parkway.
Director of Capital Improvements
Elrey Ash said vehicle and pedes-
trian traffic on Southwest Parkway
had increased, creating the need for
the signals. The four signals will be
placed at the intersections of South-
west Parkway and Anderson Street,
Glade Street, Southwood Drive and
Welsh Avenue. Construction will be
completed in October.
Two other signals will be built at
the intersections of Wellborn Road
and Holleman Drive, and FM 2818
and Welsh Avenue.
Ash said the signals were part of a
five -year capital improvement pro-
gram begun in 1981. The city will
pay $251,000 to Houston -based
Electric Power Specialists for the sig-
nals. The city will pay an additional
$82,253 to another company for the
traffic signal controllers.
The council also authorized the
Parks and Recreation Department to
develop plans for Richard Carter
Park. The park, a sesquicentennial
project of the city, is located at the
corner of East Bypass Frontage
Road and Brazoswood Drive.
Part of the proposal for the park's
development included a 60 foot tall
flagpole to fly a 15 by 25 foot Texas
flag.
That aspect of the plan drew crit-
icism from council members who
wondered if the flagpole's height
would violate the city's proposed
sign ordinance. The ordinance, if
approved, would limit signs along
Highway 21 to 50 feet. City Attorney
Cathy Locke said, "It's a question of
whether or not you want to live by
the same ordinance you're imposing
on the rest of the city." The program
was approved unanimously, but
Mayor Gary Halter asked the Parks
Department to, "Give a little thought
to the flag."
THE BATTALION /FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1985
CS officials outline park plans
By DIANE BLAKE BOWEN
flower arrangements, he said.
Staff Writer
Jody Bates, a member of the Bra -
Proposals for development of Col-
zos County Sesquicentennial Com-
lege Station's Richard Carter Park,
Winwood Park and the 400
mission, suggested the park have
-acre re-
gional park have been outlined by
adequate facilities to accommodate
large groups such as school classes or
city parks officials.
Girl Scout troops.
The plans were discussed this
week at three public hearings held to
Board member John Crompton
said he would like to see plenty of
get citizens' suggestions for park de-
flowers there.
velopment.
The city is making special plans for
The Winwood Park will be a 1 -acre
neighborhood park located at Brook -
Richard Carter Park, College Sta-
way West and Appomattox Drive in
tion's official sesquicentennial pro-
the Winwood subdivision.
ject. Located at the East Bypass and
Proposed at its public hearing were
Brazoswood Drive, the 6 -acre site
a gazebo, signs, a drinking fountain,
will be the city's first historical park.
playground equipment, a half -court
Among the features proposed there
basketball court, a kiosk (a roofed
are a historical marker, a 60 -foot
flagpole with a large Texas flag,
'bulletin board), benches and side -
a 0
fountain, a sculpture, a gazebo„
"discovery"
The park is heavily wooded with
signs, a garden, drink -`'
large oak, elm and cedar trees and a
ing fountains, landscaping, decora-
great deal of yaupon underbrush,
tive fencing, benches and a relocated
Carter family cemetery.
according to slides shown at the
The discovery garden would have
meeting.
Crompton objected to developing
walkways, native plants and some
the park at the expense of the plants
small -scale play equipment, said
and trees growing there.
Andy Czimskey, assistant director of
the College Station Parks Recrea-
"It's a unique site. It's a beautiful
and
tion Department.
site," Crompton said. "That's not
the appropriate approach for a un-
The flagpole could have a star-
iquely beautiful site."
shaped base planted with seasonal
The board voted to eliminate the
kiosk, sidewalks, gazebo and basket-
ball court, unless they could be added
without damaging the vegetation.
The 400 -acre regional park is lo-
cated at the industrial park site on
Highway 6 south of College Station,
next to Rock Prairie Road.
For that park, the board voted to
locate camping areas, site improve-
ments and support facilities in the
northern side of the tract, near where
wastewater services are planned
soon.
Amenities for the park had been
decided at a previous public hearing.
They include hiking and nature trails,
pedestrian bridges, a pond with
fishing piers, a playground, 10 re-
creational vehicle hook -ups, indi-
vidual shelters, group shelters, areas
for primitive tent camping, an in-
formation center, rest rooms with
showers, a supervisor's residence, a
maintenance facility, roadway park-
ing areas and a rural life interpretive
center.
The hearings this week were part
of a series held on parks by the city.
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CS sets election date
The city of College Station has set the election for
council places 1, 3 and 5 for April 6.
Also on the ballot will be a proposition on whether
the city should sell Pecan Tree Park.
Located near Southwest Parkway, the one - half -acre
park is too small to develop adequately, city officials
said.
State law requires the city to get voter approval of
any park land sale.
The council positions to come open are held now by
Gary Anderson and Alvin H. Prause. Vicky Reinke
vacated her post when she moved in January.
Polling places for the election will be the same as for
last year's. — DIANE BLAKE -BOWEN
Park site plan approved
A site plan for Wayne Smith Park has been approved
by the College Station City Council.
The park, located at Montclair and Luther streets
near Lincoln Center, once was the site of a Little
League baseball field.
The new features will be a play area, with seating
under a large mesquite tree, picnic units (one covered),
drinking fountains and walkways.
When money is available, two basketball courts will
be built at Wayne Smith, city officials said.
College Station has $35,000 from the Community
Development Program to develop the park. — DIANE
BLAKE -BOWEN
City to help widen highway
The College Station City Council agreed formally
Thursday to help the state widen Highway 30.
The city agreed to build curbs, gutters and storm
sewers along the mile and a half of Highway 30 from
Loop 507 to the Highway 6 interchange, where the
widening is planned.
City officials had no estimate of when the work will
begin. — DIANE BLAKE -BOWEN
THE EAGLE /FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1985
Tongco Tiles for CS council
E
Terri Tongco filed Thursday for
Place 3 on the College Station City
Council.
A member of the Planning and
Zoning Commission for one year,
Tongco said she
is running for
council to have
r more of an
opportunity to
participate in
city decisions.
"Basically,
I'm interested in
Tongco how the com-
d unity progresses, how the funds
ire spent and that they're used judi-
e csously," she said.
"Our area wants to progress and it
isn't quite sure which way it wants to
head," she said, adding that she
wants to help decide on directions
for the city's progress.
Tongco lost a bid for city council
last year to Pat Boughton. She is
seeking the seat vacated earlier this
year by Vicky Reinke, who moved
to Maryland.
She previously has held positions
on the Catholic School Board and
Church Council in Michigan and on
the Recreation Board in Wyoming.
Tongco is a nurse at Texas Instru-
ments. She and her husband, Russ,
have three sons and have lived in
College Station for four years.
CS City Council OKs 6 traffic lights
The purchase of six new traffic
lights, four of which will be installed
on Southwest Parkway, was
approved Thursday by the College
Station City Council.
The city will pay $251,000 to Elec-
tric Power Specialists of Houston for
the lights.
They will be located at: ■ Southwest Parkway and Welsh
■ Southwest Parkway and Ander-
son Street,
■ Southwest Parkway and Glade
Street,
■ Southwest Parkway and South-
wood Drive,
Avenue,
■ FM 2818 and Welsh Avenue,
and
■ FM 2154 and Holleman Drive.
All will be installed by Oct. 1, said
Elrey Ash, College Station capital
improvements director.
THE EAGLE /FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1985
i
Parents sue Cs niioia
The parents of a 21- year-old man
killed in an auto - pedestrian accident
have filed suit against a College Sta-
tion police detective and the city of
College Station.
Calvin Peterson of 1113 Georgia
St. in College Station died in April
1983 after being hit at 11:18 p. m. by a
car driven by Detective Mark Lang-
well, who was on duty, according to
the 272nd District Court suit filed
Thursday.
Peterson's body was knocked into
the oncoming lane of traffic and was
hit again.
Langwell had been traveling south
LV
on Wellborn Road ne th
detective
lion at Southland Street, when intersec-
his wife had been traveling with him
accident occurred.
without authorization.
Peterson's parents, Joseph and
Nora Lee Peterson, are seeking about
Langwell had been answering a
$432,000 in damages, which include
call for assistance from another
medical and funeral expenses for
police officer when the accident
their son.
occurred.
The accident was investigated by
the police department, the Texas De-
The Petersons claim in their suit
partment of Safety and the district
that Langwell was driving at an ex-
attorney's office at the time, accord-
cessive speed, failed to timely apply
his breaks
ing to police reports.
or sound his horn in
No criminal negligence charges
warning.
were filed against Langwell.
Langwell was suspended four days
College Station City Attorney
Cathy Locke would not
without pay after the incident because
comment on
the litigation.
THE EAGLE /SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1985
CS pays police less than Bryan
But College Station has had a hard
time keeping its officers on the force
long enough to reach such salary
goals.
Feldman said high turnover always
has been a problem in College Sta-
tion.
The turnover rate at College Sta-
tion was 15 percent in 1984, when
eight officers left, and the same in
1983, said Karen Dixon, director of
personnel for the city.
College Station Police Chief Mar-
vin Byrd said that there was a point in
1984 when the department had eight
vacancies.
The high number of vacancies may
By VIRGINIA KIRK
Staff Writer
Their departments may be close
together geographically and similar
in size, but Bryan and College Station
police officers are far apart finan-
cially.
College Station police officers are
making 17 percent less than Bryan
officers in the first year and seven
percent less after they become certi-
fied.
A Bryan police officer starts out on
a years probation making $18,408 a
year. After a year, the officer is certi-
fied and automatically raised to
$20,280.
In College Station, a trainee make
$15,696 his first year. But if he com-
es to College Station already having
been trained in Texas for an officer's
job, he is paid the same as any other
certified officer in the department —
$18,852.
After that, raises for officers are
awarded accordinly to different sys-
terris in each of the deparonents. The
Bryan officer is paid under a civil
service system and receives the same
pay as every other officer in his rank
with the same seniority.
In College Station, officers' raises
are based on a new merit system.
Police Maj. Edgar Feldman said that
under the merit system, a patrol offic-
er eventually can make up to $2,100 a
month — more than $26,000 — if he
does a good job.
Turn to CS, page 14A
CJ
6
CS police earn less
than Bryan officers
From page 1A
have meant fewer patrol officers on
the streets at certain times, but the
city never was underprotected,,Eiyrd
said.
Turnover in Bryan for 19834 13
percent, but the rate dropped to 8
percent in 1984.
College Station officials don't
attribute the turnover rate to the level
of police pay, de spite similar high
rates at other departments in Texas
that also pay low police wages — and
despite a similar experience of Bryan
police administrators several years
ago.
"Salaries were raised several years
ago because the turnover rate was up-
ward to 50 percent," Bryan Police
Training Officer Jeff Haislet said.
Haislet said that at the time, a num-
ber of officers were leaving the force
for higher paying jobs in private in-
dustry .
Haislet said Bryan City Manager
Ernest Clark looked at police salaries
then and recommended that the city
pay whatever it takes to keep its
police ranks filled and to bring Bryan
salaries in line with the statewide eco-
nomy.
Haislet said the salary ingreases
have helped to keep the turltbver rate
down and have helped attrad6 higher
i w
L lity police officer.
Other u: partments experience
similar problems.
A starting officer in San Angelo
makes only $1,442 a moMtT. San
Angelo police Personnel Director
Kelly Ivy said that beginner's salary
is the sixth worst for recruits in the
state, and the city usually has about
10 vacancies in its police ranks.
New officers in Longview are paid
$1,494 a month, raised to $1,625.75
after one year. Turnover there is 13
percent.
Byrd suggested that it might be
possible to fill his ranks more easily if
the department's hiring procedure
were not as strict. The department is
making some changes.
"Out of 100 people, there are only
eight or 10 who qualify," Byrd said.
"We may be setting our qualifica-
tions too high."
Dropping some restrictions, such
as automatic rejection of persons who
admit to having used marijuana or
persons with traffic tickets, may be a
solution, he said.
College Station's hiring process
can take up to three months. Appli-
cants g6 through extensive psycholo-
gical testing, a thorough background
investigation and polygraph and civil
Deputies have
best salaries
The Brazos County Sheriff's
Department offers its deputies the
best starting salaries available to
law enforcement officers locally.
Deputies start out at $22,026 for
the first three months and are
raised to $22,907 after that, Sher-
iff Ron Miller said.
Miller said the department tries
to hire deputies who already have
been certified. He said the higher
pay is also necessary because of
the amount of work required.
There are so few patrol deputies
hired by the county, he said, that
patrol deputies on the force are
also often placed on an informal
24 -hour call.
Officers employed by the Texas
A &M University Police start at a
salary of $16,308 and receive a
raise to $16,869 after their first
year's service.
service testing.
Feldman says the procedures make
it difficult to fill vacancies quickly.
Once officers are hired, it takes up to
six months in College Station and
Bryan before a man or woman is cer-
tified and available to increase de-
partment manpower by putting an
additional unit on the streets.
"An awful lot of people want to
get into police work and then find out
what it's about," Feldman said. "It's
not the high -speed chases you see on
TV. A lot of new police officers have
the John Wayne syndrome. First they
go through this macho trip, and then
they go back down,.. j%4X
�h.e � I ?, ►
&g)e- l Su hduy , fe � . �j g�
•
I� J
Byrd said the, lack of opportunities
for advancement in the department
may lead some officers to take police
work in other cities.
"There's not much turnover at the
top," Byrd said. He said he would
like to create more sergeant positions
in the future.
Feldman said College Station only
has two vacancies in the patrol divi-
sion at the moment. Five officers who
just completed the police academy
now will begin their patrol training.
Feldman said he would like to see
the department try to project its
vacancies and hire a few officers ev-
ery six months and give them a mini -
academy before sending them to the
Texas A &M 8 -week training
academy.
Different reasons are given for the
;alary differences between the two
lepartments, and some officers in
.)oth complain about their pay.
Police officers face two different
kinds of challenges in Bryan and Col-
lege Station, and Haislet said that
could be a reason Bryan pays its
officers better.
"We deal with a different clientele
than College Station," Haislet said.
"They don't have low - income areas
or the minority groups that we do.
We're an older city and have a lot of
federally subsidized housing.. .
"In College Station, it's basically
students and WASPs. I would think
they mainly handle traffic and minor
disturbances. "
Feldman said: "The officers ex-
press dissatisfaction all the time.
They want to make as much money as
they possibly can.
"I would like to see starting salar-
ies go up, but that's not the solution.
If an officer makes a lot and isn't
happy, what difference does it
make ?"
Salaries may be better in Bryan,
but Officer Hugh Wallace, president
of the Bryan Police Officers Associa-
tion, said it is hard to support a family
on the salary offered by either city.
"They're not buying new cars or
new homes," Wallace added. Most
police officers work second jobs or
their spouses work, he said.
Feldman said at least 50 percent of
College Station's officers are current-
ly working part-time jobs, Feldman
said.
"If we don't pay enough, they
havA) take part-time jobs," he said.
Benefits in College Station are
similar to those in Bryan but fall short
in offering college incentives.
In Bryan, an officer with a four -
year college degree and two years of
police experience makes $50 more
each month in "certification pay.'
Certification pay goes up to $75 more
a month for officers with a bachelor's'
degree and six years of experience or
a master's degree and four years of
experience. _
Haislet said a plan to offer incen-
tive pay to officers with degrees per-
taining to law enforcement is being
researched.
"It would encourage others to go
to school and get their degrees." But
Haislet added that several Bryan
officers currently have college de-
grees, and because of that the plan
may not be monetarily feasible.
One College Station officer with a
degree said that there is no incentive
for police officers to work toward a
college degree in his department.
"You would think College Sta-
tion, being a' college town, would
push for it," he said. "They encour-
age in- service schools but not a col-
lege education." The officer asked
that he not be identified.
• THE EAGLE /SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1985
H
It's a grand old flag
•
Mayors Ron Blatchley of Bryan and Gary Halter of College Station
and Brazos County Judge R.J. Holmgreen have signed proclamations
designating this week as National Patriotism Week.
Exalted Ruler Bill Farmer of Bryan Lodge No. 2096 of the Benevo-
lent and Protective Order of Elks says that his organization' is urging
county residents to *fly their flags as .part of the weeklong observance.
THE EAGLE /MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1985
� A &M student
considers
council seat
By JERRY OSLIN
Staff Writer
A Texas A &M student said Sun-
day he is "very strongly" considering
running for a spot 6 the College
Station City Council.
Michael Hachtman, a junior in-
dustrial distribution major from Dal-
las, said he is considering running
because students at A &M are not
really represented in the Council
and that College Station needs to
broaden its economic base.
Hachtman has been the Student
Senate's liason with the council for
two years.
Hachtman, 20, said three places
on the council will open on April 6
but none of the incumbents will run.
• "I will be the closest thing to an in-
cumbent in the election if I were to
run," 'he said.
Hachtman said he has received fa-
vorable feedback from people who
know he is considering the job.
"After talking to me they realize
that I'm not some fly -by -night stu-
dent," he said. "They know I have
done my homework."
Hachtman said the biggest prob-
lem facing the community is the
need,to diversify its economic base.
"The community is too dependant
on A &M and on oil," he said. "The
oil glut has hurt College Station and
the coming budget cuts for A &M
will hurt it even more. We need to
attract more business so we won't be
hurt as much."
Hachtman said he wants to rep-
resent the whole community and not
just students.
"If I represented just the students
of A &M, I would be alienating the
rest of the community," he said
THE BATTALION /MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1985
Gardner,
Jim Gardner and Roy W. Kelly,
who have both served as City Coun-
cil members and planning and zon-
ing commissioners, filed Monday to'
run for the College Station City
Council.
Kelly, the owner of A -1 Auto
Parts, is running for Place L Gard-
ner has filed to seek Place 5.
Gardner served on the council
from 1974 -78 and on the Planning
and Zoning Commission from 1968-
70 and 1980 -82. Kelly was a mem-
ber of the council in 1980 -81 and of
the Planning and Zoning Commis-
sion from 1981 -83.
In a prepared statement, Gardner
said: "As a city planner and a Col-
lege Station citizen for nearly 20
years, I have a continuing strong in-
terest in my community's future."
"Now that I am semi - retired, I
would like to devote more time to
city growth problems and opportuni-
ties," he said. "I think I can be most
effective doing this as a city coun-
cilman."
Garner said that if he is elected, he t
will work for planned, economically
sound growth, open government,
neighborhood protection and sound t
Kelly file for CS council
fiscal management.
Kelly said he wants to give the
city a representative from business.
"I'm seeking a position on the coun-
cil to unify it, and to have full repre-
sentation of the city on the council,"
he said.
Kelly is a board member of the
Brazos County Private Industrial
Council and a member of the Col-
lege Station Morning Lions Club
and St. Anthony's Catholic Church.
He and his wife, Dorothy, have
been residents of College Station for
25 years. They have three children.
Gardner has been a resident of
College Station for 19 years. He has
worked as a professor of city plan-
ning at Texas A &M, the owner of a
planning consulting firm, and as
vice president of a West Coast en-
gineering company.
Gardner has degrees in
architecture from the University of
Southern California and in city plan-
ning from the Massachusetts Insti-
ute of Technology.
He is a World War 11 veteran.
Gardner and his wife, Terese, have
wo children.
00
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Roy W. Kelly Jim Gardner
.•
Any implications in
Batt unintentional
EDITOR:
I would like to apologize to Dr. Alvin
Prause and Mr. Gary Anderson for
statements made in an article entitled
"A &M Student Considers Council Seat"
in the Feb. 18 BattalionA would also
like to apologize to The Battalion's
writer Jerry Oslin for not making myself
more clear. I by no means intended to
decide that Anderson and Prause were
not running for reelection. What I in-
tended to say was that rumors had it
that they might not run and that they
had not made their intentions known
yet. If they did not run then I might be
considered the closest thing to an in-
cumbent. Again I apologize to all con-
cerned and hope this statement clears
up some questions.
Mike Hachtman
Class of '86
THE BATTALION /TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1985
•
1 9
Fire Station Work
In College Station
Released For Bids
Holster and Associates,
Architects, 7607 EastMark Dr.,
Suite 200, College Station 77840,
is releasing plans and
specifications for the construction
of an addition to the Central Fire
Station located on Texas Ave. in
College Station for the City of
College Station, owner.
Bids will be received by the
owner in the office of the Director
of Captial Improvements, City
Hall, 1101 Texas Ave., College
Station 77840, until 2 p.m.
Thursday, February 28.
The project will consist of a
one -story addition containing
approximately 4,876 square feet
of floor area. The work will
include concrete foundation over
precast panels on semi -rigid
insulation; steel beams; precast
panel exterior walls; builtup roof
over lightweight insulating
concrete on steel and precast
concrete panel roof deck; gypsum
board, vinyl wallcovering, ceramic
tile and fire retardant carpet
interior walls; resilient, carpet,
concrete, ceramic tile, quarry tile
and vinyl composition tile floors;
layin acoustical tile and exposed
structure ceilings; hollow metal
and wood doors; hollow metal
door frames; aluminum
storefront; plastic laminate toilet
partitions; • carpentry; millwork;
painting; graphics; moisture
protection; lath and plastering;
finish hareware; toilet accessories;
handrails and railings; glass and
glazing; identifying devices; food
service and dispatch equipment;
blinds, and plumbing, electrical
and mechanical work. Also
included will be site work;
demolition; site clearing;
landscaping (allowance); flagpole,
and concrete curb, ramps and
walks.
All work will be included in the
prime contract.
A five percent bid bond is
required with each bid.
Robertson Engineering
Consulting Engineers, Bryan, is
the structural engineer, and
Walton and Associates Consulting
Engineers, Inc., Bryan, is the
mechanical engineer.
Two sets of plans and
specifications are on file in The
AGC Plan Rooms.
THE AGC NEWS SERVICE /TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1985
0
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
The College Station Planning
and Zoning Commission will
hold a public hearing on the
question of rezoning the fol-
lowing property: A 91.68 acre
tract located at the northwest
corner of the intersection of
State Highway 6 and Barron
Road (Robert Stevenson
League A -54) from Agricul-
tural -Open District A -O to C -1
General Commercial (11.03
ac.), R -1A Single Family (8.71
ac.) and R -1 Single Family
(71.94 ac.). Application is in the
name of GarrefA�Engineering.
The hearing Wilrbe held in the
College Sta�i. Community
Center, 1300 Jersey Street at
the 7:00 P.M. meeting of the
Planning and igoning Com-
mission on Thur§§dd88y, March 7,
1985.
For additional information,
please contact me.
James M. Callaway
Assistant Director of Planning
02 -20 -85
TO WHOM ITMAYCONCERN:
The College Station Planning
and Zoning Commission will
hold a public hearing on the
question of rezoning the fol-
lowing property: Lot 1, Block 3,
Prairie View Heights (618
Banks) from R -1 Single Family
Residential to C -1 General
Commercial. Application is in
the name of John David Joyce
J D's Old Time Sno Cones.
The hearing will be held in the
College Station Community
Center, 1300 Jersey Street at
the 7:00 P.M. meeting of the
Planning and Zoning Com-
mission on Thursday. March 7,
1985.
For additional information,
please contact me.
James M. Callaway
Assistant Director of Planning
02 -20 -85
NOTICE OF
PUBLICHEARING:
The College Station Planning
& Zoning Commission will
hold a public hearing on the
question of granting. a Condi-
tional Use Permit for enlarg-
ing an existing infant child
care center which is located in
the Plantation Oaks Apart-
ment Complex at 1501 Harvey
Road No, 601.
The request for Use Permit is
in the name of Bundles of
Blessings.
The hearing will be held in the
College Station Community
Center, 1300 Jersey Street at
the 7:00 P.M. meetingg of the
Planning & Zoning Commis-
sion on Thursday, March 7,
1985.
For additional information,
contact the City Planner's of-
fice(
James M. Callaway
Assistant Director of Planning
02 -20 -85
CS t negotiate
utility contract
The College Station City Council au-
thorized the city manager Tuesday to
negotiate an agreement with the Lone
Star Municipal Power Agency.
The agreement would allow the
LSMPA to buy power from Gulf States
Utilities, provided that:
■ If the L SMPA buys College Sta-
tion's utility substations, a buy -back pro-
vision is included an d the substations are
maintained until the buy -back is com-
pleted.
■ No "take or pay" contracts are
considered. Such contracts would force
payment even if no power was bought.
■ All future LSMPA projects are
subject to city council app roval.
THE EAGLE /WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1985
Hann files
for CS City
Council seat
Roy W. Hann Jr. has filed for Place
3 on the College Station City Council.
Hann released his reasons for run-
ning for office in a prepared state-
ment. It said he wants to:
■ Use his
ime, training
nd expertise to
help the city
operate efffcient-
ly, particularly in
the public works
area, where ma-
jor expenses are
Hann contemplated;
■ Help revitalize the local business
community in concert with the further
development of Texas A &M Univer-
sity; and
■ Maintain a quality neighborhood
and community environment.
Hann has been a resident of College
Station and has taught civil engineer-
ing at Texas A &M University for 20
years.
He said he has been enjoying the
benefits of this community for the past
20 years and now he wants to make a
contribution to it by serving on the
council.
A professor of civil engineering,
Hann heads the Environmental En-
gineering Division of the Civil En-
gineering Department at the A &M
Engineering Experiment Station. He
directs an environmental engineering
teaching and research program with a
budget ranging from $3 million to $4
million a year.
He owns student - oriented housing
in the Bryan- College Station area and
said he advocates apartment residents'
rights and responsibilities.
Hann is a charter' member and past
president of the Bryan- College Station
Apartment Association. He also is a
commercial pilot and a licensed real
estate broker.
Hann said his ' engineering
background I'Vill help the city on long -
range issues such as dealing with wa-
ter supply, solid waste and electrical
power.
He has been a consulting engineer
to United Nations agencies, the feder-
al government and private industry on
a wide variety of environmental sub-
jects, including environmental litiga-
tion.
Among his honors Hann lists the
national Palladium Medal for en-
gineering contributions to environ-
mental conservation.
J
One box for three P recincts
Last week when the College Sta-
tion City Council set its municipal
election date and approved the voting
places, one voting box was desig-
nated for Precincts 21, 35 and 20,
which includes the Texas A &M
campus.
Mike Hachtman, the council stu-
dent liaison, questioned whether one
box would be enough for those pre-
cincts, given the fact that more than
5,000 students were registered to
vote in the general election last fall.
But council members explained
that the election will be held April 6
— Easter weekend — when few stu-
dents will be io town, and when the
Memorial Student Center will be
closed.
Also, in the last city election, only
two people — the election judge and
the alternate — voted on the campus
box, they said.
And the city has had trouble find-
ing people who will give up an entire
Saturday to work the election. The
judges have to be at the polls from
before 7 a.m. till after 7 p.m.
The number of people who voted
last time hardly justifies spending
even more to set up another voting
box on campus, the council said.
Voters in precincts 20, 21 and 35
will cast their votes at the College
Station Municipal Building at 101
Church Ave.
Grant Swartzwelder, president of
the Aggie GOP, said Tuesday he dis-
agreeu with the council's action.
"It's a shame," he said. "I de-
finitely feel the students will be
here." He added that Precinct 20 is
the largest in Brazos County.
He also said. "it's a nice little
walk" from campus to Precinct 35.
Church Avenue is two blocks north of
Texas A &M.
Swartzwelder said his group plans
to be active in this election, but no
decision has been made on whom it
will back.
No one saluted
The College Station Parks and Re-
creation Department was asked
Thursday to modify its proposal to
erect a 60 -foot flagpole on the city's
sesquicentennial project, Richard
Carter Park.
The department had proposed
flying a large Texas flag there to help
mark the state's 150th birthday. The
flag would complement the U.S. flag
flown nearby at Furrow Building
Materials.
But the flag at 60 feet would be
higher than the new sign ordinance
would permit commercial signs to be
THE EAGLE /WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1985
built, and City Attorney Cathy Locke
pointed out that the city might want to
adhere to the same height standards it
imposes on its constituents. The ordi-
nance limits signs on the East Bypass
to 50 feet.
The council agreed. Lynn
McIlhaney asked that the pole be re-
duced to 50 feet tall, and Mayor Gary
Halter added, "1 would go for a little
smaller flag — unless we're going to
sell lumber. "
Just a suggestion
Larry Ringer, chairman of the Col-
lege Station Library Committee, had
an unusual request of city council last
week before his presentation on
whether a library should be estab-
lished.
Ringer had run . in the Eagle
Straight -Shot IOK race Feb. 10, and
he thanked the council for the help in
making the event a success.
But he did have one suggestion:
Couldn't the city somehow find a
way to level the hill in front of Bud
Ward Volkswagen? It seems to get
higher every year.
f
Student
could be an.
asset to city c
A Texas A &M student is considering running for a seat on
the College Station City Council. It's about time.
Mike Hachtman, an A &M junior, has been the Student Sen-
ate liaison to the city council for two years. This position, al-
though a non - voting position on the council, has placed Hacht-
man in an informed and responsible position.
Many people feel students have no place on the city council
because they are transient and, therefore, probably aren't con-
cerned with the long -term effects of city legislation. However,
Hachtman has demonstrated his interest and concern for the
College Station community with his two years of experience on
the council.
Students may live here for no more than four or five years,
but they are an important part of the community and its es
nomic structure. True, most students don't pay property taxes
here. But they do pay sales tax. And they are affected by ele raf-
t
city costs, phone and cable costs, road repairs and upkeep, t
fic laws and enforcement.
As a city councilman, Hachtman would be representing all
students — not just himself, not just current students, but all stu-
dents to come.
will follow Hachtman's example
The fear that more students
and take over local government is far - fetched at best. Being a
city council member is a time - consuming job. There is not going
to be a rush of students eager to become city councilmen. Only
those truly concerned with the city, with fair representation of
students in the city, would consider running. Being a student is a
full -time job in itself.
Hachtman is an exception to that rule. He has proven he is
not apathetic about the community. And if given the chance, he
could be an asset to the council and the community. He could
provide fresh insight from a different, but important, perspec-
tive — that of more than 33,000 A &M .students.
If Hachtman does decide to run, it may show those in the
community who fear student involvement that while many stu-
dents are here today and gone tomorrow, their concerns for
their community are not.
The Battalion Editorial Board
THE BATTALION /WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1985
E
U
College Station Fire Sta. Wk. Due Feb. 28
City of College Station, owner, will receive bids for the construction
of an addition to the Central Fire Station located on Texas Ave. in Col-
lege Station until 2 p.m. Thursday, February 28. The bids will be receiv-
ed by the owner in the office of the Director of Capital Improvements,
City Hall, 1101 Texas Ave., College Station 77840.
The project will consist of a one -story addition containing approx-
imately 4,876 square feet of floor area. The work will include concrete
foundation over precast panels on semi -rigid insulation; steel beams;
precast panel exterior walls; builtup roof over lightweight insulating
concrete on steel and precast concrete panel roof deck; gypsum board,
vinyl wallcovering, ceramic the and fire retardant carpet interior walls;
resilient, carpet, concrete, ceramic tile, quarry tile and vinyl composi-
tion tile floors; layin acoustical tile and exposed structure ceilings;
hollow metal and wood doors; hollow metal door frames; aluminum
storefront; plastic laminate toilet partitions; carpentry; millwork; pain-
ting; graphics; moisture protection; lath and plastering; finish hareware;
toilet accessories; handrails and railings; glass and glazing; identifying
devices; food service and dispatch equipment; blinds, and plumbing,
electrical and mechanical work. Also included will be site work; demoli-
tion; site clearing; landscaping (allowance); flagpole, and concrete curb,
ramps and walks.
_ All work will be included in the prime contract.
A five percent bid bond is required with each bid.
Holster and Associates, Architects, 7607 EastMark Dr., Suite 200,
College Station 77840; Robertson Engineering Consulting Engineers,
structural engineer, Bryan, and Walton and Associates Consulting
Engineers, Inc., mechanical engineer, Bryan, prepared the plans and
specifications.
Addenda Received -1
Two sets of plans and specifications are on file in The AGC Plan
Rooms. Bidders to date: (Final publication in later issue)
BPC, Inc. Bryan 409 /779 -6492
Bryan Cons(. Bryan 409/846 -4731
R. B. Butler, Inc. Bryan 409/779 -3400
CRAM Const. Pearland 996 -9335
Sentry Const. Bryan 409/779 -1331
THE AGC NEWS SERVICE /FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1985
Student qualified
for C.S. city council
u
EDITOR:
After all the criticism that the Edito-
rial Board has taken, I would like to
praise them for their open- minded
opinion of Mike Hachtman. I think it is
an excellent idea for Hachtman to run
for this position. He is obviously well
qualified, and Texas A &M University
definitely needs quality representation
on the College Station City Council.
Terey B. Counts
Class of '88
THE BATTALION /FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1985
r �
U
Know savage
From the ground u p
CS parks superintendent has worked
her way up through the rank and file
By DIANE BLAKE BOWEN
Staff Writer
College Station parks superinten-
dent Rhoda Savage has worked her
way from the grounds up.
Savage began working for the city
in 1981 as a seasonal Grounds Work-
er I: pulling weeds, mowing grass
and marking ballfields. Now she's in
charge of maintaining College Sta-
tion's 28 parks, making sure all 315
acres are in tip -top shape.
She supervises the parks depart-
ment's largest division, with 25 full -
time workers and a budget of more
than $500,000 a year.
Savage was promoted from district
manager in December to take the
place of David Whatley, who moved
on to greener parkland in New Braun-
fels.
She found her work cut out for her.
An annual report was due two weeks
after she took her new position, and
the parks maintenance department
was involved in several major pro-
jects.
Among those: a new maintenance
shop is being built and another one
renovated; scoreboards are being in-
stalled at Southwood; negotiations
are under way with sports groups for
trash pick -up; and Bee Creek tennis
courts are being re- lighted.
And those projects are in addition
to the usual grounds maintenance me-
asures taken by the department.
Driving through College Station
on. a recent tour of the city's parks,
Savage was quick to point out prob-
lems she needs to solve: erosion at
Gabbard Park, a poorly drained vol-
leyball pit at Southwood, several
areas where grass won't grow.
Another perennial problem is lit-
ter, especially on weekends. Savage
said grounds workers regard trash re-
moval as a waste of time because
there's so much else to be done.
"I wish there was a way to get
people to bring their trash home,"
she said.
In her dream park, the grass grows
lush and green, colorful flowers
abound, and erosion and litter have
gone the way of James Watt.
Savage got into park work by
chance. She took a job in grounds
maintenance to help with graduate
school expenses at Texas A &M. She
had received a degree in biology from
A &M in 1979 and had worked for a
short time in cancer research at the
Health Science Center in San
Antonio.
But she missed the Bryan - College
Station area and returned to get her
master's degree in exercise phy-
siology
"I was in graduate school, and I
needed the money," Savage said.
She began working for the city and,
"I loved it. I love the outdoors. The
whole thing really appealed to me. As
soon as I got with parks, I just really
fell in love with it."
Working in grounds maintenance
was fun, she said. Sometimes she
would bring her friends to a park
where she had worked that day and
show them the area she mowed.
"It was just a big kick for me,"
Savage said.
Savage's goals for College Station
parks include coordinating their acti-
vities with those of Bryan, and shar-
ing ideas between the two cities.
"With the cities this close, there's
no telling what we could do," she
said.
She also said she wants to start an
"Ugly Day" or "Ugly Week," an
idea from fellow parks worker David
Hudspeth. In that week, all parks per-
sonnel will get together and clean up
all the parks together, she said.
A third goal is to beautify the city's
parks with lots of "flowers .and
things."
Within the department, Savage is
including in the monthly safety meet-
ings information that will be useful to
the maintenance workers themselves,
such as how to write a resume.
Her long -term goal is to be a parks
director, but that's far in the future.
"As for now, I know I'll be here a
while," Savage said. "Unless I real-
ly mess up and somebody tells me
I'm not going to be here for a while. "
THE EAGLE /FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1985
0
•
Bond files
to run for
CS council
James B. Bond has filed to seek
Place 5 on the College Station City
Council.
Bond, an attorney, said he wants to
"bring fresh, new representation to
the council."
In a prepared statement, Bond said
his background as a former city attor-
ney and as general counsel for the
A &M System gives him unique in-
sight into governmental ,affairs.
Bond said he wants the various loc-
al governing bodies to work together
to benefit the community.
"1 am interested in balance, good
judgment and cooperation," he said.
"I believe that some truly great pro-
jects can be achieved through inter-
governmental cooperation and that
we need to plan our future with that
cooperation in place."
He said he is not running for office
because he opposes another candi-
date. "My effort to be elected will be
totally positive and offer the voters a
choice," his statement read. "I have
no preconceived agenda nor special
projects to champion."
Bond is a native of College Sta-
tion. He received a bachelor of scien-
ce degree in physical education from
Texas A &M in 1958 and a law degree
from the University of Houston Law
School in 1968.
He served on the Navasota school
board from 1971 -76 and on the Texas
Industrial Commission from 1973-
78.
As a commissioner, Bond said he
became well acquainted with indust-
rial development programs and the
importance of their careful planning.
He is a member of the Rotary Club,
the Bryan - College Station Chamber
of Commerce and the First Baptist
Church of College Station.
Bond and his wife, Mary Beth,
have four children.
THE EAGLE /FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1985
C
James B. Bond
pay more, get less
'In response to a recent letter, the television writer in
the Eagle recounted some of the history leading up to
the current ing awa wl
rented for do h the low priced basic service
doing Y
was weaker than I had expected, but at least some of
the background was presented for those of us who were
not around earlier.
In the column, the writer asked "what more is there
to investigate ?" If that column contained the sum total
of the inquiry, then the answer is "plenty.'
On a recent trip, I made telephone calls from the
airports and obtained information about cable services
in other towns. Three cable systems in larger areas
offered 30 or more channels for $9.50 to $10.50 per
month; the sales person at one company volunteered
that this rate included the converter. The representa-
tives of two systems in smaller towns said that they
offered a basic service of eleven channels at $9.25 per
month, and one of them said that two superstations
(such as WGN from Chicago) were included. Here in
Bryan - College Station, McCaw wants $12.50 a
month.
In cities where all of the networks plus some other
stations are available locally, a cable company has no
need to try to market basic service — in such a situation
it already exists without the cable. But in Brazos Coun-
ty there is a need for basic for those who want
the networks but are not interested in many additional
stations.
In addition to using their new monopoly to eliminate
the low priced service, my sample comparison indi-
cates McCaw wants us to pay more and get less. The
current City Council seems deaf to the facts; 1 hope
those with political abilities will use this issue to put
people on the Council who can rectify the cable TV
situation. J.L. Gattis
College Station
THE EAGLE /SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1985
•
H
1836
CA
G
1986
BR"OS COUNTY
BR YAN & COLLEGE STATION
Sesquicentennial scene
With just over 10 months to go until 1986, the
quicentennial Commission has shifted into high gear.
Brazos County Ses-
A Speakers Bureau is now functioning under the direction of Suzy
Terral. Trained volunteers are prepared to present the commission's
audiovisual show, "Rich Past —
meetings of social and service organizations. ture," at area schools and
Written by Eagle staff writer Paul McKay, "Rich Past —
Bright
pub
Future" public relations tions co a production of the county Sesquicentennial commission's
lic r ammittee. Eagle chief photographer Bill Meeks did the
photography, and Gerry Holmgreen served as archivist, locating the
materials for the slides which illustrate the history of Brazos County. Jim
Dozier is the narrator.
To schedule "Rich Past — Bright Future, " call the Sesquicentennial
office, 823 -1986.
THE EAGLE /MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1985
r1
U
0
College Station Fire Sta. Wk. Due T>1l'
City of College Station, owner, will receive bids for the construction
of an addition to the Central Fire Station located on Texas Ave. in Col-
lege Station until 2 p.m. Thursday, February 28. The bids will be receiv-
ed by the owner in the office of the Director of Capital Improvements,
City Hall, 1101 Texas Ave., College Station 77840.
The project will consist of a one -story addition containing approx-
imately 4,876 square feet of floor area. The work will include concrete
foundation over precast panels on semi -rigid insulation; steel beams;
precast panel exterior walls; builtup roof over lightweight insulating
concrete on steel and precast concrete panel roof deck; gypsum board,
vinyl wallcovering, ceramic tile and fire retardant carpet interior walls;
resilient, carpet, concrete, ceramic tile, quarry tile and vinyl composi-
tion tile floors; layin acoustical tile and exposed structure ceilings;
hollow metal and wood doors; hollow metal door frames; aluminum
storefront; plastic laminate toilet partitions; carpentry; millwork; pain-
ting; graphics; moisture protection; lath and plastering; finish hareware;
toilet accessories; handrails and railings; glass and glazing; identifying
devices; food service and dispatch equipment; blinds, and plumbing,
electrical and mechanical work. Also included will be site work; demoli-
tion; site clearing; landscaping (allowance); flagpole, and concrete curb,
ramps and walks.
All work will be included in the prime contract.
A five percent bid bond is required with each bid.
Holster and Associates, Architects, 7607 EastMark Dr., Suite 200,
College Station 77840; Robertson Engineering Consulting Engineers,
structural engineer, Bryan, and Walton and Associates Consulting
Engineers, Inc., mechanical engineer, Bryan, prepared the plans and
specifications.
Addenda Received -1,2
Two sets of plans and specifications are on file in The AGC Plan
Rooms. Bidders: (Final publication)
BPC, Inc. Bryan 409 /779 -6492
Bryan Const. Bryan 409 /846 -4731
R. B. Butler, Inc. Bryan 409 /779 -3400
CRAM Const. Pearland 996 -9335
Sentry Const. Bryan 409 /779 -1331
THE AGC NEWS SERVICE /TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1985
C
Student city council
liaison to be featured
at Sully's Symposium
Mike Hachtman, the Student
Government liaison to the College
Station City Council, will be the fea-
tured speaker at Sully's Symposium
at noon Wednesday.
Hachtman is considering running
for a city council Position and will
announce his decision concerning
the council position at 2 p.m.
Wednesday in 501 Rudder, he said.
Hachtman, a junior industrial dis-
tribution major, has served as Stu-
dent Government liaison to the city
council for two years. He also rep-
resents off - campus ward II as a stu-
dent senator.
"If I decide to run, I"don't want to
be considered as just a student run-
ning for city council," Hachtman
said
He said his reasons for running
would be two -fold.
"I think students have not been
effectively represented," Hachtman
said.
"But I also think I can represent
the needs of the people of College
Station."
At the symposium, Hachtman
said he will discuss his experiences as
student liaison and student senator.
He said he will also discuss the
considerations potential candidates
must make before declaring their
candidacies.
Lambda Sigma, the sophomore
honor society, sponsors the weekly
symposiums.
THE BATTALION /TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1985
Parents suing
railroad after
1�
son's death
By DAVID NUNNELEE
Staff' Writer
The parents of a Texas A &M student
killed last September in a car-train acci-
dent in College Station have tiled a $2
million lawsuit against Missouri Pacific
Railroad Co. and others.
Jim and Carolyn McDonald of San
Antonio charge negligence in the lawsuit
assigned to the 272nd District Court in
Bryan.
Named as defendants are Missouri .
Pacific, its engineer William R. Slone of
Waco and Southern Pacific Transporta-
tion Co.
Spokesmen for the two railroads said
they had not yet received copies of the
lawsuit and could not comment.
The McDonalds' son, 20- year-old
Lynn Cash McDonald, was killed Sept.
21 when a Missouri Pacific train en-
gineered by Slone collided with his car at
the Luther Street crossing. McDonald, a
biomedical science student, was driving
his parent's 1979 Ford Fairmont to a
meeting of Aggies for Christ when the
accident occurred shortly before 8:30
p.m.
The fatal accident was the second at
the crossing in as manydays. One A &M
student was killed and mother injured
the previous night whin their car was
struck by a Missouri Pacific train.
The Luther Street.:crossing has no
flashing lights or gates io warn traffic of
oncoming trains. It is posted with only a
white "cross- bucks" warning sign.
The McDonalds'suit charges that the
defendants failed to improve the crossing
despite increased automobile traffic in
recent years.
Since the accidents, the College Sta-
tion City Council has decided to close
the Luther Street crossing to public traf-
fic once another crossing is opened at
Holleman. Train speeds also have been
slowed through the city.
The McDonalds charge that all the
defendants are guilty of negligence in the
operation of the train and in the mainte-
nance of the Luther Street crossing.
Southern Pacific owns the tracks through
College Station.
In asking for damages, the McDo-
nalds cite funeral expenses, loss of their
automobile, loss of companionship,
mental anguish, grief and sorrow. The
McDonalds also seek damages for the
"pain, suffering and mental anguish"
suffered by their son.
C THE EAGLE /WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1985
It will be open
Last week I reported that one of the
reasons the College Station City
Council decided not to have a voting
box on campus for municipal elec-
tions this year was because the
Memorial Student Center will be
closed.
k ,The building will not be closed that
Wekend, which is Easter weekend,
an MSC official said Tuesday.
Utility refund
discussion set
The College Station City Council
will discuss how to use its Gulf States
Utilities refund in a workshop session
at 4 p.m. today.
Council members also will discuss
the city's annual audit and hear a staff
report on Library Committee recom-
mendations.
THE EAGLE /WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1985
Service worse
than expected
O
When McCaw Cablevision
"burst" on the scene, I was one of
the Doubting Thomases. Time has,
however, proven that first impress-
ions are often hasty and in the end
need revision. Let me be one of the
first in the community to admit my
mistake. So far my unbiased opinion
is this, you are worse than terrible.
To wit:
1. HBO guides have been late 10
to 15 days each month.
2. Reception is poorer on several
channels.
3. Prices have escalated for no
apparent reason.
4. It is impossible to reach your
office by phone.
5. While your service personnel
are courteous, your desk personnel
seem harassed and impatient.
6. Cable service has been inter-
rupted frequently (8 -9 times in the
last 2 months) for periods from a few
minutes to several hours.
May I make a few suggestions
that might help your image as well as
improve your relations with the con-
sumer and community.
1. Improve your picture quality.
2. Realize that your current arro-
gance will quickly bring in competi-
tion (they will kill you).
3.Do away with the "forced
down our throat channels."
4. Improve quality, THEN tell us
what a good job you are doing and
raise prices.
5. Stop double- talking us with
your "lower price per channel."
6. Get another telephone.
7. Realize that without an attitude
change, there.. are people coming
together that will soon make your
dollar investment in this community
worth very little.
8. Declare a moratorium on price
increases until you have accom-
plished at least ONE of the above.
9. Realize that the monopoly
granted to you carries intrinsic
values not only to your stockholders
but to the community you service by
the very nature of that monopoly.
McCaw, your work is cut out for
you. You cannot win the war when
you lose the battle daily. Good luck!
Michael Martin
Bryan
It will be open
Last week I reported that one of the
reasons the College Station City
Council decided not to have a voting
box on campus for municipal elec-
tions this year was because the
Memorial Student Center will be
closed.
k ,The building will not be closed that
Wekend, which is Easter weekend,
an MSC official said Tuesday.
Utility refund
discussion set
The College Station City Council
will discuss how to use its Gulf States
Utilities refund in a workshop session
at 4 p.m. today.
Council members also will discuss
the city's annual audit and hear a staff
report on Library Committee recom-
mendations.
THE EAGLE /WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1985
Board refuses three resignations
By HUGH NATIONS
Business Writer
The board of the College Station
Industrial Development Foundation
voted unanimously Tuesday to de-
cline the resignations of three direc-
tors.
City Councilwoman Lynn
Mcllhaney said later that she still
thinks some controls should be
placed on land ownership by direc-
tors in the area of the city's proposed
industrial park.
And banker Jim E. Scamardo,
whose resignation was among those
refused, said he has not decided
whether he will continue to serve on
the board.
The resignations were discussed in
a closed session that the news media
were twice asked to leave.
Scamardo said Monday that he had
resigned from the board in a letter
written last Friday.
Foundation . President Dennis
Goehring refused to release a copy of
Scamardo's resignation. Goehring
said that since the board had not acted
upon the resignation, the letter was
not public information.
Goehring and W.D. "Bill" Fitch
were the other two directors affected
by the board's action.
Goehring, the salaried president of
the foundation, had said Monday that
he would cease functioning as a
member of the board. And Fitch had
Turn to BOARD, page 12A
• Board rej*ects
46
From page !A
1,
said he would abstain from any board
actions directly affecting his in-
terests.
Fitch, in fact, had written a letter
dated Feb. .1 in which he said he
would "suspend myself from the
board and executive committee, in-
sofar as its actions concern me perso-
nally. "
But the letter was not mailed until
Friday, after inquiries by the Eagle
regarding land holdings of the direc-
tors in the industrial park area.
Fitch declined to say what had
prompted him to write the letter, but
in it, he cited "an imagined 'conflict
of interest' between the city and per-
sons who own property near the prop-
osed industrial area." Fitch said the
perceived conflict was apparently
one of the "stumbling blocks" the
foundation faced in making progress
on the development of the park.
The industrial foundation was
chartered in 1980 to promote busi-
ness and industrial development in
the city. Although it is independent of
the city, its operating expenses are
funded by the city. "" � , 4
The city is negotiating with the
foundation for the foundation to de-
velop the proposed industrial park.
Plans apparently call for the city to
sell to the foundation about 700 acres
in the Green's Prairie -Rock Prairie
roads area.
Fitch owns 956 acres adjacent to
the city property. He is expected to
develop an industrial park on his
acreage, then swap that with • the
foundation for undeveloped -land.
Both Goehring and Scamardo also
Foundation's officers, directors
The officers and directors of the
College Station Industrial De-
velopment Foundation:
President: Dennis Goehring.
Goehring also acts as the execu-
tive director of the foundation at a
salary of $30,000 annually.
Secretary: Cathy Locke, Col-
lege Station city attorney.
Treasurer: William F. Phillips
Jr., president of Homestead Sav-
ings & Loan.
Directors: Stephen L. Baker,
president of Commerce National
Bank; Bill J. Cooley, Brazos
County commissioner; W.D.
"Bill" Fitch; developer; Bud Fol-
ley, president cf Texana National
Bank; Goehring; Gary Halter,
mayor of College Station.
Also, J.B. Hervey, investment
builder; Phyllis Hobson, de-
veloper; John R. Hughey, presi-
dent of O.I. Corp.; F.P. Hunsick-
er, Westinghouse plant manager;
Roy W. Kelly, owner of A -1 Auto
Parts; Phillips; Joe R. Sawyer,
president of University National
Bank; Jim E. Scamardo, president
of Unitedbank; and J.P. Watson,
Watson Hardware.
Owner Tony Jones of Tony
Jones Construction Co. also is
listed as a director. He is moving
to Austin, however, he Ms not yet
submitted his resignatioA to the
board.
have land holdings in the area.
They are among the four partners
in United Four Joint Venture, which
owns 750 acres across Texas 6 from
the area of the proposed park.
It was United Four Joint Venture
that gave the city the site for the ele-
vated water storag8 tank now -under
construction at Texas 6 and Green's
Prairie Road.
Scamardo said Monday that the in-
terest he and Goehring have in the
property was disclosed to board
members in 1982 at the time of purch-
ase, and that no one — including for-
mer City Attorney Lowell Denton —
viewed it as conflict with his service
on the board.
But Mcllhaney said Tuesday that
the board action in refusing the res-
ignations has not changed her mind.
THE EAGLE /WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1985
She had said earlier that her per-
sonal preference was that directors
not hold interests in land in the area.
At the least,. she said, such interests
should be disclosed publicly.
At Tuesday's meeting, the board
discussed the proposed contract with
the city in closed session.
In response to a request that the
Eagle be permitted to examine the
minutes of the foundation board
meetings, Goehring said he would
have to consult with the foundation
attorney.
In 1982, then Texas Attorney
General Mark White declared
that at least some records of another
local foundation, the Brazos County
Industrial Foundation, were open to
the public.
C
C7
•
Student says he'll
run as CS citizen
notA&Mstudent
By ANN CERVENKA
Staff Writer
A Texas A &M student officially
announced his candidacy for Place 3
on the College Station City Council
Wednesday.
Mike Hachtman, a 20- year -old in-
dustrial distribution major from Dal-
las, will run in the April 6 election.
He has served as the Texas A &M
Student Government liaison to the
College Station City Council for two
years and has been a student senator
for three years.
"Yes, I am 20 years old," Hacht-
man said. "I should hope that this
does not become a problem in my
campaign.
"I am running as Mike Hachtman,
resident of College Station; not Mike
Hachtman, Texas A &M student," he
said.
Hachtman said a strong question
in his mind when deciding whether
or not to run was if the community
would take him seriously.
"After I get my foot in the door
and they get a chance to talk to me
and see that I am interested in the
entire city as a whole," Hachtman
said.
"I think they will understand."
Hachtman emphasizes that he
would not want to alienate non -stu-
dent citizens if he were elected.
However, as a student himself, he
says other students could come to
him easier than to other city council
members.
Hachtman said after serving as
student liaison, he has gained insight
into how the city council works.
He said one of his accomplish-
ments has been his involvement with
the railroad accidents on Luther
Street, which killed tWo Texas A &M
students last fall.
"I would like to think that I played
a part in trying to close the danger-
ous intersection," he said.
If Hachtman is elected, he said he
will emphasize the need for a diver-
sified economy in College Station.
Hachtman said the industrial
parks south of College Station need
to be finished as soon as possible to
attract businesses to the city.
"College Station is a wonderful
town and College Station has the po-
tential to be an even better town," he
said. "I would like to see it become
an even better town."
Hachtman said he has discussed
with his parents the possible conflicts
between the.,election and his studies.
"I do notant to fail out of school
by any meary 'he said.
Council to reconsider
CS sign regulations
The College Station City Council"
will reconsider an ordinance amend-
ing the current city sign regulations
at its 7 p.m. meeting tonight.
This ordinance was returned to al
special committee a month ago to
undergo changes recommended by
council members.
The council also will consider ap-
plying for a grant to begin a crime
prevention program.
Council meetings for the next sev-
eral weeks will be held in the com-
munity center at 1300 Jersey Street.
THE BATTALION /THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1985
Council views
issues different
from students,
says Hachtman
By JAY BLINDERMAN
Reporter
City council re presentatives do
not view issues in the same way that
students do, Mike Hachtman, Stu-
dent Government liaison to the Col-
lege Station City Council, said in
Wednesday's Sully's Symposium.
"Even with six representatives, it
is hard for students to gain access to
a city council member," Hachtman
said.
At a press conference after the
symposium, Hachtman announced
he is running for the College Station
City Council Place 3.
To run for a public office, a candi-
date needs financial resources and
political support, Hachtman said. As
a student, it might be hard to gain
the necessary support, he said.
"It is sometimes not a question of
can I represent the people, but can I
afford to run for office," Hachtman
said. "That is a sad reality for some
candidates, but it exists."
The liaison position does provide
an avenue for the exchange ideas
and information, but without a vote,
student input does not matter mach,
he said.
Hachtman, a junior industrial dis-
tribution major, has served as Stu-
dent Government liaison to the city
council for two years. He also rep-
resents off - campus ward II as a stu-
dent senator.
Hachtman told the crowd of more
than 25 People that alienating the
citizens of College Station might be
another problem faced by a student
running for a council position.
There are 45,000 people in Col-
lege Station besides the University
students, and it is important that the
needs of all these people be rep-
resented, he said.
"If I decide to run, I want to make
myself a viable candidate to all,"
Hachtman said. "I would want to
work on roads and sewers as well as
problems that students might have
with the city."
Hachtman said reactions from
council members about his candi-
dacy have been subdued.
"The council members do not op-
pose it by any means," Hachtman
said. "They. realize I have a concern
for the city of College Station and
the students of A &M."
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•
Heat is on in College Station
El ect ricit y• •
By DAINAH BULLARD
Staff Writer
A combination of last month's
freezing temperatures and an in-
crease to electricity rates in Bryan
and College Station means higher
bills for the 26,000 Texas A &M Uni-
versity students who live off - campus.
Retail electricity rates have in-
creased 29 percent in College Sta-
tion over the past five months. Linda
Piwonka, city utilities office man -
ager, says complaints have multi-
plied since customers received their
January electricity bills, which in-
cluded a January rate hike.
"The major problem is the in-
creases hit people when their heat -
ing use was up," she says:
Keeping warm in February can
cost twice as much as keeping warm
in December. Piwonka says this is a
result of the freezing weather, pl:as
the January rate hike.
The recent rate hike is the result
of a renegotiated contract between
Gulf State Utilities, which supplies
College Station with electricity, and
Exxon. The company's 20 -year con-
tract with Exxon has expired, and
the renegotiated price is higher.
Energy costs also increased in
September when Gulf State Utilities
requested an 18 percent increase, Pi-
wonka says. The Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission is reviewing
the 18 Percent increase and may de-
crease it, she says. College Station is
one city that is objecting to the in-
crease.
"We are currently lobbying with
our attorney to have that decrea-
sed," Piwonka says. "But even
though we've had rate increases, the
city of College Station still has com-
petitive prices."
The price for 1000 kilowatt -hours
was about $89 in College Station in
January. In Bryan, 1000 kilowatt -
ours cost about $84. Bryan resi-
dents also are paying more to keep
warm this winter— but for different
reasons.
Dan Wilkerson, manager of Bry-
an's electric utility services, says elec-
THE EAGLE /FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 1985
tricity rates in Bryan increased an
average of 12 percent beginning
Oct. 1.
Most apartment dwellers pay their
bills directly to an electric company,
but some area apartments include
utilities in their monthly rent.
Lucille Crawford, manager of
Tanglewood South Apartments, says
at this time no plans exist to increase
rent to cover increased electricity
costs.
"My boss is coming in the first of
next week, and we're going to decide
then if we'll have to do anything,"
Crawford says.
LaDonna Lambert, manager of
Old College Main Apartments, says
they also have no tans to compen-
sate for increased electricity costs.
Briarwood Apartments represen-
tative Heidi McCoy says the apart-
ment has noted a 30 percent, to 50
Percent increase in the latest electric-
ity bills.
"As far as our reactions (from res-
idents) go — horrible," McCoy says.
•
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Brown • council bid
Fred Brown has filed to seek He said he wants to work for con -
Place 1 on the College Station City trolled growth of business to keep
Council. the tax base low and to keep the
Brown said he is running because integrity of the city's neighbor -
he is interested in city.government. hoods.
"During the two and a half years "In addition, I believe the city of
I've lived in College Station, I've College Station should do business
watched the city grow and I simply in the College Station area," he
would like to contribute to that said, citing instances of the city us-
growth," Brown said in a prepared ing Dallas engineering and out -of-
statement. town tire firms.
"A city is a business and should Brown owns Fred Brown Mazda/
be run like a business. I have II BMW in Bryan. He serves on the
years of experience running a busi- board of directors of the Brazos
ness and I want to contribute that Valley Rehabilitation Center, the
experience to the public." March of Dimes and the Bryan-
College Station Chamber of Com-
merce. He is a member of the Bryan
Rotary Club and the First Baptist
Church, where he works on the fi-
nance committee and teaches Sun-
day School.
Brown also was part of the Char -
ter Class of Leadership Brazos and
the 1984 Jaycees Outstanding
Young Men of America.
He and his wife, Jane, have two
children.
Place I is held now by Alvin
Prause, who has not announced
plans to seek re- election, and also is
being sought by Roy W. Kelly.
Fred Brown
C7
S igns
CS council approves
restrictive ordinonce
By MICHAEL CRAWFORD
Staff Writer
In an effort to promote an attrac-
tive community, the College Station
City Council adopted an ordinance
Thursday which regulates height, lo-
cation and size of future signs within
city limits.
The ordinance prohibits portable,
trailer and painted rooftop signs as
well as banners in residential areas
and signs with flashing, blinking or
traveling lights. However, time and
temperature signs are permitted if
they meet height and setback re-
quirements.
Free - standing signs along the
Highway 6 bypass may be 50 feet in
height if the property on which they
are located has 100 feet in highway
frontage. All other signs within city
limits may not excede 35 feet in
height. No sign may be closer than
10 feet to the curb. Political signs
may not display a commercial mes-
sage and must be removed within 10
days after the election.
Permits are now required for
apartment, attached, development,
freestanding, roof and subdivision
signs. _
The new ordinance does not re-
quire
e-
quire signs already built to be
brought into compliance, but any
new sign not in compliance may be
removed by a city zoning official.
Mayor Gary Halter said it was un-
fortunate the ordinance does not re-
quire signs in violation to be brought
into compliance, but he said he was
in the minority.
A similar ordinance was tabled by
the council a month ago pending
changes recommended by the coun-
cil and a special committee.
In other business, the council ap-
proved the rezoning of 14 lots on
Spring Loop, be the Woodbine
Financial Center, from low- density
apartments to general commercial
use. The rezoning was approved
over the objections of Townhouse
developer Phyllis Hobson who owns
four townhomes at the corner of
Spring Loop and Tarrow Street.
Hobson said the rezoning would
leave her with "a piece of property
that has become a misfit."
Woodbine wants to construct ad-
ditional parking places on the re-
zoned land. According to the city,
the Woodbine building lacks .33
spaces required by city ordinance.
The building is still under construc-
tion.
• THE BATTALION /FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 1985
C
CS sign ordinance OK'd
A new sign ordinance for College Station was
approved Thursday with three changes made since a
public hearing last month:
■ Proposed regulations requiring permits and fees for
political signs were taken out, but the signs must be
removed within 10 days after the election.
■ A stipulation was added that lighting for signs be
designed to be shielded from homes and not impair driv-
ers' visibility.
■ A rule was included prohibiting 50- foot -tall signs on
the East Bypass being placed closer than 200 feet to a
residence.
The new ordinance was approved by the College Sta-
tion City Council at its regular meeting.
Not changed in the ordinance were the amortization
requirements. The ordinance says prohibited signs must
be removed or brought into compliance within six
months.
That includes portable and trailer signs, off - premise
signs, signs painted on rooftops, balloons or gas - filled
objects attached to any premise or structure, banners or
flags in residential zones (excluding the U.S. and Texas
flags and flags used as subdivision signs), signs using
flashing, blinking or traveling lights or erratic moving
parts (except time and temperature signs), signs resemb-
ling traffic signals or signs, and any sign which emits
sound, odor or visible matter. --
A suggestion to amortize non - conforming signs was
not added to the ordinance. Non - conforming signs are
those which may be too tall, too close to the road, too big,
or in some way not in accordance with the ordinance but
not prohibited specifically.
No citizens asked to comment at the meeting Thursday
on the sign ordinance.
Mayor Gary Halter said he wished the amortization
rules could have been expanded. Of non - conforming
signs, he said, "I find them personally offensive."
However, he said, the new ordinance is a good one,
and an improvement over the previous one. — DIANE
BLAKE BOWEN
Library issue goes to voters -
Voters will be asked April 6 to approve the establish-
ment of a municipal library in College Station.
The city council voted Thursday to add this non-
binding referendum to the council election ballot:
Public Opinion Poll
"Should the city government establish a public library
within College Station (understanding that this might
_increase property taxes by about cents per $100 valua-
tion)?"
The library would cost about $199,000 for the fast
year, city officials estimated. It would he a branch of the
Bryan Public Library and be funded entirely by the city of
College Station. — DIANE BLAKE BOWEN
Police personnel approved
The addition of four Crime Prevention personnel to the
College Station Police Department was approved
Thursday.
The College Station City Council approved spending
$26,645 for salaries and benefits this budget year for three
additional Crime Prevention officers and one secretary.
THE EAGLE /FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 1985
0
0
Industrial
are public institutions
r:
Like most issues, the conflict of
interest question involving boar
members of the College Station In-
dustrial Foundation is not black and
white but gray.
On the one hand, you could
argue that board members who own
land near the proposed industrial
park could use inside information
for their own benefit. In that case,
they might be tempted to put their
own interests above the best in-
terests of the city as a whole. That
would constitute a conflict of in-
terests.
On the other hand, you could
argue that those same board mem-
bers would be more motivated to
see the park succeed because they
stand to profit from the success.
Their profit would be incidental to
the overall benefit to the city of
having more jobs, a better econo-
mic outlook and a broader tax base.
It is not a clear cut case either
way, in my opinion. Some people
will feel one way, some people
another. But it is certainly a matter
that is subject to public discussion.
So last week we printed two arti-
cles dealing with that question, and
another article in today's paper
takes a look in more depth at the
industrial park itself. Some resi-
dents have criticized us for even
raising the issue, although the ques-
tion was already being talked about
quietly. We didn't make up the
issue; what we did was make the
debate public. Other residents have
thanked us for doing just that.
That is an important role for a
d newspaper. We are supposed to get
issues out in the open so the public
can be informed about them, evalu-
ate the merits of the arguments and
participate in the discussion.
The work of the industrial found-
ations here — we have four of them
— are extremely vital to the long -
range interests of the community,
and we have not devoted as much
coverage to these institutions as we
should. We are trying to improve
that performance, and we intend to
cover their activities as fully as
possible in the future.
Much of the business of indust-
rial recruiting quite obviously has
to be conducted privately, particu-
larly as it relates to specific indust-
rial prospects. But where public
money is being used to finance the
industrial efforts, the public has a
right to know how its money is
being used. Since both Bryan and
College Station have publicly
funded industrial parks, the boards
which oversee them are account-
able to the public. Except for the
sensitive matters which must be
handled in private, the work of
these groups should be conducted
in public like any other public in-
stitution.
To suggest, as some have, that
the public has no right to be in.
formed about their business is to
misunderstand the responsibility a
public institution owes to the peo-
ple who make it possible.
• THE EAGLE /SUNDAY, MARCH 3, 1985
CS has committed
itself to the south
By HUGH NATIONS
and DIANE BLAKE BOWEN
Staff Writers
In April 1982, College Station
officials made a decision that ulti-
mately and quite literally —
reshaped the city.
Consultants Samuel Wyse and
Associates and Wayne Snyder and
Associates were hard at work de-
veloping a comprehensive plan for
the city, a document that came to be
known as Plan 2000.
In a joint meeting with the City
Council and the city's Planning and
Zoning Commission, the consultants
asked council members and commis-
sioners:
What direction should they con-
centrate on in planning the city's fu-
ture growth`?
It was an issue that had come up
before.
In 1981, the council spent $1.58
million to buy 1,266 acres south of
town at Texas 6 and Greens Prairie
Road. Next to it was 1,030 acres
Scamardo sticks by resignation, 8A
owned by developer R.F. "Bob"
Spearman.
Together, the city and Spearman
wanted to build an integrated com-
plex much like The Woodlands,
Aggie millionaire George Mitchell's
planned community north of
Houston.
But the area was almost two miles
south of the existing city limits. That
geographic problem provided the
easiest answer to the master -plan
consultants' question.
The answer was simple: Look
south, toward the anticipated indust-
rial park.
The city has been looking that way
ever since. Last week, however, the
looks raised a few eyebrows.
Two directors of the College Sta-
tion Industrial Foundation offered
their resignations after questions
were raised about their personal land
Turn to COLLEGE, page 8A
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From page 1A
holdings near the proposed industrial
park. A third director also offered to
resign after preparing a letter that
cited "an imagined 'conflict of in-
terest"' that he called one of the
apparent "stumbling blocks" to
progress in developing the park.
Other directors refused to accept
the resignations Tuesday, but banker
Jim E. Scamardo said this weekend
that his resignation remains effective.
Nonetheless, questions concerning
the relationship of the foundation and
the city and about the slow progress
in developing the park remain.
Ever since the joint city council -
planning and zoning commission
meeting in 1982, College Station has
developed an ever more southerly
tilt.
In late 1983, that tilt became even
more pronounced when the city
annexed 2,500 acres along Texas 6
and Rock Prairie Road. Not surpri-
singly, the annexation moved the city
limits out to take in much of the prop-
osed industrial park.
There were complaints, notably
from former City Councilman and
A &M planning professor Jim Gard-
ner, that the industrial park's tail was
wagging the city dog.
Scamardo sticks by resignation
By HUGH NATIONS
Business Writer
Jim E. Scamardo has resigned as a
director of the College Station Indust-
rial Development Foundation, despite
an earlier refusal of the board to accept
his resignation.
Scamardo reiterated his intention to
resign in a letter to the foundation board
Friday.
The Unitedbank president, who had
been a member of the foundation's ex-
ecutive committee, was one of three
directors who last week either offered
their resignations or said they would
alter their roles as directors to avert any
possibility of conflicts of interests.
The board in each case refused to
accept the tenders.
Director Dennish H. Goehring, who
is also the foundation's salaried presi
dent, had offered to cease participating
inboard action. Director W.D. "Bill"
Fitch had offered to abstain on any mat-
ters affecting him.
Scamardo and Goehring are partners
in a 750 -acre tract across Texas 6 from
the proposed industrial park. Fitch
owns 956 acres immediately adjacent
to it. It is on the Fitch property that the
city plans to develop the high -tech in-
dustrial complex.
In his letter, Scamardo noted that he
is one of the founding directors of the
foundation. He pointed out that the
board now has three vacancies.
"In consideration of these facts and
the fact that I am assuming additional
responsibilities at the bank and recently
assumed the position as director of
another organization important to our
community, I ask that you now please
accept my desire to retire as a director of
the foundation," Scamardo said in his
letter. "I encourage your positive
efforts to diversify the economic and
tax base of our community by attracting
desirable industry which will be good
for homeowners and businessmen
alike, and you can continue to count on
my support."
Mayor Gary Halter said recently
that if the city had had its druthers, the
industrial park would have been clos-
er to the existing College Station
boundaries. But a large enough tract
of land at a reasonable price was not
available then, he said of the "leap-
frog" development.
"If I were king, things would be a
lot different," Halter said. "But I'm
not king, I'm just mayor. The real
world is considerably different than
the academic world of urban plan-
ning."
But with the annexation, the city
had committed itself firmly to a
course. It is a course that remains
fixed today, despite zigs and a few
zags and a setback or two, and many
many delays.
College Station, members of the
City Council have repeatedly made
plain, is going to have its high tech
industrial park.
The question, as far as the council
is concerned, has always been
"How' ? ", not "If ".
Many others, during the 3' /2 years
since the city first bought the site for
the park, have asked another ques-
tion: "When' ?"
A brief chronology of the develop-
ment of the park reads like this:
■ The College Station Industrial
Development Foundation was char-
tered in October 1980.
■ The 1,266 acres was bought in
July 1981.
O
•
CS Teen Center
fails to attract
high schoolers
By BRAD OWENS
Staff Writer
After a month of operation, the
College Station Teen Center has had
little success attracting high school
students and may stop offering enter-
tainment to thgm.
The Teen Center, located in the
community center complex, was re-
modeled with a federal community
development grant and furnished
with private donations. It opened the
second week in February.
Peggy Calliham, director of the
community center, said students who
attend the juniorhigh and sixth grade
schools near the center have attended
record parties :,And dances on
weekends, but high,school students
have stayed away.,,
Calliham said high school students
don't like being - restricted from
smoking and from coming and going
during parties. Also, she said, a
nightclub in College Station has
attracted many high school students
by serving non - alcoholic drinks and
admitting minors several nights a
weed.
Calliham said she also has had a
hard time getting publicity about the
teen center circulated at the high
school. _
The Teen Center board, a group of
teenagers appointed to run the center,
will decide at its April meeting
whether to quit designating Saturday
nights as high school nights at the
center. Calliham said the board has
been frustrated by unsuccessful
efforts to attract older teenagers.
Calliham said the Teen Center
seems popular with younger stu-
dents. She said 20 to 30 junior high
and sixth grade students have been
coming to the junior high dances, and
the numbers have gradually in-
creased.
The center is also open after
school. Calliham said several stu-
dents are "regulars" on weekday
afternoons, and the recent addition of
a video game, a ping pong table and a
pinball machine should attract more.
In May, a new Teen Center Board
will be appointed, with Calliham and
school officials recommending
teenagers to the College Station City
Councjl: Applications for board posi-
tions are available at the community
center and on school campuses, Cal -
liham said.
THE EAGLE /SUNDAY, MARCH 3, 1985
n
U
■ CS council incumbents slow to .file
U
c
By DIANE BLAKE BOWEN
Staff Writer
Five College Station residents
but no incumbents — have filed to
seek city council posts so far this
year.
In Bryan, five citizens have filed
for mayoral and council positions so
far, one for each slot open.
In College Station, places I and 5
are held now by Alvin Prause and
Gary Anderson, and Place 3 was va-
cated in January when Vicky Reinke
moved away.
Roy W. Kelly and Fred Brown
have filed to run for Prause's place.
Brown owns Fred Brown Mazda/
BMW and was part of the Charter
Class of Leadership Brazos and the
1984 Jaycees Outstanding Young
Men of America.
Kelly owns A-] Auto Parts and
says he wants to be the city's repre-
sentative from business. He also is a
board member of the Brazos County
Private Industrial Council.
Anderson's post is being sought by
Jim Gardner and James B. Bond.
Bond, an attorney, previously
served on the Texas Industrial Com-
mission from 1973 -78 and on the
Navasota school board from 1971-
76. He also has worked as a city attor-
ney and as general counsel, for Texas
A &M.
Gardner was on the council from
1974 -78 and on the College Station
Planning and Zoning Commission for
1968 -70 and 1981 -83. He is a "semi-
retired" city planning professor at
Texas A &M University.
Two people, Terri Tongco and
-Roy W. Hann Jr., have filed to seek
Place 3.
Hann is a professor of civil en-
gineering at Texas A &M University.
Turn to CITY, page 3A
City council races draw
varied group of hopefuls
From page 1A
He is a charter member and past pres-
ident of the Bryan - College Station
Apartment Association, a commer-
cial pilot and licensed real estate
Broker.
Tongco, a nurse at Texas Instru-
ments, has served on the Planning
and Zoning Commission for one
year. She previously held positions in
other states on the Catholic School
Board, the Church Council and the
Recreation Board.
Texas A &M student Mike Hacht-
man announced Wednesday that he
would run for Place 3, but had not
filed by Friday afternoon. A junior
industrial distribution major at Texas
A &M, Hachtman has served as Stu-
dent Government liaison to the coun-
cil for two years.
In Bryan, positions up for grabs are
for mayor and places 1,3,5 and the
unexpired term of Place 4.
Mayor Ron Blatchley announced
last month that he will not run for
re- election. Place 4 Council member
Marvin Tate is resigning his post to
seek the mayor's.
Tate has been on the council for
two years. He is the owner of Court-
ney & Tate Realty.
Claude P. "Peck" Vass has filed
to seek the remainder of Tate's term.
Vass works in the public relations
office of First Bank & Trust. He is a
retired Bryan school principal.
Also not running for re- election is
Bill Scasta, who holds Place 1 on the
council. Hank McQuaide has filed
for that place. McQuaide has been
chairman of the Bryan Planning
Commission for two years and was a
member of the commission for the
two years previous.
Council members Helen Chavarria
and Ben Hardeman are seeking re-
election. Chavarria, a homemaker,
was elected to Place 5 in 1983.
Hardeman is president of OMC In-
dustries, Inc., which manufactures
trophies and other awards. He was
elected to Place 3 in 1984 after
Peyton Waller resigned.
THE EAGLE /MONDAY, MARCH 4, 1985
L]
•
A &M student
announces bid
for CS council
Texas A &M University student
Mike Hachtman has announced that he
will seek Place 3 on the College Station
City Council.
Hachtman, a junior industrial dis-
tribution major, said in a press confer-
ence Wednesday that he wants to repre-
sent all citizens of College Station, not
just the students.
"I am 20 years old. I am a student at
Texas A &M University," Hachtman
said. He hopes voters will take him
seriously, and not "think this kid, this
student, is trying to take over our gov-
ernment. "
He said his campaign will have a
two-pronged approach, expressing his
views to residents of College Station to
try to win their votes,.and urging stu-
dents to participate in the municipal
election.
Hachtman's two years as the Student
Government liaison to the council have
enabled him to see goals the city should
pursue, he said. He added, "With my
experience, I have developed a keen
insight as to how the city works."
As liaison, Hachtman represented
the university's interests in trying to get
the Luther Street railroad crossing
closed, he said.
"I would like to feel that I played a
very large part in working with the
railroad company in trying to close that
intersection," he said.
Two Texas A &M students were kil-
led and another injured last September
in car -train accidents on consecutive
nights at the crossing.
Hachtman also said College Station
needs to diversify its economy rather
than relying on just the oil industry and
the university. To do this, the city, the
Industrial Development Foundation
and the chamber of commerce must
work together to attract more
businesses to the area, he said.
Development of the industrial park
must be sped up, streets and sewer sys-
tems must be maintained, and the tax
base and utility rates must be kept low
to lure businesses here, he said.
Hachtman said he does not think a
"definite, hard -core conflict of in-
terest" exists regarding foundation
directors owning property next to the
industrial park. "If it is, it's a very slim
conflict of interest," he said.
The resignations of three directors
were rejected by the foundation board
Monday. One of those directors wrote
in a letter of resignation that "an im-
agined `conflict of interest "' between
the city and nearby property owners
was apparently one of the "stumbling
blocks" to further park development.
Terri Tongco and Roy W. Hann Jr.
have filed to seek Place 3.
THE EAC7LE/MONI)AY, MARCH 4, 1985
Mike Hachtman
•
Candidate forums slated
The League of Women Voters of Brazos County has
announced its candidate forums for city council and
school board elections.
Bryan candidates will meet on March 2� at the Brazos
Center to answer questions from the LWV and from the
public. The forum will be moderated by LWV president
Doris Watson and a reporter from the local news media.
College Station forums will have the same format, but
City Council and school board candidates will meet
separately.
The City Council candidates will meet March 29 at the
College Station Community Center. The school board
candidates will meet March 26 at the community center.
For more information, call 693 -1785.
THE EAGLE /MONDAY, MARCH 4, 1985
L
CS still o university- oriented town
H
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a
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0
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• i
Faculty large force on council
By MICHAEL CRAWFORD
Staff Writer
When College Station was incor-
porated in the 1930s, its first city
council was composed entirely of
professors from Texas A &M.
Today, even with the growth of
the community, three of the seven
elected council positions are filled by
University faculty.
"It is a university town," says Col-
lege Station Mayor Gary Halter. "It
has always been a university town.
There have been times in which ev-
eryone on council was employed at
A &M.
"That was true of' the original
council in 1939. In fact, they used to
meet on campus before they had
their own building. It was created by
University faculty and it has always
been, to some degree, dominated by
such."
Halter, who has been mayor since
1980, is an associate professor of po-
litical science at A &M. Halter says
that A &M's size as an employer is the
reason faculty members have always
been present on council.
But, Councilman Bob Runnels
thinks there is a connection between
being in academics and involvement
in politics.
"You see the same thing here in
the Faculty Senate," Runnels says.
"There are quite a few people who
like to run to make a point. That sort
of goes along with people in univer-
sity life. They are used to talking and
verbalizing problems to be solved
and I think that's (running for coun-
cil) sort of an outlet for them to do
that."
Runnels teaches in the meteorol-
ogy department and serves on the
council.
The involvement of professors in
city government does not, however,
translate into student interest or
votes. Combining all the votes cast at
the on- campus box in 1980 and 1981
shows only 14 people voted on -cam-
pus.
The practice of having one on-
campus box was discontinued in
1982 when the Texas A &M campus
was divided into two voting pre-
cincts. The two precincts, 20 and 21,
now vote at an off - campus box.
And not all council members want
student turnout to improve.
Councilman Alvin Prause says
that since students are here for such
a short time, they don't become in-
volved in the community. Prause, a
pediatrician with University Pediat-
rics, is also a clinical assistant profes-
sor at the medical school.
Both Halter and Runnels, who
want additional student involve -
merit, blame the low turnout on stu-
dents not feeling involved with the
city.
"I think they may not have the
perception that they have a stake in
city decisions," Halter says. "People
are generally motivated to vote, to
participate and to become active in
politics when they feel they have a
stake in city politics. Especially the
students who live on campus, they
don't have that perception. They
don't get electric bills from the city
while the off - campus student does,
so he's much more apt to be con-
cerned with what goes on. And well
they should.
"They are citizens like everybody
else and have the right to vote and
participate in city politics as taxpay-
ers. The students on campus, and I
fail to understand to some degree,
why they feel the city of College Sta-
tion has so little effect on them.
They are sort of in the city limits, but
not part of the city."
Three positions on the council will
be up for grabs in the April 6 elec-
tion: position 1, now occupied by
Prause, position 3, vacated by Vicky
Reinke, and position 5, held by Gary
Anderson.
At least two of the candidates are
directly involved with A &M. Roy
Hann Jr., a civil engineering profes-
sor, and Student Government liaison
Mike Hachtman have filed for posi-
tion 3 on the council.
•
•
LEOALNonce
ORDINANCE NO. 1576 WAS
PASSED AND APPROVED ON
FEBRUARY 28, 1985, BY THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF COLLEGE STATION meet-
In
g In regular session In the
College Station Community
Center, said meeting having
been posted in accordance
with ArL O M -17.
The above - referenced Ordin-
ance, signed by the Mayor and
duly recorded in the official
records of the City of College
Station, has the following
heading:
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING
SECTION 8 OF ORDINANCE
850 OF THE CITY OF COL-
LEGE STATION, TEXAS, RE-
EN I ERALLY T REGULATING
THEIR LOCATION HEIGHT,
AND AREA, AND PROVIDING
FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Prior to consideration and ap-
proval of this ordinance, the
City Council of the City of COI -
lege Station held a public
hearing, notice of which hav-
ing been duly given to the
general public.
Ordinance No. 1578 explains
the purpose of the regulations
contained therein; includes
definitions, states general
provisions for the location,
construction, erection, W eel
and design of signs; proh bits
specific signs; provides for
exemptions; prescribes struc-
tural requirements and mis-
cellaneous regulations; es-
tablishes a procedure for
variances, and authorizes en-
forcement of the provisions of
the ordinance.
A violation of this ordinance
may be punishable by a fine of
Twenty -five Dollars ($25.00) to
One - Thousand Dollars
($1,000.00).
Ordinance No. 1578 shall be-
come effective and be in full
force and effect from and after
its passage and approval by
the City Council of the City of
College Station, Texas, and in
accordance with the Charter
of the city of College Station.
The above -named Ordinance
is on file at the Office of the
City Secretary and the com-
plete text of same may be ob-
tained at the City Hall, 1101
South Texas Avenue, College
Station, Texas 77840.
03- 05-85,03 -85
THE EAGLE /TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 1985
•
k
Boy, now that's dedication
College Station City Attorney
Cathy Locke should get the Above
and Beyond the Call of Duty Award
(two diaper pins crossed over a bou-
quet of baby's breath) this month.
Nine months pregnant and due any
time, Locke attended the city council
meeting until it ended about 9 p.m.
Thursday, then went into labor just a
few hours later Friday morning.
She delivered her daughter, Syd-
ney Lorraine, at about 10:30 a.m.
Friday.
But that's not all. Monday, just
three days after the birth, Locke came
to the office for three hours to be at a
city meeting she thought was impor-
tant for her to attend. She was home
Tuesday, but fielded a lot of calls
from City Hall anyway.
Locke brings new meaning to the
word "dedication." In lieu of a hear-
ty round of applause, perhaps city
leaders (and grateful citizens) could
hum "Rock -a -Bye Baby" in Locke's
honor at the next council meeting.
Lifeguards
I always wanted to be a lifeguard.
DIANE BLAKE BOWEN
City Hall Report
They always seemed to have such
savoir faire, such polish, such allure
... such tans. How could they look so
cool when Texas summers are so hot?
Now the city of Bryan is offering
citizens their big chance for sun-
baked glory, and a few bucks to boot.
The city is looking for lifeguards, wa-
ter safety instructors, cashiers and
pool supervisors. Applications can be
picked up at the Bryan Recreation
office or the Aquatics Center.
For more information, call Corin-
ne Vann at 779 -3341.
College Station also is offering re-
creational jobs. Its Parks and Recrea-
tion Department is interviewing for
summer day camp supervisors. If
you're interested, apply at City Hall,
1101 Texas Ave., between 8 a.m.
and 5 p.m. Susan O'Connor at 764-
3773 will answer questions about the
positions.
On committee
College Station also is looking for
people to fill its various citizens
advisory committees, such as the
Planning and Zoning Commission,
the Parks and Recreation Board and
the Community Center Advisory
Committee.
Anyone interested can apply at
City Hall in the council office.
Appointments will be made in April
after the elections on the 6th.
For more information, call Pam
Jones, council coordinator, at 764-
3541 or 764 -3512.
THE EAGLE /WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, 1985
•
L
0
Moving day finally comes
Director Anne R. Bell of the Bryan- College Station day. The chamber is vacating the Texas Avenue
Chamber of Commerce Convention and Visitors convention bureau, and will be open for business in
Bureau moves into her new offices on University the new offices today.
Drive at East Tarrow Street in College Staton Tues-
THE EAGLE /WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, 1985
LEGAL NOTICE
ORDINANCE NO. 1576 WAS
PASSED AND APPROVED ON
FEBRUARY 28, 1985, BY THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF COLLEGE STATION meet-
ing in regular session in the
College Station Community
Center, said meeting having
been posted in accordance
with Art. 6252 -17.
The above - referenced Ordin-
ance, signed by the Mayor and
duly recorded in the official
records of the City of College
Station, has the following
heading:
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING
SECTION 8 OF ORDINANCE
850 OF THE CITY OF COL-
LEGE STATION, TEXAS, RE-
LATING TO SIGNS,
GENERALLY REGULATING
THEIR LOCATION, HEIGHT,
AND AREA, AND PROVIDING
FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Prior to consideration and ap-
proval of this ordinance, the
City Council of the City of Col-
lege Station held a public
hearing, notice of which hav-
ing been duly given to the
general public.
Ordinance No. 1576 explains
the purpose of the regulations
contained therein; includes
definitions, states general
provisions for the location,
construction, erection, types,
and design of signs; prohibits
specific signs; provides for
exemptions; prescribes struc-
tural requirements and mis-
cellaneous regulations; es-
tablishes a procedure for
variances, and authorizes en-
forcement of the provisions of
the ordinance.
A violation of this ordinance
may be punishable by a fine of
Twenty -five Dollars ($25.00) to
One - Thousand Dollars
($1,000.00).
Ordinance No. 1576 shall be-
come effective and be in full
farce and effect from and after
its passage and approval by
the City Council of the City of
College Station, Texas, and in
accordance with the Charter
of the City of College Station.
The above -named Ordinance
is on file at the Office of the
City Secretary and the com-
plete text of same may be ob-
tained at the City Hall, 1101
South Texas Avenue, College
Station, Texas 77840.
03 -05- 85,03 -06-85
PUBLIC NOTICE
The City of College Station
has recently completed its Re-
venue Sharing Actual Use Re-
port for fiscal year ending
June 30, 1984. This report is
available for inspection at the
College Station City Hall Of-
fice of the Finance Director,
Monday through Friday be-
tween the hours of 8:00 a.m.
and 5:00 p.m.
A.E. VanDever, Jr.
Director of Finance
03-06 -85
PUBLIC NOTICE
CORRECTION
The previously advertised
date regarding the following
hearing was incorrect. The
City of College Station will
hold a Revenue Sharing pro-
posed use hearing on March
28,1985, at 7:00 p.m. in the City
Council Room located at City
Hall. This is an opportunity for
citizen input regarding the
use of Revenue Sharing
Funds during the 1985 -86 fis-
cal year. Individuals or groups
such as senior citizens groups
are invited to come and dis-
cuss the use of these funds
before the 1985 -86 budget is
presented to the City Council.
03-06 -85
THE EAGLE /WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, 1985
C��
CS opposes building proposal
By DIANE BLAKE BOWEN
Staff Writer
The College Station City Council pas-
sed a resolution Wednesday opposing a
proposed state law on modular building
construction.
The law, proposed in Senate Bill 584,
would allow modular construction of
apartment houses and office buildings in
Texas cities, said Coy Perry, College
Station building official.
It also would prevent city inspection
of the buildings, except for a final in-
spection after a written request to inspect
is approved by the builder, Perry said.
State law now allows modular con-
struction for one- and two-family dwell-
ings. Modular buildings are constructed
in pieces at a factory and later assembled
on site.
erected in College Station.
"It's a problem and we're building
fire hazards when we let these things into
our city," he told the council. "They
don't meet the codes. "
This kind of building does not meet
plumbing, electrical or structural stan-
dards set by the city, he said.
Already College Station has an apart-
ment complex of 44 units built modular-
ly, he said, refusing to name which one.
In just two of its units, Perry said he
found 22 code violations.
However, his hands are tied because
the building is inspected by the state. The
city has no authority to make the build-
ing comply with local codes because of
the state law, he said.
The new bill is being sponsored by
Sen. Bob McFarland, R- Arlington, Per-
ry said.
Will Ehrle, president of the Texas
Manufactured Housing Association,
said the bill is being sought by Cardinal
Industries of Florida, a manufacturer of
modular housing.
Cardinal is looking for a site for a new
$10 million to $15 million plant facility
and wants changes in Texas law before
locating here, Ehrle said.
The facility would mean more money
and jobs for Texas. Perry said he
opposes that, too, because the company
uses unskilled labor to build the units.
The city is postponing signing the re-
solution pending the outcome of a meet-
ing between the Texas Municipal
League and the company.
THE EAGLE /THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 1985
go
CS issues
warning about
sign thefts
By DIANE BLAKE BOWEN
Staff Writer
A recent increase in traffic -sign
theft has prompted College Station
officials to warn citizens of the dan-
gers involved.
City Council member Pat Bought-
on said in a council meeting Wednes-
day that stealing the signs can hurt:
■ Motorists, who could crash if
stop signs are missing from intersec-
tions.
■ Citizens in fires or accidents,
because emergency vehicles need the
signs to find them.
■ Taxpayers, who must pay to re-
place the signs and who could be
made to pay lawsuits filed because of
missing signs.
■ The thieves themselves, who, if
O caught, could have a felony on their
records.
Boughton said the number of sign
thefts has risen sharply over the past
five months. Thirty were reported in
just one month, she said.
Boughton said she reported a stop
sign missing Wednesday at the east
intersection of Dexter Drive and Park
Place.
Because of the danger to motorists,
city workers are quick to replace the
signs once they're reported, Bought-
on said, adding that it took less than
45 minutes between her call and the
erection of a new sign Wednesday.
Capital Improvements Director
Elrey Ash said a sign with two street -
sign blades, a stop sign and a pole
costs the city more than $150, count-
ing installation costs.
Because students often are the ones
taking the signs for apartment decora-
tions, Mayor Gary Halter asked Mike
Hachtman, the student liaison, to
mention the problem to the Texas
A &M Student Senate.
THE EAGLE /THURSDAY, Iv1ARCH 7, 1985
U
•
Pothole plague
The roads of our community are treacherous.
Potholes plague the highways and defintely are in need
of repair. If a street could talk, it would ' bably state,
"It has been five years since I have beeresurfaced. I
must have at least 42 gaping holes. Tire ride over me
with a `bumpety- bump- bump', and this clauses drivers
to complain about the rough ride and th6 wear to the
vehicle. Doesn't the city care about my appearance? In
my opinion, the community does care but does not
want to spend the time or money into necessary repairs.
I am going to analyze an approach to care of the
roadways.
In order to repair the roads, the city council would
approve a raise in taxes to cover expenses: Then, work
crews would be sent to repair, first the main roads and
then the minor roads. The community has managed a
decent resurfacing of the heavily traveled thorough-
fares, but they have not made a concious effort to keep
the rural roads in acceptable condition. Last of all, the
workmen would be expected to work in good weather
to prevent serious delays in bad weather. Then there
would be routine checks on area byways and repair
service would be scheduled as necessary.
Once ovdihauled the street might then explain, "1
am looking smooth with my resurfaced tar! I have
contented citizens passing overhead."
Now .all .I need ado is convince city officials to try
my phdi. �3 '
Brian Randall
A &M Junior High School, 7
THE EAGLE /FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 1985
•
0
CS police pup pounding beat
The wonder pup of the College Station Police Depart-
ment is still in training, but he's learning fast.
"Uno Pooh is working three days a week on the street,
but he's not actually trained for anything specific yet,"
said his handler, Officer Wayne Thompson.
The 10- month -old German shepherd has been in Col-
lege Station since Jan. 19 and has been training for a
little more than a month. He is the start of the depart-
ment's K -9 unit.
"We're still training him for tracking and obedi-
ence," Thompson said. "He's going out to Action Dogs
U.S.A. three days a week. He'll sit and stay. I can walk
off, and he won't move until I give him a hand signal."
It will be another two or three months before Uno
Pooh will work at tracking on a regular basis. And he
still has a couple of months to go before he will receive
any training in personal protection, Thompson said.
The dog was bought with a donation from the Don
Dale family, owners of Pooh's Park.
The recent indictments for an auto -theft ring in Bryan
came quickly to mind when I read an article on auto
junkyards in the March issue of Smithsonian.
"In Los Angeles it's not unusual for a late -model
wreck to attract 25 to 30 bids from salvagers at the
insurance company auctions," the article said.
"Pushing wreck prices up further are auto -theft rings
that pay lavish prices for new wrecks — not for their
salvage value, but for their identificaton papers and
numbers. The rings use these to legitimize stolen cars."
Police say that is exactly how the ring here operated.
Police report
The stolen cars that police recovered from dealers and
their customers had papers that came from wrecked cars.
Thefts of T -top panels have been plaguing College
Station residents in recent weeks, but there seems to be
one safe area in the city.
Texas A &M has not yet had one report of a stolen
panel, Director of Security and Traffic Bob Wiatt said.
"We have plainclothes officers vigorously patrolling
and the students know that," he said. "We catch people
in the parking lots every night doing criminal mischief to
cars, breaking gate arms. " But the heavy patrol seems to
be a deterrent that is working in the case of the T -top
thieves.
The Bryan Police Department's community relations
division has a program on child abduction available for
civic groups interested in the problem.
The program includes a audio - visual slide show called
"America's Heartache.", The entire presentation lasts
45 minutes, - Interested groups can contact Sgt. Choya
Walling or Sgt. Dale Cuthbertson at 779 -5622 ext. 440.
THE EAGLE /FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 1985
VIRGINIA KIRK
•
•
•
Energy panel places open
Applications are being accepted for places on College
Station's newly created Energy Management Com-
mittee.
The committee will help develop and implement ener-
gy conservation projects and will monitor the utility bill
assistance program.
To apply, call the Council Office at City Hall, 764-
3508 of 764 -3512. Appointments will be made by the
city council in April.
For more information about the city's energy prog-
rams, call Charlie Shear at 764 -3724.
THE EAGLE /SATURDAY, MARCH 9, 1985
•
C
Improvements
only promises
Much, if not most, of the enjoy-
ment that I get from television view-
ing is derived from the college sports
that appear on non - network stations.
In particular, during this time of year
I like watching the ACC, Big East,
and Big Ten conferences' basketball
games on ESPN. After receiving my
television guide recently, I decided
on three games I wanted to watch
that week. Much to my displeasure,
the games that were telecasted on
Channel 32 were not the games
listed in the guide; the network was
showing taped replays of previously
played games. I called ESPN to in-
vestigate what was happening. Their
spokesperson's response should be
of interest to all of us who are sub-
scribers to McCaw Cablevision.
He informed me that on Feb. 4,
ESPN switched the satellite from
which they beamed their signal for
live telecasts. The old satellite
would still be used to show replays
of old events fbr'the benefit of view-
ers who were' "blacked out" —
viewers in the cities where the
games could not legally be shown.
Clearly, there is no reason why
Bryan= College Station residents
would be forbidden from viewing
basketball games taking place over
1,000 miles away. What had occur-
red was that McCaw had simply not
changed the direction of their anten-
na to pick up the signal from the new
satellite. The ESPN spokesman said
that they had been sending informa-
tion regarding the switch to all of
their cable operators for the past few
months. He went on to say that
McCaw was one of only a few ineffi-
cient cable companies which he
knew of that had not made the
switch. �► j
I called McCaw to let them know
of the situation. The office manager
claimed not to know of the problem.
He said he would "call ESPN right
away and find out what was going
on." The office manager has not
returned my phone calls.
Is this the situation that Joseph
DiBacco, regional manager of
McCaw, referred to as "getting our
money's worth ?" Is this the
"streamlined technical system" he
has mentioned? These are references
to an article in widely distributed
advertisement in which Mr. DiBac-
co explained how McCaw was going
to improve our lives. In that ad, he
claimed that McCaw would "make
this area's cable TV system one of
the nation's finest." However, after
experiencing what has occurred thus
far, it would appear that the cable
situation is deteriorating rapidly.
Since the takeover, 1) McCaw has
increased rates, 2) it has forced all of
its customers to buy the 28 channel
system instead of the basic service,
3) it has threatened to disconnect
customers for not paying a bill when
it could not explain the source of all
the charges, 4) it has attempted to
renege on a previous commitment to
certain customers (to not charge
monthly fees for using an F.M.
hookup), and 5) it has been one of
the few companies in the country to
neglect following a broadcaster's
notice to pick up a new signal. How
long will this list of "improve-
ments" get?
Scott Lummer
College Station
EDITOR'S NOTE: Eagle Televi-
sion Editor Jim Butler reports that
the ESPN situation has now been
corrected.
THE EAGLE /SATURDAY, MARCH 9, 1985
0
CS gets grant to help
low- income homebuyers
By DIANE BLAKE BOWEN
Staff Writer
The city of College Station has
been given an $88,000 Urban
Homesteading grant to help low -
income first -time homebuyers.
The program provides money for
the city to buy abandoned or run-
down houses and sell them for a
nominal fee to qualifying low. -
income buyers.
The families will be able to buy the
homes on the condition that they bor-
row money and renovate the build-
ings, bringing them up to city stan-
dards, said Michael Stevens, College
Station Community Development
Director.
The city also will help the families
get the loans and follow up to make
sure the work is completed, he said.
The area near Holleman Drive and
Luther streets will be targeted for the
program, he said. The money will be
used to supplement existing housing
and neighborhood programs, he said.
"It's just one more method that we
try to work in neighborhood revita-
lization,activities," Stevens said.
The homesteading program uses a
good mixture of public and private
funds, he said, adding that a number
of businesses in the city participate in
such programs.
Stevens estimates that the program
will start within 45 to '60 days. The
city has 18 months to spend the
money, he said.
College Station was one of only 11
cities nationwide to receive the grant.
Funded by the Department of Hous-
ing and Urban Development, the
program distributes a total of about
$1.9 million.
FHA approves
widening Texas 6
The Federal Highway Administra-
tion has approved the proposed wide-
ning of Texas Avenue from FM 2818
to its intersection with the East
Bypass in College Station.
The two -lane section of the road,
which is Business Texas 6, is to be
widened to four lanes.
Bids are expected to be opened in
April for the $880,000 project, with
completion expected in a year.
THE EAGLE /SATURDAY, DZARCH 9, 1985
•
Study: Speed limits on
Texas should be lower
By DIANE BLAKE BOWEN
Staff Writer
Speed limits on Texas Avenue in
College Station should be 5 mph low-
er, a state highway department study
recommends.
The highway department con-
ducted the study Jan. 15 -23 at the
request of the College Station City,
Council, which expressed concern —
that the speed limits might be too
high.
The city received notification of
the study's results Thursday. It is pre-
paring a revised ordinance for council
members to approve. possibly by
March 28, said College Station Traf-
fic Engineer John Black.
If approved, the new speed limits
would be:
■ 40 mph from College Station's
north city limits near Schlotzsky's for
1.815 miles to just south of Holleman
Dri ve,
■ 45 mph from that point f rr 1.19
miles to just south of' FM 2818;
■ 50 mph from there for 0.795
mile to the intersection of Texas 6 and
the East Bypass;
IS 55 mph from there south.
The study measured the speed of
CS center to close for holidays
The College Station Community
Center will be closed Christmas week
this year, the city council decided this
week.
- Christmas falls on Wednesday in
1985, and city employees are given
off Christmas Eve, Christmas and the
day after, said Peggy Calliham, the
center's director.
That leaves only Monday and Fri-
day of that week for work days. Since
few citizens use the center then, and
utilities cost from $400 to $500 a
cars sampled. If the speed is not a
multiple of five, the limit is usually
set at the next lower multiple, Boris -
kie said.
Although Texas Avenue is a state
road, the highway department re-
quires a city to change its ordinance
to lower or raise speed limits, Boris -
kie said.
THE EAGLE /SATURDAY, MARCH 9, 1985
38 samples of traffic during non -peak
hours Tuesdays. Wednesdays and
Thursdays, state traffic engineer
George Boriskie said.
Each sample monitored 125 cars
each way, during dry and good
weather conditions, he said.
The speed limit is established at the
speed traveled by 85 percent of the
week, city staff members and the
Community Center Advisory Com-
mittee recommended that it be
closed. Employees will take either
vacation days or leave without pay,
Calliham said.
In other action, the council
awarded a bid for renovation of the
Central Fire Station to Cram Con-
struction Inc.
The accepted bid totaled
$472,780. Cram, of Pearland, is re-
novating City Hall.
C
•
0
CS council candidate
tops contribution list
By DIANE BLAKE BOWEN
Staff Writer
Jim Gardner, College Station
candidate for Place 5, leads all other
city council candidates in campaign
contributions and expenditures,
according to statements filed this
week.
Gardner reported contributions
totaling $174 and expenditures of
$405.02. He was not required tof list
the names of the contributors because
none gave more than $50.
James B. Bond reported getting
$50 and spending none. Gardner and
Bond are seeking Place 5.
Roy W. Hann Jr., Roy W. Kelly
and Terri Tongco reported no con-
tributions or expenditures.
Hann and Tongco are running for
Place 3, Kelly for Place 1.
The other two College Station
candidates, Mike Hachtman and Fred
Brown, had not filed to seek office by
Feb. 25, the end of the first finance
filing period, so they were not re-
quired to file a statement.
Brown seeks Place 1 and Hacht-
man Place 3.
Of the Bryan candidates, only
Hank McQuaide reported a contribu-
tion. He has received $50 and spent
none, according to the report.
McQuaide is running unopposed
for Place 1.
C.P. "Peck" Vass reported no
contributions or expenditures. Bill
Brown was not required to file a state-
ment because he filed for office
Wednesday. Vass and Brown are
seeking the unexpired term of Place
4, which Marvin Tate is vacating to
run for mayor.
Neither Tate, Helen Chavarria nor
Ben Hardeman filed their statements
by the deadline. They are running
unopposed for mayor, Place 5 and
Place 3, respectively.
City Secretary Dorothy Mallett
said there is no penalty for missing
the deadline.
The candidates
This is the field of candidates in school elections set for April 6:
Bryan
College Station
Position 3: Howard W. Cargill
Place 1: Don Smith
Don Wiggins
Rob Schleider
Switzer Deason
James Raatz
Benton Crawford III
Place 2: Ken Matthews
Pete Palasota
Ronnie Fox
Connie Weedon
Place 4: Larry Linder
Position 6: James Stegall
Walter Wendler
E. N. Rutherford
Place 6: Jane Hughey
Position 7: Travis Bryan Jr.
Chester Darcey
Jerry Gaston
Bobby Williams
Jack.. R. I . pnig
•Y
This is the field of candidates in city elections set for April 6:
Bryan
Mayor: Marvin Tate
Place 1: Hank McQuaide
Place 3: Ben Hardeman
Place 5: Helen Chavarria
Place 4, unexpired term:
C.P. "Peck" Vass
Bill Brown
College Station
Place 1: Roy W. Kelly
Fred Brown
Place 3: Roy W. Hann Jr.
Mike Hachtman
Theresa (Terri) Tongco
Place 5: Jim Gardner
James B. Bond
• THE EAGLE /SUNDAY, MARCH 10, 1985
•
Area braces for loss
of revenue sharing
By DIANE BLAKE BOWEN
Staff Writer
The expected loss of more than
$2.44 million a year in revenue -
sharing funds in the Brazos Valley is
prompting belt tightening and could
lead to some tax increases.
' `Have you ever seen a grown man
cry?" Bryan City Manager Ernie
Clark said of the cuts.
Bryan, which is getting $563,931
in revenue - sharing money this year,
is considering a tax or fee increase, as
well as reduction of some services to
make up for the loss. It's too early to
tell how much, Clark said.
Revenue - sharing funds were set
aside by the federal goverttment to
help local and state governments
meet public service- needs, but the
program has been targeted by Presi-
dent Reagan to be cut as a deficit-
reducing measure.
Nationwide, the program provides
$4.6 billion a year to about 38,000
local governments. The funds are dis-
tributed on the basis of need, fiscal
capacity and tax effort.
Brazos Valley officials said they
expect to absorb the losses initially by
cutting back, but needs in years to
come may require tax increases.
College Station Assistant City
Manager A.E. "Van" VanDever
said the city probably can get by next
year without a tax increase caused by
revenue sharing. College Station is
getting $650,000 this year.
"It's going to boil down to seeing
how we can do without; that balanced
against whatever the increase that
might be needed," Vandiver said.
In Brazos County, which got
$491,021 last year in this program,
"We're bracing to do without it,"
Precinct 1 C )rnmissio ^pr Bill Cooley
said.
He said a tax increaf ; 2 cet per
$100 valuation woula have to be
levied if all the revenue - sharing
money were to be replaced. But he
said the county will look at trimming
other spending before considering a
tax increase.
Cooley did say that the projects
that usually get county revenue -
sharing money = assistance for the
aged, the Sesquicentennial Commis-
sion, Easterwood Airport and the
widening of Texas 6 — deserve to be
funded and probably will not be
sliced from the budget completely.
The city of Brenham also will have
to consider increasing property taxes
and adding or raising user fees, City
Manager Leonard Addicks said.
Brenham anticipates receiving
$160,000 from the revenue sharing
program this year.
Only Grimes County may not feel
the pinch. Grimes County expects a
$750,000 surplus at the end of its
Turn to AREA, page 8A
THE EAGLE /SUNDAY, MARCH 10, 1985
60
Area braces
for loss
of funds
From page ]A
budget year; its $111,267 in revenue -
sharing funds will not be missed un-
less a catastrophe occurs, County
Judge Ben Swank said.
Most of the area governments use
the money for capital equipment
purchases, such as dump trucks,
police cars and computer equipment.
Brazos County used revenue -
sharing funds in the past to build the
courthouse annex, the youth lives-
tock area and rodeo arena, and the
Brazos Center, Cooley said.
But Bryan, Madisonville and Bur-
leson County have used the money in
their operating budget and will be hit
hard by the program's demise.
Bryan has put the money in its
general fund to reduce the amount of
paperwork required, Clark said. Be-
sides considering tax and fee in-
creases, he hopes the city partly can
offset the cuts with increased income
from other revenue - producers in the
city.
Madisonville divvied up its
$88,000 in revenue - sharing money
among its street, bridge and garbage,
water, police and sewer departments.
"I hope those other cities aren't in
as bad a shape as we are," City Man-
ager Joe Manning said.
Increased tax levies or user ser-
vices may have to make up for the
loss, Madisonville City Auditor
Richard Harkreader said.
Burleson County, which is getting
about $167,000 this year, uses some
of the money for its road and bridge
fund, the ambulance service, the
elderly program, the Mental Health -
Mental Retardation program and the
Soil and Water Conservation Dis-
trict.
"Some of these areas are absolute-
ly essential," Burleson County Judge
Woods Caperton said. However,
Caperton said county commissioners
probably will cut back rather than in-
crease taxes.
"I don't think they'd want to bur-
den our taxpayers with an additional
tax," he said. "We'll have to shift
and scramble around to try to come
up with what is acceptable to the
general public."
The city of Hearne also laments the
loss.
"I can't think of words to describe
our situation — it's kind of emotion-
al," said Floyd T. Hafley, Hearne
city controller.
He said the city won't feel any
"immediate, disastrous" effects, but
in the long run, equipment that was
bought with those funds will wear
out, and buying replacements will be
difficult.
The city probably will buy the
needed equipment on credit and pay
for it over two or three budgets, he
said.
Hearne received $41,000 in the
program this year.
The elimination of the revenue -
sharing program is not coming as a
surprise to any of the local govern-
ment leaders. Most said they "saw
the handwriting on the wall" years
ago and have tried not to get too de-
pendent on the program.
Madison County Judge James Fite
said that cuts will have to be made,
but the county won't be hurt too badly
because county leaders have planned
for them.
The program will give between
$105,000 and $115,000 to that coun-
ty this year, Fite said.
The city of Caldwell, which buys
police cars, dump trucks and other
capital equipment through revenue
sharing, has been expecting the cuts
for three years, said City Manager
J.D. Teague.
The city got about $46,000 this
year in the program, but Caldwell
citizens can expect no increase in
taxes or decrease in services because
of revenue sharing cuts, Teague said.
Centerville doesn't even include
the money in its annual budget, said
Mayor Robert Sherbrook. The city's
$5,000 a year is used generally for
street repair materials, he said.
He said he expects no increase in
Centerville's tax rate, which is 13
cents per $100 valuation.
The government leaders said the
program should not be cut because it
is so efficient. Communities get the
money directly from Washington
with few federal requirements and
low administrative costs.
THE EAGLE /SUNDAY, MARCH 10, 1985
"This is the best federal program
they've ever come up with. You get
the biggest bang for your buck,"
VanDever said.
Teague agreed. "Revenue sharing
is one of the most equitable funds
there is, and the least costly for the
taxpayer," he said. "You get a high-
er percentage of the money, and
there's less strings attached."
But most of those interviewed said
they support the federal govern-
ment's effort to lower the deficit,
even if it means less money for this
area.
"1 hate to see us lose the money,"
Clark said, "but I hope for our chil-
dren's sake, and everybody else's,
that (the deficit is reduced)."
0
ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS
•
Sealed proposals addressed to the City of College Station, Texas will be re-
ceived at the office of Mr. David Pullen, City Engineer, City Hall, College Station,
Texas, until 2:00 o'clock PM, on April 11, 1985 for furnishing all necessary material,
equipmentand labor required for the construction of: Greens Prairie Road Phases
1, II, & III, approximately 9200 LF from Texas Hwy. 6 to Rock Prairie Road.
Bidders must submit with their bids a Cashier's Check or a Certified Check in
the amount of five (5) percent of the maximum amount of bid payable without
recourse to: City of College Station, Texas, or a proposal bond in the same amount
from a Surety Company holding permit from the State of Texas to act as Surety,
and acceptable according to the latest list of companies holding certificates of
authority from the Secretary of Treasury Department Circular 570, as a guarantee
that Bidder will enter Into a contract and execute bond and guarantee forms
provided within five (5) days after notice of award of contract to him. Bids without
checks or proposal bond will not be considered.
In accordance with Article 5160, Revised Civil Statutes of Texas, 1925, as
emended, the successful Bidder wil I be required to furnish not only a performance
bond In the amount of the contract, but also a payment bond for the protection of
all claimants supplying labor and materials as defined in said law. The bonds must
be executed by an approved Surety Company holding a permit from the State of
Texas to act as Surety and acceptable according to the latest list of companies
holding certificates of authority from the Secretary of the Treasury of the United
States, or the Surety, acceptable to the uwner.
The owners reserves the right to reject any or all :!ds and to waive informalities.
In case of ambiguity or lack of clearness in stating the price in the bids, the Owner
reserves the right to consider the most advantageous construction thereof or to
reject the bid. Unreasonable or unbalanced unit prices will be considered suffi-
cient cause for rejection.
Bidders are expected to Inspect the site of the work and to Inform themselves
regarding local conditions under which the work is to be done. Attention is called
to the provisions of the Texas Minimum Wage Act of 1970 and Article 5159a.
Revised Civil Statutes of Texas concerning the prevailing wage rate applicable in
municipal contruction.
Contract Documents, Proposal Forms, Specifications and Plans may be ex-
amined without charge in the office of Mr. Elrey Ash, Director of Capital Improve-
ments.
Contract Documents, Proposal Forms, Specifications and Plans may be
obtained from the Walton & Assoc Iates/Consulting Engineers, Inc., 1722 Broad -
moor, Suite 110, Bryan, Texas 77802, 409/779 -3144, with deposit of Twenty-Five
($25.00) Dollars, which sum as deposited will be refunded provided the Contractor
submits a bid and returns all documents to the Engineer within 5 days after bid
opening. If the Contractor does not submit a bid but returns all documents to
Walton & Associates, he will be refunded his deposit if all documents are returned
within 48 hours after bid opening. Suppliers returning plans within 48 hours after
bid opening also will be refunded their deposit.
03-12- 65,03 -17- 85,03 -28- 85,04-04 -85
THE EAGLE /TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 1985
•
�J
p � p I
u
NOTICIA PUBLICA
A EL ELECTORADO DE LA
CIUDAD DE COLLEGE
STATION:
El Consejo Municipal de Is
Ciudad de College Station,
Texas cual an is junta regular
del die 28 de febrero. 1985
aprobaron Resoluci6n No.
02 -28- 85-14, con el tltulo:
UNA RESOLUCION
AUTORIZANDO UN APEO
SIN OBLIGACION DE EL
ELECTORADO DE LA
CIUDAD DE COLLEGE STA-
TION, TEXAS A CERCA LA
CUESTION DE ESTABLECER
UNA BIBLIOTECA PUBLICA.
Resoluci6n No. 02-28 -85-14
autoriza un Apdo sin ob-
ligaci6n de el electorado
de is Ciudad de College Sta-
tion, y is siguiente declare -
ci6n y pregunta serin
puestas an Is balota de Is
elecci6n Municipal cual se
Ilevar9 a Cabo el dla 6 de
abril y dicha elecci6n fue
autorizada por Ordenanza No.
1572'.
OPINION PUBLICO (APED
SIN OBLIGACION)
LDEBERA EL GOBIERNO
MUNICIPAL ESTBLECER
UNA BIBLIOTECA PUBLICA
DENTRO COLLEGE STATION
(comprendiendo qua con esto
pueden subir los impuestos
de propiedad al rededor de
dos centavos (20) per cien dol-
ares($100)de avalOO)?
SI
NO
Para mas informati6n llama
is Oficina de is Secretaria de
Is Ciudad de College Station,
Ediflcio POblico,
South Texas Avenue, College
Station, Texas (409)7643512.
03 -13-65
PUBLIC NOTICE
To Whom It May Concern:
The College Station City
Council has determined to es-
tablish a committee to assist
In the development of energy
conservation progams for the
City of College Station and to
monitor the implementation
of these programs. Citizens
interested in serving on this
committee are invited to con-
tact the Council Office at the
College Station City Hall (764-
3508 or 764 -3512) for an ap-
plication. Appointments to the
committee will be made in
April 1985 by the City Council.
For additional information on
the proposed function of this
committee, contact Charlie
Shear at the Energy Office,
College Station City Hall (764-
3724).
03 -13-85
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
The College Station City
Council will hold a public
hearing on the question of re-
zoning the following property:
A 91.68 acre tract located at
the northwest corner of the
intersection of State Highway
6 and Barron Road (Robert
Stevenson League A -54) from
Agriculture -Open District A -O
to C -1 General Commercial
(11.03 A.), R -1A Single Family
Residential (8.71 A.) and R -1
Single Family Residential
(71.94 A.). Application is in the
name of Garrett Engineering.
PUBLIC NOTICE The hearing will be held in the
ELECTORATE OF College Station Community
TO THE
THE CITY C COLLEGE Center, 1300 Jersey Street at
the 7:00 P.M. meeting of the
STATION:
Council of the Ci of City Council on Thursday,
The Ci
tY t March 28,1985.
College Station, Texas, meet- For additional information,
ing on February 28, 1985, in re- please contact me.
gular session, passed and ap- JamesM.Callaway
proved Resolution No. 02-28- Assistant Director
85-14, with the following cap-
of Planning
tion: A RESOLUTION ORDER- 03- 134::5
ING A NON - BINDING SUR-
VEY OF THE ELECTORATE
OF THE CITY OF COLLEGE
STATION, TEXAS, ON THE
QUESTION OF THE ES-
TABLISHMENT OF A PUBLIC
LIBRARY.
Resolution No. 02-28 -65-14
authorizes a non - binding sur-
vey to be made of the elector-
ate in the City of College Sta-
tion, and provides that the
following statementand ques-
tion shall be placed on the
ballot of the city election to be
held on the 6th day of April,
1985, said election having
been previously ordered by
City Ordinance No. 1572:
PUBLIC OPINION POLL
(NON - BINDING SURVEY)
SHOULD THE CITY GOVERN-
MENT ESTABLISH A PUBLIC
LIBRARY WITHIN COLLEGE
STATION (understanding that
this might increase property
taxes by about two cents (2¢)
per $100.00 of assessed
valuation?
YES
NO
Additional information may be
obtained from the Office of
the City Secretary at the Col-
lege Station City Hall, 1101
South Texas Avenue, College
Station, Texas (409f764-3512).
03 -13-85
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
The College Station City
Council will hold a public
hearing on the question of re-
zoning the following property:
Lot 1, Block 3, Prairie View
Heights (618 Banks) from R -1
Single Family Residential to
THE EAGLE /WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 1985
C -1 General Commercial. Ap-
plication is in the name of
John David Joyce J D's Old
Time Sno Cones.
The hearing will be held in the
College Station Community
Center, 1300 Jersey Street at
the 7:00 P.M. meeting of the
City Council on Thursday,
March 28,1985.
For additional information,
please contact me.
James M. Callaway
Assistant Director of Planning
03 -13-85
r:
•
CS" may reduce some
winter pool operations
By DIANE BLAKE BOWEN
Staff Writer
The College Station Parks and Re-
creation Board will consider today
whether the number of users justifies
the expense of heating and staffing
pools in the winter.
The board will meet at 7 p. m. in the
Parks and Recreation office confer-
ence room at Central Park.
Gas costs at Thomas Pool were
$16,559 during fiscal year (July -
June) 1983 -84, to heat the pool wa-
ter, the air in the pool dome and water
for showers.
Of that, $13,350 was spent from
November through April, during
which 6,850 people swam at the
pool. A total of 54,266 people used
Thomas and Adamson pools during
the entire fiscal year.
At last month's meeting, Aquatic
Superintendent Charles Szabu-
niewicz gave parks board members
five possible options for pool opera-
tions.
He recommended that the board
move the winter operations from
Thomas Pool to Southwood Pool, be-
cause the Southwood facility already
is being staffed (at the Tennis Center)
and the pool has less water to heat
with more swimming area than at
Thomas.
He said this option would give resi-
dents the opportunity to swim year -
round, yet would save on heating and
staffing costs.
The other options were:
■ Continue the current operation
of Thomas Pool year- round.
■ Cut to summer seasonal opera-
tion, opening and closing all pools
according to the local school sche-
dule.
■ Cut full -year operation to an ex-
tended season - from mid April
through October. But the extended
season would be available at only one
pool.
■ Keep year -round operation at
Thomas Pool, but with curtailed
operating hours.
Absentee voting under way
Municipal elections this year will be held April 6,
which is during Easter weekend. However, residents
who will be out of town can vote absentee until April 2.
Absentee voting began Monday for Bryan and Col-
lege Station. It is being held in both cities from 8 a.m. to
5 p.m., including lunch, Monday through Friday.
In College Station, go to Conference Room A in City
Hall, 1101 Texas Ave.
Bryan residents can vote absentee in the city secret-
ary's office at 27th and Regent streets.
Those who have lost their voter registration cards may
present identification with a photograph, such as a driv-
er's license.
THE EAGLE /TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 1985
0
College Station Fire
Station Contract Awarded
•
CRAM Construction has been
awarded a $472,780 contract for
the construction of an addition to
the Central Fire Station located on
Texas Ave. in College Station for
the City of College Station.
The project will consist of a
one -story addition containing ap-
proximately 4,876 square feet of
floor area. The work will include
concrete foundation over precast
panels on semi -rigid insulation;
steel beams; precast panel exterior
walls; builtup roof over
lightweight insulating concrete on
steel and precast concrete panel
roof deck; gypsum board, vinyl
wallcovering, ceramic the and fire
retardant carpet interior walls;
resilient, carpet, concrete, ceramic
tile, quarry the and vinyl composi-
tion tile floors; layin acoustical tile
and exposed structure ceilings;
hollow metal and wood doors;
hollow metal door frames;
aluminum storefront; plastic
laminate toilet partitions; carpen-
try; millwork; painting; graphics;
moisture protection; lath and
plastering; finish hareware; toilet
accessories; handrails and railings;
glass and glazing; identifying
devices; food service and dispatch
equipment; blinds, and plumbing,
electrical and mechanical work.
Also included will be site work;
demolition; site clearing; land-
scaping; flagpole, and concrete
curb, ramps and walks.
All work is included in the
prime contract. -
Holster and Associates, Ar-
chitects, College Station; Robert-
son Engineering Consulting
Engineers, structural engineer,
Bryan, and Walton and
Associates Consulting Engineers,
Inc., mechanical engineer, Bryan,
prepared the plans.
The contract was awarded on
the basis of the low base bid sub-
mitted February 28 plus the accep-
tance of alternates one and two.
THE AGC NEWS SERVICE /TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 1985
Campaign
letter no
mistake
to
By DIANE BLAKE BOWEN
Staff Writer
A College Station city Council
candidate says what might appear to
be an apparent campaign snafu is
really part of his election strategy.
Bryan resident Zane Goff received
a letter Tuesday from Roy W. Hann
Jr., who is running for Place 3 on the
College Station council.
Goff found it amusing that the let-
ter — dated March 8 — extolled the
virtues of "efficient operation and
proper financing," and targeted at
least 44 cents in campaign funds to-
ward a person who cannot possibly
vote in the College Station elections
— him.
He said Hann spent at least 22
cents to mail the letter to him and
enclosed a business reply form cost-
ing at least 22 more cents.
Goff said the only way he could
help Hann would be to endorse him.
But "I'm of no repute." he said.
Goff is a doctoral student in the
Texas A &M industrial engineering
department, and teaches part-time.
He still would consider an endorse-
ment, he said, but he added at least
one condition for his support.
"1 must require that he (Hann)
maybe take my quality control
class," Goff said.
But Hann said the letter was no
mistake.
"I did intend to send it to people in
Bryan," he said. He said he sent let-
ters to members of the engineering
faculty explaining that no engineer
had offered to serve on the council in
nearly 15 years.
Hann hopes that anyone who re-
ceives the message will in turn re-
commend him to their friends who
live in College Station. He added that
he has made such recommendations
in the past, for Peyton Waller, a for-
mer Bryan council member.
Thomas - Pool to stay open
Thomas Pool will remain open year -round for at least
one more year, the College Station Parks and RecreatioYi
Committee decided Tuesday.
In a year, the city will review pool operations, look at
the impact of Bryan's new pool, and decide whether to
move operations to the Southwood pool.
In.,other business, the board directed the city staff to
work with the College Station school district in revitaliz-
ing the community education program.
A meeting between school officials, city parks board
members and other interested groups will be scheduled
later to discuss the matter.
THE EAGLE /WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 1985
Zane Goff
Political forum set tonight
A political forum of College Station city and school
board candidates will be held tonight.
Sponsored by the Governmental Affairs Committee
of the Bryan - College Station Chamber of Commerce,
the forum will be held from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at the College
Station Community Center, 109 Timber.
The candidates will make a short address and then
field questions from the audience.
For more information, call the chamber at 260 -9898.
THE EAGLE /THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 1985
CS city council candidates debate
By DIANE BLAKE BOWEN
Staff Writer
Preservation of the College Station
quality of life and recruitment of new
business were the main goals
espoused Thursday by city council
candidates.
All seven council candidates spoke
at the Bryan - College Station Cham-
ber of Commerce political forum.
They are Roy W. Kelly and Fred
Brown for Place 1; Roy W. Hann Jr.,
Mike Hachtman and Terri Tongco for
Place 3; and Jim Gardner and James
B. Bond for Place 5.
Kelly said his previous experience
on the council, the industrial founda-
tion board and as chairman of the
Plan 2000 committee qualifies him to
serve on the council.
Brown said his business experi-
ence will enable him to monitor
growth in the city while protecting
neighborhoods. He said College Sta-
tion can attract business by offering
the research at Texas A &M Universi-
ty and the quality of life in the city.
Hann's environmental, engineer-
ing and private business experience
can benefit the city, he said. Hann
said he wants to preserve the city's
"unique university focus by bring-
ing in compatible industries.
Hachtman said his work as a stu-
dent liaison to the council has given
him insight to the problems of both
students and the general public. He
also stressed the need for attracting
new businesses to the area.
Tongco said she always has been
active in helping to solve problems in
other communities in which she has
lived, and wants to serve College Sta-
tion as well.
Gardner, a former council and
planning board member, said he
would like to continue to serve Col-
lege Station by using his background
and experience.
Bond, a native of the College Sta-
tion area, described himself as the
"most positive person" running for
office. He said he would like to bring
about cooperation between College
Station, Bryan and A &M.
Place 1 candidates were asked
whether they support the city's in-
dustrial park.
"I don't support the park as I know
what it is today," Gardner said. He
said that he doesn't know what is
going on at the park, and that the
public should be told what is hap-
pening.
Bond said he supports the concept
of an industrial park, if economic de-
velopment is going to be part of the
city's goals. However, he said he also
is anxious about the park's progress.
Place 3 candidates were asked if
the students needed a voice on the
council, and if they can be repre-
sented best by a student.
Hann said students are an impor-
tant part of this community. He said
he hopes, however, that everyone
still considers himself a student and
therefore can represent students.
Hachtman said he is not running
solely as a student, but that students
might be more comfortable about
approaching him rather than a "more
mature" council member.
Tongco said students can partici-
y
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issues
pate as citizens in College Station just
as any other resident can. She said
that with the student liaison, perhaps
they are already represented better on
the council than other residents.
All of the candidates were asked
how many council and school board
meetings they have attended in the
past year.
Their answers: Kelly, 12 council
meetings; Brown, no council or
school board meetings; Hann, no
council or school board meetings;
Hachtman, all but two council meet-
ings, no school board; Tongco, 10 or
12 council meetings, no school board
(and "plenty" of planning and zon-
ing commission meetings); Gardner,
20 -25 council meetings, no school
board; Bond, no council, one school
board.
Proposed park
bad investment
I have been reluctant to speak out
on several eventful happenings in
the community in that I am also a
part time resident of San Antonio.
However, my reluctance has sud-
denly disappeared dµe to recent
events that have fired my interest in
the manner in which our city fathers
are conducting business and spend-
ing our tax dollars as glated to the
proposed industrial park.
To date the whole idea bas been a
farce. I have been told by a reliable
source that no feasibility study has
ever been made to determine the
need. The whole idea is a "dream"
of a few in the right clique.
The decision of the city council in .
1981 to get into the land business
with the purchase of. 1,266 acres of
land in the "boondocks" and obli-
gate the taxpayers for $1,580,000
was appalling, Yes, they will tell
you that this obligation will be paid
for by safes generated as the park
develops. They don't tell you who
will pay the "interest" on this
• obligation until those sales are
made, or who pays the total obliga- .
tion if the park becomes another
Texas -size white elephant. The term
commonly used for carrying such a r
venture is called "Feeding The Alli-
gator. "
I have been involved in the de-
velopment of two Industrial Parks
with my San Antonio business and I
can tell you first-hand that industrial
sites in San Antonio, cane of the fas-
test growing areas in the U.S., move
very slowly. I would hate to guess
how slow the College Station Park
will sell. One of the biggest prob-
lems with an Industrial Park is that
most prospective occupants will not
go into a controlled park. They want
their own thing and will choose in-
dependent sites. This is evident
wherever you go. This is true even
locally — have you ever seen a Wes-
tinghouse . or Texas Instruments
facility in an industrial park in
Texas?
I believe in progress and I want to
see College Station enjoy healthy
growth. However, I feel that the In-
dustrial Park idea makes no econo-
mic sense at all. The growth of the
University, the strongest industry
the community has ever had, has
leveled off and even taken a dip. A
look around at what is happening to
many builders and developers in the
area, who are realists, will show you
that they have either shut down their
operations, left town for greener
pastures, declared bankruptcy or a
combination thereof.
The whole idea should have been
stopped long ago, but the council
knows, if you let the tiger go there
are teeth at the other end. How do we
stop this madness and protect our
bottom side? I would hope the coun-
cil would reevaluate their position as
related to the taxpayer, because they
pay taxes too. This thing has prob-
ably gone too far to keep the tax-
payer from being gator bait, but they
can sure lessen the size of the bite by
$1,500,000 by holding off on curb-
ing, guttering and paving Greens
Prairie Road ($1,200,000), and hold
up construction of a $350,000 water
line on Greens Prairie Road.
Meanwhile the "dream clique"
can hold their own tiger by the tale,
which should provide the necessary
motivation to find some brave
pioneer to be the first financially -
qualified occupant in the park and
perhaps attract others.
Edsel G. Jones
College Station Taxpayer
THE EAGLE /SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 1985
The College Station Police De-
partment will hold its annual Eas-
ter Egg Hunt March 30 in Central
Park at 10 a.m. Any child under 7
may participate if parents send the
child's name, age, address and
telephone number to Lt. Bernie
Kapella at the College Station
Police Department at 2611 Texas
Ave.
Kapella said more than 1,000
children turned out last year.
THE EAGLE /MONDAY, MARCH 25, 1985
Council to rule on rate hike
The College Station City Council Thursday will con-
sider Lone Star Gas Co.'s request for a 4.72 percent
revenue increase.
The council will meet in regular session at 7 p.m. in
the College Station Community Center on Jersey Street.
A workshop session will be held there at 4 p.m. today.
Also to be discussed Thursday are speed limits in the
city.
At the workshop, council members will discuss bike
lanes orr Southwest Parkway, the settlement in the Gulf
States Utilities rate case and the nuisance caused by
construction vehicles tracking mud on city streets.
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
The College Station City
Council will hold a public
hearing on the question of
rezoning the following pro-
perty: Part of Lot 22 of the D.A.
Smith Subdivision (1526
acres) located on the west
side of Chapel, approximately
150 feet north of Banks St.,
from Apartments High Density
District R-6 to General Com-
mercial District C -1. Applica-
tion is in the name of Mrs.
Randy Woodard.
The hearing will be held in the
Council Room of the College
Station City Hall, 1101 Texas
Ave. at the 7:00 P.M. meeting
of the City Council on Thurs-
day, April 11, 1985.
For additional informgtion,
pleale contact me.
James'M. Callaway
Assistant Director of Planning
03 -27 -85
THE EAGLE /WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 1985
CS City Council to consider
reducing local speed limit
By MICHAEL CRAWFORD
Staff Writer
Thursday night's College Station
City Council meeting will include ac-
tion on a state highway department
study which recommends College
Station reduce by 5 mph the speed
limit along Texas Avenue.
The reduction is not under con-
sideration for Bryan's section of
Texas Avenue.
The study, undertaken at the re-
quest of the College Station City
Council, included samples of traffic
speeds on Texas Avenue at 38 non -
peak traffic periods.
College Station Traffic Engineer
John Black says the various speeds
were ranked in order from the slo-
west to the fastest and a cut -off point
was established at 85 percent. That
cut -off point was 5 mph below cur-
rent speed limits.
Although Texas Avenue is a state
road, College Station must change
its seed ordinance before the re-
duction can go into effect. A propo-
sal submitted by Black will ask the
city council to amend the existing or-
dinance. at their Thursday night
meeting.
College Station Mayor Gary Hal-
ter says he thinks the speed limit
along some sections of Texas Ave-
nue is too high.
I think it is too high in some sec-
tions," Halter says, primarily past
Southwest Parkway. There have
been some pretty bad accidents
where the speed limit increases to 50
mph." Halter says he expects the
proposed changes to be approved.
The current speed limit along
most of Texas Avenue is 45 mph. If
the ordinance is approved, that limit
would drop to 40 mph — including
the section where Texas Avenue en-
ters Bryan. Bryan's speed limit at the
city limits is 45 mph.
Ed Ilschner, Bryan's operations
manager for the municipal services
administration, says there are no
plans to reduce the Texas Avenue
speed limit in Bryan.
"We just have not had a signifi-
cant traffic problem that can be
translated into speed," Ilschner says.
"A 5 mph difference is simply a mat-
ter of taking your foot off the accele-
rator. If it were 10 mph or 15 mph,
then I would say yes it would be a
problem."
Ilschner says Bryan reviews its
speed limits annually and hasn't had
the same congestion problems that,
he says, exist in College Station. _
If the reductions are approved
College Station's speed limit on
"Texas would be: 40 mph from Col-
lege Station's north city limits past
Holleman Drive; 45 mph from Hol-
leman Drive to just south of FM
2818; 50 mph from that section to
the intersection of Texas 6 and the
East Bypass; 55 mph from that point
south.
In other business, the council will
SPEED
LIMIT
iffll""*Im
Photo by ROBERT W. RIZZt
The College Station City Council on Thursday will consider
lowering the speed limit in some areas along Texas Avenue.
consider the adding of elected offi- quested by Lone Star Gas. Th<
cials to the city's workman compen- council also will discuss adding bicy.
sation plan and the rate increase re- cle lanes on Southwest Parkway.
CS abs entee voting starts today
Shuttle for students available
By ELIZABETH MICKEY
Reporter
Students who wish to vote absen-
tee for the April 6 city elections will
be able to take advantage of a shuttle
service which starts today sponsored
by a city council candidate.
Mike Hachtman, a Texas A &M
junior who is running for Place 3 on
the College Station City Council, or-
ganized the shuttle to make it easier
for students to vote absentee. The
election is scheduled for March 30,
the day before Easter Sunday.
"Devising the shuttle system is not
me the candidate, but me the citizen
being fed up with students not being
able to vote," Hachtman said.
Shuttles are scheduled to leave
from the staff parking lot between
Haas and Walton halls and from the
circle drive in front of the Commons
at 4 p.m. today through Friday of
this week and Monday and "Tuesday
of next week. Absentee voting closes
April 2.
Hachtman said the shuttle will go
directly to College Station City Hall
and back. It takes about 15 minutes
to vote, he said.
Hachtman also said that those
needing a ride but are unable leave
with the shuttle may call him at
home and he will drive them to city
hall.
"If I drive someone over, that one
vote could make the difference," he
said.
Another reason Hachtman said
he is sponsoring the shuttle is be-
cause the City of College Station
combined the three campus pre-
cincts used in the November election
into one precinct. All on- campus stu-
dents now will vote in the College
Station Municipal Building on
Church Street behind Northete.
Students care about what is going
on in College Station, and the com-
bining of these precincts makes it
very inconvenient for students to
vote, Hachtman said.
In order to vote absentee, stu-
dents must sign an affidavit stating
that they cannot vote on April 6 and
why, said Dian Jones, a secretary at
City Hall. The State Election Code
lists physical handicaps, religious be-
liefs or absence at the time of the
election as reasons for voting absen-
tee, Jones said.
Those wishing to vote absentee
may vote in Conference Room A in
City Hall at 1101 South Texas Ave.
through April 2.
M
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Group. protests city's
consolidation of polls
.By DIANE BLAKE BOWEN
Staff Writer
The Texas A &M University Civil
Liberties Union is challenging the
constitutionality of combining poll-
ing places for precincts 20, 21 and 35
in city and school elections.
The consolidation "appears very
discriminatory against students,"
said Chris Bowers, a member of the
TAMU -CLU and a junior political
science major at Texas A &M.
"We believe the move is unconsti-
tutional," he said. "We will fight
what we see as discrimination."
The voting boxes for the three pre-
cincts have been consolidated into
one in Precinct 35 since 1982. Resi-
dents who previously voted at the
Memorial Student Center now cast
their municipal and school ballots at
the old College Station Municipal
Center.
A resolution opposing this con-
solidation was approved unanimous-
ly Monday by the four active mem-
bers of the TAMU -CLU.
The group also is investigating
with the Texas Civil Liberties Union
and the American Civil Liberties Un-
ion the possibility of filing a class -
action lawsuit against the city of Col-
lege Station and the College Station
Independent School District.
Bowers said that if steps are not
taken soon to separate the boxes, a
suit may be filed, possibly before the
election.
The resolution says the consolida-
tion "infringes upon the civil rights
of all registered voters in general and
student voters in particular who re-
side in Precincts 20, 21 and 35."
Bowers said the consolidation
could have been prompted by a
"negative attitude" toward students
Turn to GROUP, page 5A
Council votes to drop
bike lanes on street
By DIANE BLAKE BOWEN
Staff Writer
The College Station City Council
has decided to eliminate bicycle lanes
on Southwest Parkway in favor of
improved automobile traffic flow.
The council voted 3 -2 Wednesday
to designate five traffic lanes on the
street and no bike lanes and to look
for other ways to improve the safety
of children there. .
But some residents in the area were
disappointed in the move.
"There are lots of children that
will be in jeopardy because of the five
lanes," Lucia Hodges said..
Another resident, Naomi Jiroux,
said her three children and her hus-
band ride bicycles to school and
work. She said many children bicycle
to three nearby schools and to Bee
Creek Park.
The lanes are needed because they
make the ride safer, the residents told
council members.
Others said the lanes provide a buf-
fer between car traffic and children
walking alongside the road. Some-
times rowdy children will push one
another onto the lane, they said.
Recent construction has eliminated
the stripes that formerly designated
bike lanes on Southwest Parkway.
Traffic Engineer John Black asked
the council whether to stripe in three
traffic lanes and two bike lanes, or
five traffic lanes and no bike lanes.
In both alternatives, the middle
lane would be for left turns.
If the bike lanes had been okayed,
the street's automobile capacity
would be cut in half, city officials
said.
Council member Pat Boughton
said she opposed in previous years
the rezoning of that area to allow so
many apartment complexes. But now
Turn to COUNCIL, page SA
Council votes
to eliminate bike
lanes on street
From page IA
that they're there, the city must pro-
vide good access, she said.
"I don't know what we're going to
do with all the traffic that we've put
OD Southwest Parkway" if the five
lanes are not designated, Boughton
said. "I really think that our planning
on this thing has gone too far to
change it now.-
Plans to widen the street were be-
gun five years ago, city officials said.
Council members Lynn Mcllhaney
and Alvin Prause voted against mark-
ing five lanes. Boughton, Bob Run-
nels and Mayor Gary Halter voted in
favor of the additional traffic lanes.
THE EAGLE /THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 1985
n
f�
�J
ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS
Sealed proposals addressed to the City of College Station, Texas will be re-
ceived at the office of Mr. David Pullen, City Engineer, City Hall, College Station,
Texas, until 2:00 o'clock PM, on April 11, 1985 for furnishing all necessary material,
equipment and labor required forthe construction of: Greens Prairie Road Phases
I, II, & III, approximately 9200 LF from Texas Hwy. 6 to Rock Prairie Road.
Bidders must submit with their bids a Cashier's Check or a Certified Check in
the amount of five (5) percent of the maximum amount of bid payable Hithout
recourse to: City of College Station, Texas, or a proposal bond in the same amount
from a Surety Company holding permit from the State of Texas to act as Surety,
and acceptable according to the latest list of companies holding certificates of
authority from the Secretary of Treasury Department Circular 570, as a guarantee
that Bidder will enter into a contract and execute bond and guarantee forms
provided within five (5) days after notice of award of contract to him. Bids without
checks or proposal bond will not be considered.
In accordance with Article 5160, Revised Civil Statutes of Texas, 1925, as
amended, the successful Bidder w i l l be required to furnish not only a performance
bond in the amount of the contract, but also a payment bond for the protection of
all claimants supplying labor and materials as defined in said law. The bonds must
be executed by an approved Surety Company holding a permit from the State of
Texas to act as Surety and acceptable according to the latest list of companies
holding certificates of authority frcm the Secretary of the Treasury of the United
States, or the Surety, acceptable to the owner.
The owners reserves the right to reject any or al; t!ds and to waive informalities.
In case of ambiguity or lack of clearness in stating the price in the bids, the Owner
reserves the right to consider the most advantageous construction thereof or to
reject the bid. Unreasonable or unbalanced unit prices will be considered suffi-
cient cause for rejection.
Bidders are expected to inspect the site of the work and to inform themselves
regarding local conditions under which the work is to be done. Attention is called
to the provisions of the Texas Minimum Wage Act of 1970 and Article 5159a.
Revised Civil Statutes of Texas concerning the prevailing wage rate applicable in
municipal contruction.
Contract Documents, Proposal Forms, Specifications and Plans may be ex-
amined without charge in the office of Mr. Elrey Ash, Director of Capital Improve -
ments.
Contract Documents, Proposal Forms, Specifications and Plans may be
obtained from the Walton & Associates /Consulting Engineers, Inc , 1722 Broad -
moor, Suite 110, Bryan, Texas 77802, 409/779 -3144, with deposit of Twenty-Five
($25.00) Dollars, which sum as deposited will be refunded provided the Contractor
submits a bid and returns all documents to the Engineer within 5 days after bid
opening. If the Contractor does not submit a bid but returns all documents to
Walton & Associates, he will be refunded his deposit if al I documents are returned
within 48 hours after bid opening. Suppliers returning plans within 48 hours after
bid opening also will be refunded their deposit.
03-12- 85,03 -17- 85,03 -28- 85,04 -04-85
THE EAGLE /THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 1985
I 1
174
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
FOR WASTE DISCHARGE
PERMITAMENDMENT
CITY OF COLLEGE STATION,
P.O. Box 9960. College Sta-
tion, Texas 77840 has applied
to the Texas Department of
Water Resources for an
amendment to Permit No.
10024 -01 in order to revise the
rated treatment capacity of its
Sewage Treatment Plant No. 1
from a volume not to exceed
an average flow of 4,000.000
gallons per day to 4,900,000
gallons per day. The Texas
Department of Health has
evaluated this plant to have a
4,900,000 gallon treatment
capacity. The applicant pro-
poses to eliminate older ex-
isting units and utilize newer
treatment facilities that have
been upgraded in treatment
capacity.
The plant site is adjacent to
the west side of Carters Creek
approximately 3 /4 mile east of
the State Highway 6 Bypass,
and approximately 4000 feet
north and 1800 feet east of the
intersection of the State High-
way No.6 East Bypass and Tex-
as Avenue in Brazos County,
Texas. The effluent is dis-
charged into Carters Creek;
thence into the Navasota Ri-
ver in Segment No. 1209 of the
Brazos River Basin.
Legal Authority: Section
26.028 of the Texas Water
Code, as amentled, and 31
TAC 341 of the Rules of the
Texas Department of Water
Resources.
No public hearing will be held
on this application unless an
affected person who has re-
ceived notice of the applica-
tion has requested a public
hearing. Any such request for
a pubic hearing shall be in
writing and contain (1) the
name, mailing address and
phone number of the person
making the request; and (2) a
brief description of how the
requester, or persons repre-
sented by the requester,
would be adversely affected
by the granting of the 'ap-
plication. If the Commission
determines that the request
sets out an issue which is re-
levant to the permit decision,
or that a public hearing would
serve the public interest, the
Commission shall conduct a
public hearing, after the
issuance of proper and timely
notice of the hearing. If no
sufficient request for hearing
is received within 30 days of
the date of publication of the
notice concerning the ap-
plication, the permit will be
submitted to the Commission
for final decision on the
application.
Requests for a public hearing
and /or requests for further
information concerning any
aspect of the application
should be submitted in writing
to the Chief Hearings Exami-
ner, Texas Water Commission,
P.O. Box 13087, Capitol Sta-
tion, Austin, Texas 78711,
Telephone (512) 475 -2678.
Issued this 21st day of March,
1985.
Mary Ann Hefner, Chief Clerk
Texas Water Commission
03 -28 -85
THE EAGLE /THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 1985
E
Texas Ave
By DIANE BLAKE BOWEN
Staff Writer
Speed limits on Texas Avenue in
College Station will be lowered by 5
mph within two weeks.
The College Station City Council
passed an amendment Thursday to
the ordinance setting the speed limit
on Texas. Traffic Engineer John
Black said it will be about two weeks
before the state highway department
can get the limits changed.
The new speed limits are:
■ 40 mph from the north city
limits near Schlotzsky's for 1.815
miles to just south of Holleman
Drive.
■ 45 mph from that point for 1.19
miles to just south of FM 2818.
■ 50 mph from there for 0.795
mile to the intersection of Texas 6 and
the East Bypass.
■ 55 mph from there south.
The council also voted Thursday to
change its auditor this year.
The firm of Deloitte Haskins &
Sells was chosen by a 3 -2 vote to
replace Hereford Lynch & Co. as the
city's auditor.
Council member Lynn McIlhaney
said the move was not prompted by a
dissatisfaction with Hereford
Lynch's services, but with its in-
creasing prices.
She said the firm's fees have in-
creased each year since 1981.
McIlhaney got proposals from six
other auditing firms, and said Here-
ford Lynch's had the highest cost
estimate of the six, at a little over
$42,000.
Deloitte Haskins & Sells, while
not the lowest bidder, had the best
combination of service offered and
price estimated, she said. It proposed
doing the work for about $38,000.
The lowest bid was for $26,000,
McIlhaney said.
McIlhaney and council members
Alvin Prause and Bob Runnels voted
for hiring the new auditor. Council
speed limits lowered
member Pat Boughton and Mayor
Gary Halter voted against the change,
saying not enough time was given to
investigate adequately the options
available to the city.
In other action, the council passed
an ordinance authorizing veterina-
rians to sell pet licenses.
The move was an attempt to tie
together licensing with rabies vac-
cinations, increasing the number of
pets licensed in the city, Halter said.
Licenses and vaccinations will be
sold as a package, with the licensing
fees going directly to the Brazos
Animal Shelter. Previously, the city
has sent all license fees to the shelter
anyway, Halter said.
"We We feel it's a strong move toward
veterinary public health," shelter
Director Kathy Ricker told council
members. She said the shelter ex-
pects an increase from 2,000 to
10,000 pets licensed this year.
The shelter is working with Col-
lege Station, the county and the city
of Bryan to get one license for all
governmental entities, Ricker said.
The move also will allow one tag to
be used for both rabies and license
designations.
"Small cats will not have to be
weighted down" by two tags, Halter
added as another benefit of the
change.
The council also voted to spend
$9.44 a year to add council members
to College Station's worker's com-
pensation policy with Texas political
subdivisions.
The policy will cover any injuries
suffered by council members during
the performance of official duties,
said Karen Dickson, personnel man-
ager.
Action on the Lone Star Gas Co.
revenue increase request was tabled.
THE EAGLE /FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 1985
Council denies rezoning request
C
By DIANE BLAKE BOWEN
Staff Writer
Bryan High School senior John
David Joyce's rezoning request for
his J D's Old Time Sno Cones busi-
ness was denied Thursday by the Col-
lege Station City Council.
Joyce, 18, had requested that the
council rezone the lot at 618 Banks
St. from single - family residential dis-
trict to a general commercial district.
He already has one sno -cone stand in
Bryan and was hoping to put a branch
stand in College Station.
He contended that the 50- by -85-
foot lot was too small to build a home
at that site and that it was flanked by
streets on three sides and other com-
mercial businesses on two sides.
"To my knowledge, no residents
are against it, and some are for it," he
told the council.
Setback requirements would pre-
vent a business from being located on
such a small lot, city officials said.
Staff members had recommended re-
jection of the request, although the
planning and zoning commission had
recommended changing the site to a
neighborhood- business district.
City staff members said the request
does not comply with the Land -use
plan or with development policies m-
garding the location of commercial
zoning. Also, it is not compatible
CS needs a
branch library
In 1983, the League of Women
Voters completed a study of library
needs in Brazos County. We con-
cluded, among other things, that an
additional library facility is needed
to serve the growing population in
the southern part of our community.
We felt that the best way to organize
such a facility would be in coopera-
tion with the Bryan Public Library
especially because it would avoid
unnecessary duplication costs.
We commend the College Station
City Council for its efforts to include
a library in its 1985 -86 budget. We
thank the College Station Library
Committee for its work, and we sup-
port its recommendation to establish
a branch of the Bryan Public Lib-
rary. And finally, we urge College
Station residents to vote yes on the
library referendum in the April 6
election.
Dons Watson, president
League of Women Voters
Brazos County
with adjacent residential areas, they
said.
In other action, the council
approved two other rezoning re-
quests.
A rezoning of a 3 -acre tract at the
intersection of Texas 6 and the East
Bypass was approved pending
approval of the replat and conditional
use by the planning and zoning com-
mision.
Also approved was a request by
Garrett Engineering for the rezoning
of a 91.68 acre tract at Texas 6 and
Barron Road from agriculture -open
district to a general commercial and
single - family residential district.
THE EAGLE /FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 1985
Texas Av e, speeds reduced
C.S. approves ordinance
A
By MICHAEL CRAWFORD
Staff Writer
The College Station City Council
Thursday night unanimously passed
an ordinance which would lower the
speed limits along Texas Avenue by
5 mph.
The action came at the request of
council members who asked the
State Department of Highways to
study traffic load and speed limits on
Texas Avenue and then report the
findings to the council'Fhe study
examined 38 non -peak traffic peri-
ods and ranked traffic speeds from
the lowest to the highest. A cut -off
point was established at 85 percent
of the highest speed.
The results were 5 mph below
current speed limits. Traffic Engi-
neer John Black said the passage of
the ordinance means the reduced
speed limits would go into effect as
soon as the highway department
posts the new signs. Black expects
that to be done within the next
month.
No opposition to the change was
raised at the council meeting — a
fact which surprised Student Gov-
ernment liaison and council candi-
date Mike Hachtman. Although the
liaison position is a non - voting one,
Hachtman said he had planned to
raise questions about the reduction
until he talked to students. Those he
spoke with to, he said, supported the
speed changes.
The new limits are: 40 mph from
College Station's north city limits
passed Holleman Drive; 45 from
Holleman Drive to just south of FM
2818; 50 mph from that section to
the intersection of Texas 6 and the
East Bypass; 55 mph from that point
south.
Earlier in the week, Bryan's oper-
ation manager for the Municipal
Services Administration said no re-
ductions in Texas Avenue's speed
limit in Bryan's section of the
throughfare were planned.
In other business, the council
postponed action on an ordinance
determining the rate Lone Star Gas
can charge for residential and com-
mercial customers. Lone Star's re-
quest for a 4.72 percent increase was
reduced to a 3.33 percent increase
on the average gas utility bill.
THE $ATTAILION/FRIbAy, MARCH 29, 1985
•
Council hopefuls divide on issues
By DIANE BLAKE BOWEN
Staff Writer
College Station City Council
candidates were divided Friday on
what role the city should have in in-
dustrial development and what
should be done with the Gulf States
Utilities refund.
The candidates spoke at a forum
sponsored by the League of Women
Voters. The election will be held
April 6.
Place 1
Fred Brown said soliciting indust-
rial growth is vital to College Station,
but the city should turn the industrial
park over to the Industrial Develop-
ment Foundation.
"These people are very know-
ledgeable in ways to solicit this type
of industrial growth," he said.
Research at Texas A &M and the
quality of life in College Station
should be used as a "carrot" to lure
more industry here, he said.
Roy W. Kelly said the four local
industrial parks — Bryan, Texas
A &M, College Station and Brazos
County — now are working together
to bring new business to this area, and
he supports this effort.
However, he said the city and the
industrial foundation should cooper-
ate to reach their goals.
"If we can't work closely, we need
to dissolve the foundation," said
Kelly, who serves on the foundation
board.
The candidates were asked
whether the library should be funded
by a 2 -cent tax increase or with the
money refunded to the city by GSU
for overcharges in previous years.
Brown said the GSU refund should
be given back to the individual users.
Kelly said the money should be used
in the city utilities department.
Kelly also said that the library will
be voted on by the residents of Col-
lege Station, but that the city should
make sure it has the funds when it
begins new projects.
Brown said his top priorities will
be keeping the quality of life, solicit-
ing industry and running city govern-
ment like a business.
Kelly said College Station's lead-
ers must evaluate the city and its
financial state in light of cutbacks at
A &M and the federal government.
Place 3
Roy W. Hann Jr. said industries
can be attracted to this area through
"community development." That is,
the city should look at its problems
and all possible solutions, and decide
where to spend its money to make the
city a more desirable place to locate.
Mike Hachtman said the city
should work closely with other agen-
cies in recruiting businesses, as well
as demonstrate to possible new com-
panies that the city is responsible and
spends its money wisely.
He said one of his three top priori-
ties is to finish construction on the
industrial park.
Terri Tongco said the chamber of
commerce and the four industrial
parks should work together to draw
more industry here. However, she
said the economy dictates that the
process of getting more businesses
will be a slow one.
Hachtman said the GSU rebate
should be used by the city utility de-
partment in conservation programs
"to keep bills down across the
board."
He supported getting money from
the private sector to help fund the
library, but said a 1 or 2 -cent tax
increase probably will be needed.
Tongco said the library should not
duplicate A &M's, but perhaps be
more of a recreational library.
Hann said he would not advocate
taking money from one city depart-
ment and giving it to another, and that
he was glad the voters will be able to
decide whether they want a library.
Place 5
On economic development, Jim
Gardner said the city should not be
concerned with attracting new
business; rather, it should provide
good services and govern effectively.
"If you get a good affordable city,
you'll get the growth," he said.
James B. Bond said his views do
not differ substantially from Gard -
ner's on this issue. College Station
should have an openness regarding
providing and extending utilities to
new businesses, he said.
As for the library issue, Bond said
he had not studied it. Gardner said the
library's operating funds will be
funded ultimately with general funds
and capital improvements by bonds.
Bond stressed the need for inter -
local governmental cooperation —
among College Station, Bryan and
Texas A &M — for solutions to com-
mon problems. rela-
He said he supports "a happy
tionship" among the groups as well
as openness in city business.
Gardner said he wants to streng-
then the city's planning function and
"thoroughly review the industrial
park proposal."
He said College Station has some
serious problems, caused in part by
rapid growth. Optimizing the be-
nefits of growth while mitigating the
problems is his ¢oal, he said.
THE EAC7LE/SATUR1?ttl�J. , MARCH 30, 1985
rA
LM
•
0
ern
ongco
"Reasoned, energetic
representation for
the whole community"
College Station City Council, Place 3
Paid by Fund to Elect Terri Tongw. Naomi Fry _ 2606 Cleanvood, College Station.
THE EA(5LE 1SUNbAy, MARCH 31 , 1985
�i
ect
•
C
College Station Load Management Program
.,
01
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 11 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Keep the city under this line to save money next year.
76
..
56
20 2122 2324 25262728 293031 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 910111213141blb /1819 zu
August September
.,
;.
76
..
This is the arnount of electricity, in megawatts, used daily by the city
of College Station since the inception of its load management
program Aug. 20. The city is asking that all residents and businesses
use as little electricity as possible between 4 and 8 p.m. through
U Sept. 20. If usage is kept to les's than 86 megawatts a day, customers
can save from $400,000 to $500,000 on their utility bills over the
" city officials estimate.
next
The Eagle /Monday, September •2, 1985
Local agencies gain
new police officers
•
The Texas ,4 &M law enforce-
ment and security training division
graduated 30 new officers Thurs-
day, and 15 of them already have
started working at local agencies.
Congratula-
tions to new
Bryan police
officers Brenda
Andrus, Steve
?" Carver, Joe
Davis, Chris Far -
ris and John
McNair. College
Station's new officers are John
Gargotta, Kathie Lay, Pam Fergu-
son, James Mann, Ralph Courter
and Bryan McCollum. At Texas
A &M, new officers include Betty
LeMay, Mark Barnett, Richard
Lewis and David Villarreal.
Other graduates included a
Navasota police officer, a Grimes
County deputy and a constable
from Millican.
This was the academy's last 11-
week class before a new law went
into effect Sunday that says a
Texas peace officer has to be 21
years old or have two years of
military experience or two years of
college. Officers also will have to
have an additional 80 hours of
training, for a total of 400 hours.
Formerly, officers only had to
be 18, but in Bryan the age require-
ment was 19 and in College Station
it was 20.
Bryan recruiting and training
Sgt. Mark Ricketson said he be-
lieves the new law is a good idea
and should help improve public re-
lations for police departments.
"An officer doesn't command
as much respect if he's just a high
school graduate," Bryan Officer
Chuck Dean said.
POLICE
By Virginia Kirk
ers getting a short training course
in the use of the stun gun last week
had their laughs broadcast across
the area.
I attended the first hour of the
course and then returned to the
Eagle newsroom. A short time la-
ter we heard loud laughter coming
over the scanner. After listening
for a minute, it was easy to tell
where the laughs were coming
from. They came every few
seconds every time another per-
son tested the stun gun on a partner
to learn how it works.
After about three minutes of
listening, we could hear a phone
ringing in the background. After it
was picked up, the channel was
turned off quickly.
I was later told that someone sit-
ting on a desk with a remote con-
trol radio station had depressed the
microphone on it.
The course itself was informa-
tive. Deputies Michael Paulus and
Chris Kirk discussed how the stun
gun works and when to use it.
Paulus said he believes that the
electronic takedown device has
gotten bad publicity because some
officers do not know how to use it
effectively.
He emphasized that the gun's
9 -volt rechargable nickel -
cadmium battery must be cared for
properly and discharged and
recharged every four to sever
days, even if it's not used.
'1114h1W11
The Eagle /Monday, September 2, 1985
3OUTHWOOD VALLEY SEC -
rION 7 -A, BEING 2816 HENRY
COURT, IN COLLEGE STA-
TION, BRAZOS COUNTY,
TEXAS.
The complete text of Ordin-
ance No. 1608, Exhibit "A ", and
Ordinance No. 1609 may be ob-
tained gt the College Station
City Ham, 1101 South Texas
Avenue, College Station.
Texas. For additional informa-
tiory contact Dian Jones, City
Secretary, at the College Sta-
tion council Office.
09-01- 85,09 -02-85
The Eagle/ Monday, September 2, 1985
C�
•
NOTICE
ORDINANCE NO. 1608 AN[
ORDINANCE NO. 1609 WERE
PASSED AND APPROVED ON
AUGUST 22, 1985, BY THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF COLLEGE STATION,
TEXAS, meeting in regular
session in the College Station
City Hall, said meeting having
been posted in accordance
with Art. 6252 -17.
The above- referenced Ordi-
nances, signed by the Mayor
and duly recorded in the of-
ficial records of the City of
College Station, are titled as
follows:
ORDINANCE NO. 1608: AN
ORDINANCE VACATING AND
ABANDONING A PORTION
OF A PUBLIC UTILITY EASE-
MENT ON LOT 7 IN BLOCK 3
OF THE DOBROVOLNY SUB-
DIVISION, 1204 CHARLES
COURT, IN COLLEGE STA-
TION, BRAZOS COUNTY,
TEXAS, BEING PART OF A
FIFTEEN FOOT UTILITY
EASEMENT, AND BEING
MORE PARTICULARLY DE-
SCRIBED ON EXHIBIT "A"
ATTACHED HERETO.
and
ORDINANCE NO. 1609: AN
ORDINANCE VACATING AND
ABANDONING A TEN FOOT
PUBLIC UTILITY EASEMENT
ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF
BLOCK 23, LOT 34 OF
The Eagle /Monday, September 2, 1985
�J
The inside track on
city manager's job
L
Some College Station City Hall
watchers are betting on King Cole
of Bellaire to get the city mana-
ger's post here. Why? He's the
only finalist with an unusual first
name.
College Sta-
tion's last two city
managers have
been North Bar -
dell and Ran Bos-
well, a nd between
them, managers
with unusual first
names have run the city for the past
33 years.
None of the other eight finalists
were blessed with strange first
names — there's Russ, Donald,
Dale, John, James, Marvin, Rex
and Dennis.
A former finalist, Nicholas
Meiszer of Austin, withdrew from
the running to - accept a job in
another city. Although his name
isn't weird, it might have qualified
as unusual.
But I wouldn't let the name
tradition alone make me bank too
heavily on Cole. Whatever his
CITY HALL
By Diane Blake Bowen
other qualifications, his real first
name, alas, is William.
While I know that the property
tax is not the only source of income
for cities, it is surprising to find out
just,how many sources there are.
The city of Bryan's 1985 -86
.budget lists more than 50, includ-
ing the better -known categories of
sales tax and utility bills, as well as
the more obscure pinball machine
permits and deceased animal col-
lection fees.
This is my last column as a city
beat reporter. Beginning this
week, I'll be dividing my time be-
tween the features department and
the copy desk. My replacement has
not been named yet, so city hall
duties will be shared by other re-
porters on the staff for a while.
✓,niww A.xI.I'PUiS'.
The Eagle /Tuesday, September 3, 1985
0
B unions holdin
g
their own
By VIRGINIA KIRK
Staff Writer
Many Texans bristle at the mention
A unions, but a number of Brazos
:7ounty residents are card - carrying
members — among them supermar-
ket clerks, the mail carriers, firefigh-
ters and telephone operators.
As unions across the country
appear to be in decline, some active
members of local unions took time to
talk about their organizations' status
on Labor Day 1985.
The largest union here may be the
Communications Workers of Amer-
ica, which continues to thrive with
422 members, all employed by
General Telephone Co., said Cathy
Dilley, district division representa-
tive. The union represents about 80
percent of the employees.
"We have a great percentage of
cases won in arbitration. We recently
brought one of our past district divi-
sion reps back to work. She'll start
Tuesday; that's kind of great for
Labor Day," Dilley said.
"GTE is getting a lot better than it
was. With our new division manager,
we feel like we have someone willing
to work with us. We try to settle
things before we go to arbitration,"
Dilley said.
"A lot of people don't understand
unions. They think it's just there to
protect people's jobs alone — we're
also there to get quality pay for quali-
ty work," Dilley said.
The only contact with unions for
many people may come when they
pass by picketers on their way to shop
at a local Winn -Dixie store.
The picketers represent United
Food and Commercial Workers Loc-
al No. 455. The local union has more
than 50 members employed at Safe-
way and Kroger stores, said Erma
Green, a Safeway store stewardess.
"A lot of people don't know about
the union because management
doesn't tell them. A lot of people
don't know about their rights,"
Green said.
For Green, belonging to a union is,
worth it. She earns $10.62 an hour,
while clerks at Winn -Dixie and Pi$g-
ly Wiggly are only making $4.50 an
hour, she said.
Local anti -union sentiment and
more workers willing to. work for less
has really hurt one union.
Albert Iverson; business repre-
sentative for the United Brotherhood
of Carpenters and Joiners of Amer-
ica, said the union has seen a real
decline.
"There are only one or two con-
tractors in the area using union
carpenters. At one time all the work
on (the Texas A &M) campus was un-
ion," Iverson said.
"There are probably no advan-
tages of belonging as far as being able
to negotiate working conditions or
wages. It's not only happening to
carpenters' locals, it's happening to
other crafts as well," Iverson said.
The local union has about 35 mem-
bers and may have to combine with a
local in Conroe in the future, he said.
"I don't think there's as much rec-
ognition of Labor Day as there used
to be. People don't feel about it like
they used to," Iverson said.
But one of the leaders of the Inter -
nationat Brotherhood of Electrical
Workers disagrees.
"Labor Day now has more mean-
ing. People used to take it for
granted. In the last 20 years, work
was really good in the construction
industry, but it's slowed down in the
last four years. People think a little
more about labor," said Don
McKnight, assistant business man-
ager.
The IBEW has 175 members in
Brazos County,
"Unions and management are
working closer together than we ever
have. We've done real good in nego-
tiations. We've had no pay raise for
three years but we haven't had a pay
cut either," McKnight said.
Another union is at Bryan's Alen -
co, makers of aluminum products
About 175 people, or close to 80 pei
cent of the employees at Alenco, be
long to the International Chemic�
Workers Union, said union Presider
Alvin Phelps.
"We went on strike six or seve
years ago because of unsanitary con
ditions and partly because of money
We had people who got their hand
cut pretty regularly on glass. Sine,
that time, with the help of the unio►
and Occupational Safety and Heald
Administration, the company is a loi
safer," Phelps said.
Another union in Bryan has no bar-
gaining power but does a lot of ser-
vice activities — the Internationid
Association of Firefighters. Approx-
imately 75 percent of the Bryan Fire
Department belongs to the union,
said president Nick Pappas.
"We don't pressure anyone to
join. Unions do have a bad name
throughout Texas. We're more of a
community group," Pappas said.
"People don't associate Labor
Day with unions anymore — it's just
a day off for all workers," Pappas
said.
The Eagle /Tuesday, September 3, 1985
•
OR
-rcax 1paa program
hit hard by the heat
The heat is on in College Sta
ion, both literally and figur
itively.
Historically, the third day after
classes resume at Texas A &M —
that's today — is one of the three
jays when the heaviest demand for
:lectric power occurs. Given the
above- average temperatures of the
)ast several days, that makes it
mPerative for College Station re-
;idents to minimize electric usage
is much as possible.
At stake is as much as half a
pillion dollars in utility bill sav-
ngs over the next 12 months. If
'ollege Station businesses and re-
;idents can reduce their electric us-
ige between 4 p.m. and 8 p.
,ach day, that's how much city
officials say can be trimmed over
the next year. Conversely, if the
voluntary conservation effort
fails, that's also how much higher
local bills will be than is neces-
sary.
Energy usage climbed drastical-
ly over the weekend, reaching a
Peak of 85 megawatts on Sunday
— a result, no doubt, both of the
record - breaking 106- degree heat
and the influx of returning stu-
dents.
Not much can be done about the
heat, of course. But if College Sta-
tion residents can hold the line on
Power usage in spite of the weath-
er, then each utility customer
stands to profit from the effort
throughout the next year.
Eagle Editorial Board
The Eagle /Wednesday, September 4, 1985
LI
PUBLIC HEARING:
The College Station Planning
and Zoning Commision will
hold a public hearing on the
question of granting a Con-
ditional Use Permit for a
church to be located on 3.41
acres (Tract A, Block 55,
Southwood Valley Section
24A) at the northwest corner
of the intersection of the pro-
posed extensions of Welsh
and Deacon.
The request for Use Permit is
n the name of Marion O. Law-
rence, for The Corporation of
the Presiding Bishop of the
Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter -Day Sa i nts.
The hearing will be held in the
Council Room of the College
Station City Hall, 1101 South
Texas Avenue at the 7:00 P.M
meeting of the Piannmg anc
Zoning Commission on Thurs
day, September 19, 1985.
For additional inforrnatior
contact the City Planner's O
fice, (409) 764-3570.
James M. Callaway
Assistant Director of Plannir
09 -04 -85
The Eagle /Wednesday, September 4, 1985
USenergy prograin College Station Load Management Program
faces toughest week
B IRGINIA KIRK and
D) BLAKE BOWEN
Staff Writers
College Station energy officials
are extremely concerned about the
city's energy consumption for the
next two days after a hot weekend
in which consumers came danger-
ously close to the total that could
mean higher electric bills.
"A tremendous influx of stu-
dents this week and 106 degree
weather Sunday sure turned us
around," energy specialist Charlie
Shear said. "It's going to be touch
and go in the coming week, espe-
cially (today) and Wednesday
night."
In the load management prog-
ram, consumers are being asked to
reduce their electricity usage be-
tween 4 and 8 p.m. through Sept.
20. If they keep the total city usage
below 86 megawatts, customers
will save from $400,000 to
$500,000 over the next year, offi-
cials estimate.
Residents used 85 megawatts
Sunday and 84 megawatts Satur-
day `ter conserving with great
guststiie first 10 days of the prog-
ram. Shear said that the opening of
stores on Sunday also may have
contributed to the high energy us-
age. Consumption fell back down
to 80.9 megawatts on Monday.
"The 106 degrees made me
mad, but what can we do about it?
If we were asking for a favor from
anybody, turn the air conditioner
off and go swimming or go to the
malls or movies," Shear said. 8E
Last week, Shear said he noticed
several citizens sitting outside in
the evening and people surveyed
while shopping said they were 71
trying not to cook between 4 and 8
p.m. and were turning their electric
water heaters off.
Almost every day at 4 p.m. last E
week, energy consumption actually
declined rather than increased, be-
cause so many people were turning
off appliances and air conditioners,
Shear said.
The city's - electrical usage tradi-
tionally peaks two to three days af-
ter classes start at Texas A &M and
with high temperatures, Shear feels
it is crucial that citizens try to con-
20 21 22 23 24 ZD co <
August
g 7 6 9 10111213141516171819 20
September
56
the
serve. This is the amount of electricity, in megawatts, used daily
These low figures are being
reached despite the fact that the citycity of College Station since the inception of its load m anagement
has connected 7,500 new accounts program.
since July 23 — out of a total of
17,000 accounts.
The city staff also contributes to
the program. Each department sub-
mitted an energy reduction plan this
summer, and air conditioners are
turned off at City Hall every day at
4 p.m.
Council members have been
literally sweating out their deci-
sions since the program began, as
by the time their meeting begins at
7 p.m., the council chambers have
warmed up considerably.
Almost 30 utility department
workers have volunteered their
evenings to tag doors with remin-
ders asking resident • The Eagle /Wednesday, September 4, 1985