The San Angelo Hunt for Heroes memorial prayer service held Wednesday will air on Suddenlink cable Channel 17, the City of San Angelo’s government access channel, at 2:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. daily through Dec. 5th. About 200 people attended the service at Santa Fe Park to honor the four Hunt for Heroes participants killed when a train collided with their parade float in Midland. The victims were wounded military service members who were to spend the following weekend hunting in the San Angelo area. The Reverend Bill Proctor of First Presbyterian Church delivered the message at the service.
Friday, November 23, 2012
Thursday, November 22, 2012
City council hears retirement concerns
The city of San Angelo is primed for business, with plenty of discussion but not much action from the City Council on Tuesday.
The council discussed benefits for retirees, renting space in City Hall to an arts coalition and preparing to prioritize which capital projects need improvement.
It was a day "of dutiful follow-up on actions and activities," Mayor Alvin New said.
The City Council heard, without action, about raising benefits for city retirees through the administrating Texas Municipal Retirement System. New suggested making it a priority for the following year's budget.
The increase would bring in an additional $1 million for retirement benefits to the city's approximately 500 retirees by giving them higher adjustments for cost of living.
"Retirees ... in general receive an increase in their benefit equal to 50 percent on the consumer price index," Assistant City Manager Michael Dane said.
The consumer price index is a measure of the average change of prices on a range of goods, according to the U.S. Department of Bureau of Labor Statistics.
A few years ago, the city decreased benefit levels from a 70 percent benefit level to a 50 percent benefit level to control growing contribution-rate requirements from the Texas Municipal Retirement System. The TMRS is a statewide government board that manages retirement plans.
The decrease in benefit levels had the side effect of changing previous retirees' benefits as well because of the mechanics of the TMRS formula.
"They were affected, some of them to the point that they weren't going to get cost-of-living adjustments," Dane said.
Councilwoman Charlotte Farmer said she hoped for a regularly updated COLA benefit.
"We've got to seriously consider this," Farmer said, although she didn't think it could go into effect this year.
Dane said the question for a COLA benefit is "how do you fund it?"
Nothing had been set aside for a COLA benefit change in the last approved budget.
City Manager Daniel Valenzuela said the city could hold a workshop on COLA benefits in January.
Councilman Dwain Morrison wanted more action, and Farmer told city staff to get a committee going.
"Let's quit talking about it" and be a support to employees, Councilman Johnny Silvas said.
New said he wants to commit to dental and COLA benefits for the fiscal year 2013 budget since it is early in the budget year.
Retired Police Chief Russell Smith said the city should be careful because legislators in Texas could change the system or lose it altogether.
"We have policemen retired at terrible rate," Smith said. "Every time you raise something $10, what's $10 for some of y'all is real money for some of these people."
Gregg Mackey, in public comment, said he started at $3.50 an hour, and at that time the contribution was 3 percent. He asked that the council do what it could to improve the situation for retirees.
The council discussed benefits for retirees, renting space in City Hall to an arts coalition and preparing to prioritize which capital projects need improvement.
It was a day "of dutiful follow-up on actions and activities," Mayor Alvin New said.
The City Council heard, without action, about raising benefits for city retirees through the administrating Texas Municipal Retirement System. New suggested making it a priority for the following year's budget.
The increase would bring in an additional $1 million for retirement benefits to the city's approximately 500 retirees by giving them higher adjustments for cost of living.
"Retirees ... in general receive an increase in their benefit equal to 50 percent on the consumer price index," Assistant City Manager Michael Dane said.
The consumer price index is a measure of the average change of prices on a range of goods, according to the U.S. Department of Bureau of Labor Statistics.
A few years ago, the city decreased benefit levels from a 70 percent benefit level to a 50 percent benefit level to control growing contribution-rate requirements from the Texas Municipal Retirement System. The TMRS is a statewide government board that manages retirement plans.
The decrease in benefit levels had the side effect of changing previous retirees' benefits as well because of the mechanics of the TMRS formula.
"They were affected, some of them to the point that they weren't going to get cost-of-living adjustments," Dane said.
Councilwoman Charlotte Farmer said she hoped for a regularly updated COLA benefit.
"We've got to seriously consider this," Farmer said, although she didn't think it could go into effect this year.
Dane said the question for a COLA benefit is "how do you fund it?"
Nothing had been set aside for a COLA benefit change in the last approved budget.
City Manager Daniel Valenzuela said the city could hold a workshop on COLA benefits in January.
Councilman Dwain Morrison wanted more action, and Farmer told city staff to get a committee going.
"Let's quit talking about it" and be a support to employees, Councilman Johnny Silvas said.
New said he wants to commit to dental and COLA benefits for the fiscal year 2013 budget since it is early in the budget year.
Retired Police Chief Russell Smith said the city should be careful because legislators in Texas could change the system or lose it altogether.
"We have policemen retired at terrible rate," Smith said. "Every time you raise something $10, what's $10 for some of y'all is real money for some of these people."
Gregg Mackey, in public comment, said he started at $3.50 an hour, and at that time the contribution was 3 percent. He asked that the council do what it could to improve the situation for retirees.
Annual Tree of Angels on Dec. 6
As Thanksgiving happens, the Tom Green County Coalition Against Violence continues planning for the Eleventh Annual Tree of Angels Ceremony. It takes place two weeks from today at Stephen's Central Library. Those violent crime has affected can bring angel ornaments to place on a tree. That tree goes on display at the library for the entire month. It starts at six-thirty on Thursday, December sixth.
Cook safely on Thanksgiving Day
The San Angelo Fire Marshal’s Office is asking residents to be safe this holiday season by practicing some simple safety precautions when preparing Thanksgiving Day meals.
Check your smoke detectors and make sure they are working properly. Smoke alarms save lives.
Make sure you have a minimum of two ways out of every room.
Facts from the United States Fire Administration and the National Fire Protection Association:
Cooking is the leading cause of home fires on Thanksgiving Day.
Thanksgiving Day home fires cause more property damage and claim more lives than home fires on any other day.
Check your smoke detectors and make sure they are working properly. Smoke alarms save lives.
Make sure you have a minimum of two ways out of every room.
Facts from the United States Fire Administration and the National Fire Protection Association:
Cooking is the leading cause of home fires on Thanksgiving Day.
Thanksgiving Day home fires cause more property damage and claim more lives than home fires on any other day.
Water utilities director retires
Water Utilities Director Will Wilde has retired from the City of San Angelo, effective immediately.
City Manager Daniel Valenzuela named Operations Director Ricky Dickson to be the interim director of the Water Utilities Department. Water Utilities consists of eight divisions: Customer Service/Water Conservation, Twin Buttes, Utility Maintenance, Water Distribution/Collection, Water Utilities Engineering, Water Reclamation, Water Production, and Water Quality.
Shane Kelton, assistant director of the Operations Department, will serve as the interim director of Operations, which includes Lake Nasworthy, Parks, Stormwater, Street and Bridge, Traffic, and Vehicle Maintenance.
Wilde joined the City as an engineer on Oct. 4, 1977. He served as Public Works director from 1989-2004, when he was named Water Utilities director.
Tom Kerr, the assistant director of Water Utilities, also submitted his retirement, effective immediately. Kerr joined the City in 1990 as an engineer. He had served as assistant director of Water Utilities since 1994.
City Manager Daniel Valenzuela named Operations Director Ricky Dickson to be the interim director of the Water Utilities Department. Water Utilities consists of eight divisions: Customer Service/Water Conservation, Twin Buttes, Utility Maintenance, Water Distribution/Collection, Water Utilities Engineering, Water Reclamation, Water Production, and Water Quality.
Shane Kelton, assistant director of the Operations Department, will serve as the interim director of Operations, which includes Lake Nasworthy, Parks, Stormwater, Street and Bridge, Traffic, and Vehicle Maintenance.
Wilde joined the City as an engineer on Oct. 4, 1977. He served as Public Works director from 1989-2004, when he was named Water Utilities director.
Tom Kerr, the assistant director of Water Utilities, also submitted his retirement, effective immediately. Kerr joined the City in 1990 as an engineer. He had served as assistant director of Water Utilities since 1994.
Thanksgiving meal at Goodfellow
Goodfellow Air Force Base has a Thanksgiving Day meal today. Several commanders and sergeants serve the food to junior service members today from eleven to twoat the Western Winds Dining Hall. Military retirees and their immediate families can also partake.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Teen curfew extended by city council
After a review by San Angelo City Council members, the current teen curfew for the city has been extended for another 3 years. The curfew prohibits teens under the age of 17 to be outside after 11 pm to 6 am from Monday through Thursday, and from midnight to 6 am on weekends. There are certain exceptions, such as a teen with parents or guardians, or for an emergency or other exceptions. The curfew has been in effect for several years already.
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