Council Votes to Provide Utility Bill Relief
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Mount Pleasant Tribune www.TribNow.com 147th Year • No. 19 Mount Pleasant, Texas Saturday, March 6, 2021 75¢ Council votes to provide utility bill relief COURTESY PHOTO Mask mandate to end Mar. 10 Area districts announce decisions on masking in schools By DI DUNCAN [email protected] On March 2, Texas Governor Greg Abbott an- nounced the lifting of the mask mandate across the state, as well as the total reopening of the state. “With the medical advancements of vaccines and antibody therapeutic drugs, Texas now has the tools COURTESY PHOTO to protect Texans from the virus,” said Governor Ab- By DI DUNCAN In the event that customers still have leaks after bott. “We must now do more to restore livelihoods [email protected] this billing cycle is complete, Reeve proposed a wa- and normalcy for Texans by opening Texas 100 per- ter leak adjustment policy. According to City Manag- c ent.” On March 2, City Finance Director Mykael Reeve er Ed Thatcher and Reeve, leak adjustment policies Next Wednesday, all businesses of any type may approached the City Council with a plan to assist are very common in municipalities. Essentially, an open to 100% capacity, though businesses may still utility department customers with higher than aver- average would be taken of the last few bills and com- limit capacity or implement safety protocols at their age bills due to the winter storms. Reeve stated that pare it with the current bill amount; the city would own discretion. Many large chains have already an- water leaks and residents leaving faucets dripping to then split the cost of any amount over that average nounced their intent to maintain a mask require- avoid leaks have led to higher than average water and with the customer. This would allow residential and ment for employees and customers in their stores. sewer bills for customers. commercial customers more time to have any leaks If COVID-19 hospitalizations in any Trauma Ser- Reeve said that the proposed plan included averag- repaired without paying exorbitant bills. vice Area rise above 15% of the hospital bed capacity ing the last three months of customers’ bills to calcu- “I think this is a nice relief that we can give them,” in that region for seven consecutive days, a County late an amount due on the next billing cycle, rather said Mayor Pro Tem Tim Dale. Judge may implement COVID-19 mitigation strate- than billing for the total amount that would be due. Councilman Henry Chappell said that he liked the gies such as lowering business capacity to 50%. This billing cycle began directly before the storm hit, idea of giving customers more time to have repairs Abbott says that these strategies do not apply to so Reeve says this next bill would include all storm religious and worship services. Additionally, County usage. See RELIEF Page 2 Judges can neither impose jail time for not follow- ing COVID-19 orders nor penalize any citizens for failing to wear a face mask, according to the exec- utive order. Abbott stated that this executive order “does not abandon safe practices that Texans have mastered Reeve details storm damage over the past year. Instead, it is a reminder that each person has a role to play in their own personal safety and the safety of others. With this executive order, we are ensuring that all businesses and families in Texas sustained at city facilities have the freedom to determine their own destiny.” Residents are still strongly encouraged to wear a “Make no mistake, COVID-19 has not disappeared, but it is clear from the recoveries, vaccinations, reduced hospitalizations, and safe practices that Texans are using that state mandates are no longer needed,” said Abbott. mask while in public and social distance whenever possible to prevent a rise in COVID cases. As of March 4, nearly 5.7 million vaccine doses have now been administered in Texas, and accord- ing to Abbott, the state is now administering almost one million shots each week. Abbott says that by the end of March, every senior who wants a vaccine should be able to get one. He also states that Texas has a mass surplus of personal protective equipment at its disposal and that 100,000 COVID tests can be performed each day. Mykael Reeve informs the council of overall damages to facilities and the expected financial outcome for the City. Long-term care facilities such as nursing homes COURTESY PHOTO and assisted living centers are subject to guidance By DI DUNCAN Additionally, city street sweepers and other heavy from the Texas Health and Human Services Com- [email protected] equipment used to plow snow from roads suffered mission regarding visitations. Similarly, jails and damage; there was also damage to controls, pipes, detention centers are to follow recommended visi- At the last meeting of the Mount Pleasant City and equipment at water stations and facilities. tation practices as set by the Texas Commission on Council, Finance Director Mykael Reeve detailed the Reeve stated that the city has already filed a claim Jail Standards. damage that city parks and facilities sustained during with insurance, and an adjuster has visited all of the Winter Storm Uri, and how the city will financially re- damaged facilities. She said that all of the damage in- What this executive order means for schools: cover. curred will be filed under one claim so that the city In the executive order lifting the mask mandate, Reeve states that 18 bathrooms across city parks will only pay one deductible in the amount of $2,500. Abbott stated that schools were to receive guidance were severely damaged; porcelain toilets and sinks According to Reeve, the parks department has al- from the Texas Education Agency on how to pro- shattered in the cold, causing water damage along ready begun work on temporary repairs to get sys- ceed. TEA has now released its stance on the matter. with the need to replace these items. In concession tems up and running, and the city has spent approxi- According to TEA, students should remain stands, four of them suffered water damage, and in mately $5,000 so far on labor and materials. She says masked while on campus, and current protocols two of them, ice makers need replacing due to the should be upheld as much as possible. However, TEA damage done to them. See DAMAGE Page 2 See MASKS Page 2 Page 2 • TribNow.com NEWS March 6, 2021 Crime & Courts Notice of meeting of the Commissioners’ Court of Titus County 25 of Mt Pleasant for Arrests POSS CS PG 1 < 1G and Brian Lee, County Judge – 903-466-6666 Work Status • BAKER, ZACHA- POSS DRUG PARA- Jeff Parchman, Pct. 1 – 903-573-3030 6. Consider and Possibly Approve purchase of ad- RY ALAN, 32 of Mt PHERNALIA John Fitch, Pct. 2 – 903-563-2867 ditional security software by NET DATA at a one- Pleasant for PUBLIC • BUTLER, DESIREE, Dana Applewhite, Pct. 3 – 903-563-3173 time cost of $3,785 with an annual maintenance INTOXICATION 21 of Mt. Pleasant for Jimmy Parker, Pct. 4 – 903-573-6202 cost of $700 (Seth Bryan – Kaybro Technologies, • KING, MATHEW, 39 of POSS CS PG 1 < 1G, by phone) Lone Star for THEFT POSS CS PG 1 >= 1G < Notice is hereby given that a Regular Meeting of the 7. Consider and Possibly Approve Volunteer Fire De- PROP <$2,500 2/ 4G9(PAROLE VIOLA- Commissioners’ Court of Titus County, Texas, will be partment Contract MORE PREV CONV TION) and POSS DRUG held on the 8th day of March 2021 at 9:00 o’clock a.m., 8. Consider and Possibly Approve an annual contract in the Titus County Courthouse, County Courtroom, with Newman Electronics for the maintenance of • RODGERS,BETTY PARAPHERNALIA SHEILIAH, 48 of Cason 100 West First Street, Room 205, Mt. Pleasant, Texas cameras and digital recording equipment at a cost for POSS CS PG 1 < 1G 75455, at which time the following subjects will be dis- of $6,500 annually and POSS MARIJ < 2OZ Marriages cussed not necessarily in the order presented: 9. Discuss repairs needed at Justice Center with pos- • Wayne Charlton and • MATHIS, MICHAEL sible action Peggy J. Robbins, Feb. WAYNE, 51 of Mt. INVOCATION 10. Consider and Possibly Approve repairs to both 22 Pleasant for FTA PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE public restrooms at the Courthouse Annex • Jay Randall McDaniel DRIVING W/LIC INV 11. Consider and Possibly Approve payment for a pau- and Connie Lynn Rolf, 1. Public Comments and/or Requests for Informa- W/PREV CONV/SUS- per’s funeral for Kena Boyd Feb. 23 tion on Non-Agenda Items in Accordance With P/W/O FI 12. Consider and Possibly Approve survey of Forest • Billy Jack Attaway and Section 551.042, Texas Open Meetings Act • POLICE, JORDAN Lawn Cemetery to include four new burial sec- Analisa Marie Ruggles, 2. Consider and Possibly Approve Minutes from Feb- RASHAD, 28 of Mt. tions (John Fitch) Feb. 24 ruary 8th, 2021 Regular Meeting of the Commis- Pleasant for TAMPER/ 13. Approve Oral and Written Reports of County Of- • Usiel D. Diego-Bradley sioners’ Court (Tabled 2-22-21) FABRICATE PHYS ficials and Tyler Ann Nicode- 3. Consider and Possibly Approve Minutes from Feb- EVID W/INTENT TO 14. Consider and Possibly Approve Treasurer’s Report mus, Feb. 25 ruary 22nd, 2021 Special Meeting of the Commis- IMPAIR and POSS 15. Approve Budget Amendments • Jose Luis Gonzalez sioners’ Court MARIJ < 2OZ 16. Sign Pay Orders and Approve Payments and Zulineth De Jesus, 4. Consider and Possibly Approve Minutes from • STAFFORD, BILLY, 17.