Building it up
Building permits issued in 2007 show economic growth
BY GLORIA JENNINGS
Building permits issued in 2007 at Rusk City Hall totaled $1,127,177.66, according to information provided by city employee Pam Tyer. This is more than the total for last year showing an increase in the local economy. Rusk building permits for 2006 totaled $978,465. The 2007 totals are a little less than the $1,165,000 collected in 2005. Building permits in 2004 totaled

3,885,118; $8.3 million in 2003; and almost $5 million in 2002.

Permits for the construction of the new First Baptist Church and the Rusk ISD auditorium classroom addition at Rusk High School were issued in 2004. The new church was permitted for $1.5 million and the auditorium-classroom with furnishings at $3 million.

There were 40 permits issued during the past year. Only five dwellings were permitted but the proposed cost totaled

421,490.38 and home improvements,

One commercial building was permitted at a cost of $126,000 and commercial remodeling totaled $250,000.

Area churches asked for permits for $34,764.76 in improvements.

In January 2007 there were six permits issued, which included one home for $44,490.38 and five additions to buildings at $78,000 for a total of $122,490.38.

January permits issued included: Steven Harris, 303 W. Sixth St., a one family dwelling for $44,490.38 issued on Jan. 5; Neill Holcomb, addition to building at 135 Short St., $5,000, issued on Jan. 5; Walley and John Walker, addition to building at 208 FM 1248 S. (Mount Hope Road), $16,000 issued on Jan. 8; Bobby Tosh, addition to building at 502 W. Sixth St., $50,000 issued on Jan. 26; Amber Foreman, 403 Moses St., addition to building, $2,500 issued on Jan. 29; and Michael Bates, 1403 Hospital St., addition to building, $4,500 issued on Jan. 31.

February permits totaled $88,000 and included a commercial addition for $3,000 and a dwelling for $85,000. Permits were Thomas Holguin, a commercial addition at Seventh and Main Streets, $3,000 issued on Feb. 7 and Jeff Mays, 102 Cody, onefamily dwelling, for $85,000 issued on Feb. 28.

March permits totaled $266,317 and included one dwelling for $88,000, a private garage for $25,000 and commercial repairs, $153,317. Permits included First Baptist Church, a private garage for $25,000 issued on March 28; Bentura Naranjo, 322 Ellis St., one family dwelling for $88,000 issued on March 28; and Carem McKee, 100 W. Fifth St., commercial repair to building, $153,317.

April permits totaled $69,200 and included a pergula (outdoor altar) for $200 issued on April 16 to Doug Byfield, 305 Guinn Place Dr.; and one family dwelling for $69,000 issued to Domenic Taraborelli at 203 Pecan St., issued on April 19.

May permits totaled $34,764.76. This included a $19,264.76 warehouse for Eastside Baptist Church, 400 Academy issued on May 10; a fence for Kenneth Cox, 209 E. Seventh for $4,200 issued on May 10 and another fence for Christ the Redeemer Church for $5,500 issued on May 11; also an addition to a building for JoEd Anderson, 605 Henderson for $5,800 issued on May 23.

A total of $170,000 in permits was issued during June. Permits included one-family dwelling for $135,000 issued to Angela Dickey, Julia Circle, on June 5; a permit to Betty Horton at 145 FM 2972 W. for $1,000 issued on June 13; and a commercial permit for $34,000 issued to Lester Hughes, Rusk Mini Storage No. 2, Loop 343, issued on June 26.

July permits totaled $10,800, which included a fence for $1,300 issued to Gene Honeycutt, 1825 Fifth St. on July 11; and a roof cover issued July 18 to Dan Sanford, 525B N. Main for $9,500.

In August a total of $30,782 in permits was issued. This included a sidewalk for $200 issued Aug. 2 to Joe Carranza, 801 Henderson; closing in garage and putting up wall, $582 issued to Yvonne Goff, 110 Tower Dr. on Aug. 3; First Presbyterian Church, new roof, $10,000 issued on Aug. 6; addition totaling $5,000 issued to Sam Florian, 383 Gifford St., issued on Aug. 8; a private garage for $5,000 and a new porch for $8,000 both issued Aug. 13 to Edwin Ballew, Mount Hope Road; an addition to a building for $2,000 issued Aug. 27 to Wayne Miles, 293 N. Barron.

September permits totaled $53,000. These included a commercial building for $20,000 issued to Farm Bureau, 906 Loop 343 on Sept. 17 for $20,000; remodeling a dwelling for $8,000 issued to Jeffery and Jennifer Humphrey, 201 N. Barron on Sept. 18; and remodeling of another dwelling of Carroll Walker, 2208 W. Sixth for $25,000 issued on Sept. 27.

October permits totaled $2,700 and included repairs to a dwelling for $2,000 issued to Martin Lascano, 303 N. Main on Oct. 3; and a private garage issued Oct. 18 to Rhoda Odom, 169 FM 2972 W. for $700.

November permits totaled $272,095 and included a commercial building for $126,000 issued to Bruce Stovall, 503 N. Main on Nov. 6; remodeling the outside of the Sonic Drive-In, 435 Dickinson Dr., for $143,000 issued on Nov. 6; and a private garage issued to Crystal J. Halbert, 480 S. Dickinson for $3,095 on Nov. 21.

December permits totaled $7,028.52 and included a permit for Lola Mallard, 704 Martin Luther King Blvd. for $4,500 for a storage building issued Dec. 5; Vida Meiners, 439 E. Fifth St., for a new driveway for $450 issued on Dec. 12; and a private gargage issued to Janet Bierbower for $2,078.52 issued on Nov. 28.