Transcript:
The Alpine City Council will have a public hearing on the budget for the next fiscal year
beginning October 1 at its regular meeting tomorrow.
The hearing is on the first reading of an action item for a later meeting, which would include a
adopting the budget, including a sinking fund to pay principal and interest on the city’s debt.
The budget now shows revenue and expenses balanced at 17 million 263 thousand dollars, both
down point 82 percent from last year.
Staff has been tweaking the numbers and council can get another look at what is planned at a
special meeting next Tuesday with final approval expected September 17.
City Manager Megan Antrim said the tax rate will be based on what is now the existing tax rate
of point 457554 per hundred dollar valuation after the budget gets formal approval.
Also on the agenda is a resolution sought by Councilor Reagan Stone seeking Legislative support
for a bill requesting that the city’s regular May election date be moved to November.
That would combine it with the regular state election date and Stone said he believes that would
save money over having its own separate election.
And approval is being sought on a proposed contract with Dowtech Specialty Contractors of
Baird, the lowest qualified bidder on repairs to the Wastewater Treatment Plant.
It is part of a continuing program to solve several continuing maintenance issues. Dowtech bid
an estimated 1.7 million dollars on the job.
Council will meet at 5:30 tomorrow evening at the City Council Chambers at 803 West Holland
Avenue.
The Alpine School District has posted on Facebook what it calls a huge Fightin’ Buck Thank
You to the American Legion Big Bend Post.
It bought new shoes for more than sixty students in Alpine I.S.D.
It says the Legion does so much to provide for the children of Alpine and surrounding areas,
living out the community’s value of taking care of each other.
The post also thanked school staff members Laura Lea Portillo, Emily Hendryx, Adrienne Reyes
and Gayla Owen for supporting the program.
Sul Ross State University has announced the schedule for the Fall series of guided hikes on
Hancock Hill.
Themes will vary but participants will learn about the history of Alpine and Sul Ross as well as
the natural history of Hancock Hill while taking in stunning views.
The 1.8-mile hike is moderately strenuous and begins at 9 on Saturday mornings and lasts
approximately two hours.
The first hike will be Trail Work Day and September 14.
Volunteer work may include picking up trash, trimming trail vegetation, goat head removal and
repairing structures. Tools and supplies will be provided.
Archaeology of the Big Bend will be October 5, Art Hike for ArtWalk will be November 23 and
Big Bend Bears on December 7.
The hikes are free and open to the public, though only 12 hikers will be allowed for each event.
A reservation is required and can be made online at sulross.edu/guided-hikes.
They are a collaborative effort among the Borderlands Research Institute, the Center for Big
Bend Studies, Rio Grande Research Center and the Department of Geology.
Faculty, staff and students available to lead one or two hikes per year are needed as volunteer
guides.
Watch Sul Ross social media channels on Facebook and Instagram for more information on
future hikes.
For more information, email guidedhikes@sulross.edu.
This has been your local and area news report for KVLF 98.7 FM, 1240 AM and KALP 92.7 FM
Local news can be found on our website at bigbendradio.com.