Council delays calling 4B tax election
Members want wording changed before proposal is adopted for ballot
BY GLORIA JENNINGS

The Rusk City Council has delayed calling an election to change the city's sales tax corporation.

The council heard a request Thursday evening from Bob Goldsberry, executive director for the Rusk Economic Development Corporation, to call the election.

Council members are expected to vote on the matter when the wording on the proposal is changed.

The Rusk Economic Development Corporation has asked that citizens vote to change the half-cent sales tax designation from a 4A corporation to a 4B corporation.

Kris Morgan and several other councilmembers asked that the wording on the ballot be changed to include the creation of a 4B corporation after the 4A corporation is abolished.

The council will meet several times prior to the Aug. 23 deadline for calling the election. Plans are to vote to call the election at one of those meetings. An all-day workshop was held Tuesday.

A public hearing for the city's budget is expected to be on Sept. 13.

Councilman Donald Woodard said, "I would like to ask for bids for cemetery maintenance. I have not been happy with the job that is being done. And they don't do a good job of edging either. I would like for us to have someone who would do the entire cemetery in one day. For a while Antonio (Enriquez, doing business as Antonio's Lawn Service) did this and now he has gone back to doing a third of it at a time."

"I think he has been doing a good job," Mr. Morgan said.

"He has been working at a disadvantage with all of the rain," Sam Florian said.

Mr. Woodard expressed a desire to go out of town for bids for the project.

"I want to stay in town," Mr. Florian said.

The council approved a proposed budget from the Economic Development Corporation that includes the transfer of an additional $10,000 to the chamber of commerce. The economic corporation increased its contribution to the chamber from $25,000 to $35,000. The money goes for salaries and office expenses.

It had been estimated that the half cent sales tax would generate $132,000 this budget year which ends on Aug. 31. Already, $131,271 has been generated. Total anticipated revenue for the 2007-08 budget year will be $134,400. Another $90,389.96 is expected to be left over from this year's budget.

In addition to the $35,000 going to the chamber of commerce, the

budget will include $2,360 for training and travel; $700 for a financial audit; $350 for TEDC dues; $100 for office supplies; $3,000 for Web site update and maintenance and $2,500 for legal fees. Total expenses are expected to be $44,010.04.

The council authorized the Economic Development Corporation to pay $1,715.59 to Potter Minton attorneys for legal services.

Timber sales

The city will seek bids for the sale of timber on the Cannon property tract and at the Jim Hogg Park.

James Houser, consulting forester, recommended that the council conduct an improvement thinning of approximately 60 acres at the Cannon property, located on U.S. Highway 84 W. The city will remove the suppressed, poorer quality diseased trees, leaving the better quality, healthy trees for future growth and sale. Estimated gross income is expected to be approximately $35,000.

Mr. Houser recommended that the city conduct a total harvest of all merchantable pine timber on approximately 75 acres at the Jim Hogg Park. The acreage will be reforested with superior loblolly pine seedlings. Estimated income will be $100,000 and the estimated replanting cost is $20,000.

Mr. Houser's fee will be 10 percent of the total sales.

He recommended that the city harvest the timber utilizing a "cutter select" method of harvest, with payment on a "per ton" basis.

Mr. Houser will designate the timber to be harvested; solicit bids from approved, reputable, prospective buyers that meet all technical guidelines as well as worker's compensation and liability insurance requirement; negotiate timber contract for the city's approval; inspect logging operations periodically to insure contract violations do not occur. If for some reason violations do occur, he will as- sess damages and restitutions and perform a final inspection, advising the city when to release the contractor.

Special care will be taken around creeks and lakes to avoid creating any erosion problems. Also, any large, beautiful, or unusual hardwoods will be exempt from any sale.

The city is expected to receive $756,300 over a 35-yearperiod in timber sales from a 230 acre plantation off FM 343. Of this plantation, a 50 acre stand was planted in 1989 and the second stand, 180 acres was planted in 1996.

Stand One's first thinning was in 2004 and the city made $10,800. Second thinning is expected in 2009 and estimated income will be $37,500. Other thinning will be in 2014, $50,000; 2019, $50,000; and final harvest in 2024, $50,000.

Stand Two's first thinning is expected to be in 2011 for $18,000. Other thinning will include, 2016, $45.000; 2021, $135,000; 2026, $180,000; and the final harvest in 2031 for $180,000.

After a timber sale in 1984 to Temple Inland, the timber company purchased trees to be replanted. A total of 726 trees are expected to be planted per acre. Mr. Houser said 200 feet of trees will be left between the park and the harvest site.

Appointments

The council approved the appointment of Fran Wendeborn, city secretary; Forrest Phifer, city judge; and Larry Sinclair, city attorney.

Mrs. Wendeborn was re-appointed to her position. Mr. Phifer, former city attorney, was appointed to the municipal judge's position, formerly held by the late James B. Long. Mr. Sinclair is filling the position formerly held by Mr. Phifer as city attorney.

Walter Session, long-time mayor pro-tem, was re-appointed to the position.