Lometa looks at land to be donated to city
By CHERI JAY-WIENECKE Special Correspondent

A full agenda faced the Lometa City Council last week when it convened for its March meeting.

In open forum, members reviewed the final survey on five acres of the city's unused dumping grounds to be donated to Lampasas County for a Precinct 2 barn site.

Precinct 2 County Commissioner Alex Wittenburg said the arrangement will allow for the city's roadway into the property to remain as it is, with the county's entrance to be placed in another location.

"If this looks OK and there are no objections, we will go ahead and start with a deed," said Wittenburg. "I will have the county attorney start with the deed and have that, hopefully, ready for you by your next meeting."

With the council in agreement that the survey looked acceptable, the commissioner lauded Lometa's generosity. "The city is very gracious to donate this land to us. I want to say thank you for this donation," he added.

Included in the night's agenda was the matter of a biker rally at the Lometa Regional Park. First presented in the February meeting, the council discussed the possibility of hosting the rally, tentatively set for May 9-11. Local law enforcement officials had expressed some doubts prior to the meeting, however.

"In order for them to move along with it, we must give approval for them to do so," said Mayor David Ivey of the rally. "I must at this time point out that the local chief of police expressed adamant displeasure toward the rally, stating it would not be wholesome entertainment and it wouldn't be conducive to the community.

"He thinks it's going to be a bad environment, maybe. The gist of it is that he is adamantly opposed to it," continued Ivey.

"I have done some checking on my own with the Lampasas County Chamber of Commerce, which was instrumental in organizing the one they have in Lampasas. I've talked to Ms. Jones [at the] chamber of commerce. I asked her what problems, if any, they had law enforcement related. She knew of none," said Ivey of the biker rally hosted in Lampasas last October.

Although no law enforcement issues were cited, officials with the rally did have some stipulations, asking that no children be allowed to attend the event after dark.

"They have a good time that might not be appropriate for children," Ivey added. "That's the parents' responsibility, not the city's in dictating that morality. If it turns out to be a bigger problem than it's worth, we don't have to do it again. All I ask is for everyone to keep an open mind toward it."

The mayor also stressed the importance of a swift decision. "To table it and put it to the next meeting would be limiting the amount of vendors and things they will be able to line up, which is ultimately exactly how we make money off it," he said.

Ivey added that the event was presented as a charitable venture, and he would like to see the Lometa Volunteer Fire Department and fireworks fund benefit from it. After further discussion, the item passed unanimously.

As part of a coalition of cities fighting Atmos Energy's request for rate increases, the council adopted a number of ordinances on the issue. Council members agreed to pass an ordinance accepting a recent court settlement with Atmos, capping the allowable rate increase at $10 million rather than the requested $52 million.

An ordinance allowing the city to increase its franchise tax agreement with entities from 4 percent of gross revenues to 5 percent also was at issue.

"Keep in mind in a free market who pays for any increases in fees," said Ivey. "Ultimately, the consumers are the ones who are going to pay for the one percent increase."

The franchise fee increase would result in approximately $1,054 more than the $4,218 Lometa currently takes in from the utility company.

The council cast a 3-1 vote to leave the fee unchanged, with Councilwoman Cynthia Kirby as the lone dissenter. Doug Brister, Kyle Walton and Ivey were on the prevailing side.

In other matters, the mayor informed the council that the fire department and Lometa Regional Park were recipients of funds from a five-way split of the estate of deceased Lometa resident Belle Jackson. After the disbursement of each entitity's $4,933, however, it was determined that a headstone for Mrs. Jackson's gravesite had not been paid for.

The council agreed to return $194 from the proceeds of each payment to cover the expense.

"It was just an oversight when they were distributing the estate," said Ivey. "I personally don't see how anyone could say no. It was a very noble gesture on her part to leave not only the fire department but the park some money; a very unselfish gesture."

In other business, council members ordered a general election to be conducted May 10. The council also agreed to table an item placed on the agenda by absent Councilman George Watson regarding the development of a monthly flea market at the Regional Park.

Prior to adjourning, the council conducted interviews to fill a maintenance position. Named for the part-time job was local resident Terry Poehlmann.