Wednesday's Internet Edition, December 03, 2008.
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News editor - Don Skiles of the Gatesville Economic Development Corporation appeared before commissioner’s during court on Monday to petition for a tax abatement to entice a company that makes quilt batting and fiber fill for international distribution.
Skiles reminded the commissioners that the county shared in the cost getting the Hughes Unit built in Coryell County and assisted in the development of the Gatesville airport. “The City of Gatesville and Coryell County need you commissioners to help kick off some economic development,” said Skiles.
A tax abatement is a program where a city or county government can give tax relief on a declining, agreed percentage basis over an agreed period of time, Skiles later explained.
The company is considered a building site off of Hwy. 84 in Coryell County, reported Skiles. He added that completion of the project would mean more job opportunities for local residents and more tax dollars for the county.
Commissioners voted to table the matter and revisit it during an emergency meeting scheduled for later in the week, which would allow the county attorney time to read over the involved contracts.
Commissioners took no action in a matter that Cecil Woodson of Gatesville brought forward. Woodson is co-owner of the Starview Addition Subdivision and recently discovered that an undeveloped lot had been numbered as part of the subdivision, making it taxable.
County Attorney Edwin Powell advised Woodson that he should approach the city’s tax appraisers first as they probably have to approve the deletion of the error before the county can. Commissioner Cliff Price agreed, saying that the agreement is the city supercedes the county in the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction.
The Rev. Miles Meyers of the Jonesboro Baptist Church advised commissioners that a private road running through church property has been labeled has a county road. The road measures 235 feet and connects to a highway, Travelers have used the road as a shortcut for years and the county eventually numbered it on maps and with a road sign.
Meyers wanted the matter cleared up as the church is starting construction on a youth center, which would sit on a portion of the road. Commissioners took no action on the item, saying, “We can’t close something we never opened.” Meyers was advised to barricade the road.
Chief Deputy Doug West of the Coryell County Sheriff’s Office reported that a replacement patrol vehicle had arrived and was waiting for payment, which can’t be made until commissioners approve the purchase.
However, Sheriff Faught, believing that the commissioner’s had granted him the authority to spend the money budgeted for replacement patrol vehicles as he saw fit, ordered a truck instead of a car - a concept that had never been discussed before.
Faught said that there has been occasions where a patrol car could not reach the scene of an incident due to weather. He insisted that the department is still taking in a new vehicle to replace an old one, thereby accomplishing the county’s goal of replacing outdated patrol vehicles. “It’s just a different type of vehicle,” he said. Commissioners approved the purchase.
Commissioners discussed the designation of a new road as a county road. County road 143 has been dissected, the middle portion closed and the northern portion improved. Since the middle of County Road 143 no longer exists, the improved section is no longer part of 143. Commissioners agreed to name the road County Road 135. Hull encouraged the use of numbers instead of names when designating a county road. “We lose less signs that way,” he said.