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Tuesday
March 16, 2010 Since 1922 |
Old River-Winfree surveying residents
By Barrett Goldsmith
Baytown Sun Published March 14, 2007 The 1,400 residents of this small Chambers County town don’t demand much of their city government.
Old River-Winfree was incorporated 30 years ago to avoid getting annexed by nearby Mont Belvieu, and now the town is trying to decide what, if anything, it should provide to its citizens. The city collects only about $140,000 in franchise taxes — cable, electricity and phone bills — and a 1 percent sales tax.
But a new survey sent out to Old River-Winfree residents last month is seeking answers about whether the town should expand or scrap its bare-bones police department — currently only one officer who works about 32 hours per week — improve the city’s drainage capabilities, begin a neighborhood cleanup effort or do anything else that needs doing.
Those services would not come free, however, which city officials are quick to point out. The city is not merely strapped for cash — it has literally no money in the bank. The city’s last $23,000 certificate of deposit was cashed and spent on outstanding payments.
The city pays $1,400 per month for police services, $1,600 to the city secretary and $350 each to the city attorney and city judge.
As part of the questionnaire, the city is floating around the idea of a 35-cent property tax to help pay for any services residents decide they want. That would give the city an additional $65,000 to $75,000 to work with.
“We just need to decide which direction we’re going to go,” Mayor Joe Landry said. “But we can’t get anything done right now because we don’t have any funds. We’re not talking about a lot of money, just a little bit of sacrifice. It’s a struggle, but we’re trying.”
Some residents are not willing to make that sacrifice for something they don’t believe will do any good. Their voice on city council is J.F. Steadham, an outspoken critic of anything involving city funds.
“People are running so short on money that property comes up for sale in Anahuac on the courthouse steps,” Steadham said. “These other four councilmen have got the nerve to come and ask these people for more money. They really got the nerve — I don’t know how they can face the people in the street.”
Steadham wants no part of a police department, a city court, a drainage district or any other service that he believes should come only from Chambers County. Old River-Winfree residents pay county property taxes, and Steadham said the county sheriff’s department is doing fine policing Old River-Winfree streets and that the county courts are much more effective than the “little” city court that he calls “a joke.”
Results of the survey should be in the city’s hands by April or May, after which council will decide what if any action it wants to take.
The survey is available online at www.oldriverwinfree.us or at city hall. Surveys will be accepted through e-mail, U.S. mail or hand delivery. All surveys will be given equal attention.
“This place used to be real country,” Landry said. “People had space to grow a garden or raise any kind of animal they wanted. Now all the subdivisions are coming up around us, it’s not so countrified any more. Things are changing, and we may need to change with them.”
Baytown Sun Published March 14, 2007 The 1,400 residents of this small Chambers County town don’t demand much of their city government.
Old River-Winfree was incorporated 30 years ago to avoid getting annexed by nearby Mont Belvieu, and now the town is trying to decide what, if anything, it should provide to its citizens. The city collects only about $140,000 in franchise taxes — cable, electricity and phone bills — and a 1 percent sales tax.
But a new survey sent out to Old River-Winfree residents last month is seeking answers about whether the town should expand or scrap its bare-bones police department — currently only one officer who works about 32 hours per week — improve the city’s drainage capabilities, begin a neighborhood cleanup effort or do anything else that needs doing.
Those services would not come free, however, which city officials are quick to point out. The city is not merely strapped for cash — it has literally no money in the bank. The city’s last $23,000 certificate of deposit was cashed and spent on outstanding payments.
The city pays $1,400 per month for police services, $1,600 to the city secretary and $350 each to the city attorney and city judge.
As part of the questionnaire, the city is floating around the idea of a 35-cent property tax to help pay for any services residents decide they want. That would give the city an additional $65,000 to $75,000 to work with.
“We just need to decide which direction we’re going to go,” Mayor Joe Landry said. “But we can’t get anything done right now because we don’t have any funds. We’re not talking about a lot of money, just a little bit of sacrifice. It’s a struggle, but we’re trying.”
Some residents are not willing to make that sacrifice for something they don’t believe will do any good. Their voice on city council is J.F. Steadham, an outspoken critic of anything involving city funds.
“People are running so short on money that property comes up for sale in Anahuac on the courthouse steps,” Steadham said. “These other four councilmen have got the nerve to come and ask these people for more money. They really got the nerve — I don’t know how they can face the people in the street.”
Steadham wants no part of a police department, a city court, a drainage district or any other service that he believes should come only from Chambers County. Old River-Winfree residents pay county property taxes, and Steadham said the county sheriff’s department is doing fine policing Old River-Winfree streets and that the county courts are much more effective than the “little” city court that he calls “a joke.”
Results of the survey should be in the city’s hands by April or May, after which council will decide what if any action it wants to take.
The survey is available online at www.oldriverwinfree.us or at city hall. Surveys will be accepted through e-mail, U.S. mail or hand delivery. All surveys will be given equal attention.
“This place used to be real country,” Landry said. “People had space to grow a garden or raise any kind of animal they wanted. Now all the subdivisions are coming up around us, it’s not so countrified any more. Things are changing, and we may need to change with them.”