WCMessenger.com: Inside Wise

Ooops ...

A couple of sharp readers caught a math mistake in last Thursday's story about the Decatur school district tax rate.

They pointed out that the example of tax savings on a $165,000 home under the new rate proposed by the school district was exaggerated. I called Gary Micinski, the district's financial director, who had used the example in an analysis for the school board.

"I made a mistake," Micinski admitted.

In his example, he used the current rate of $1.738 per $100 valuation, which computes to $2,607 in taxes for 2005-2006. Then, using a proposed rate of $1.3157 for 2006-2007, the homeowner would pay just $1,974 in taxes - meaning a savings of more than $600.

But, Micinski admitted, that $1.3157 did not include the tax rate for the school district's debt. Adding that rate of 23.46 cents raises the proposed total tax rate to $1.5503. Using that amount, the homeowner actually pays $2,325 in taxes - a savings of $282.

Micinski apologized again for the error. So do I. I should have checked the numbers before including them in the story.

Heated up over air conditioning

Michael Winslow asked for a clarification, too.

He's the former sales rep for Toromont, the Fort Worth company which won the county bid for heating and air conditioning service. Winslow said comments from Commissioner Mikel Richardson noted in Inside Wise recently were wrong - the company didn't fire him or close its doors.

"It did go through restructuring," Winslow said. "The company is not out of business, but it did reduce the number of people in Fort Worth. I was one of those that got laid off."

Despite his recent unemployment status, Winslow defended Toromont.

"It's a good company," he said. "I don't have a bitter taste."

As for the bid process in which Toromont got the nod over Mann Refrigeration of Bridgeport, Winslow said his former company "won the bid fair and square - we were cheaper."

He noted that Toromont would charge just 10 percent over wholesale for parts - i.e., $110 for a part that cost the company $100 - compared to a much higher charge by Mann in the bids that were turned in.

Nonetheless, the company asked the county to let it out of its contract because it had reduced its service personnel to a "bare minimum."

A new benefit ...

Decatur teachers and staff with pre-school age children can look forward to a new benefit in January 2007.

According to Superintendent Gary Gindt, the district is negotiating with a daycare provider to serve the district's employees.

He told the school board earlier this week that it would probably operate out of the old intermediate school. He also said he was "fairly positive" the daycare would be able to begin in January.

A war, high gas prices and other GOP problems ...

A war that can't be won, ever-increasing gas prices and other problems in the Republican Party have created a feeling of optimism by Democrats, even in Wise County. The Wise County Democrats have gained momentum by opposing the Trans-Texas Corridor and the non-regulation of injection wells by the Railroad Commission.

The county Democrats are now looking forward to their annual rally in downtown Greenwood on Saturday, Sept. 23, from 4 to 7 p.m. They've got an impressive lineup of state and local candidates, highlighted by gubernatorial candidate Chris Bell.

The first 100 folks to show up will receive a cowBell, which Democrats want supporters to ring when Bell says something they like.

The theme of the fund-raiser and rally, which always features plenty of good food and an auction (featuring homemade pies and cakes), is a "celebration of the cowboy, farmer and rancher roots."

Local Democrats also recently had visits from candidates - Barbara Radnofsky, the U.S. Senate candidate opposing Kay Bailey Hutchison, and attorney general hopeful David Van Os.

The Democrats' next regular meeting will be Aug. 22 at 6 p.m. at Pizza Hut in Decatur.

Speaking of wells ...

Tracy Smith of Greenwood passed on some interesting - and troubling information - on water wells in our area.

She said a co-worker who lives in Wizard Wells (just west of Wise County) has only one well out of four working. Several other folks in that area are experiencing serious water shortage problems in their wells, too.

A recent story by Randy Keck in The Community News in Aledo also highlighted serious water well problems in the southeast portion of Parker County.

According to the story, the water table in the Paluxy aquifer - which supplies most of the homes in east Parker County - appears to be dropping.

Residents are having to drill new, deeper wells.

"I don't see how people can afford this," said one resident. That resident noted he's having to pay $6,500 to drill a new well "so I can flush the toilet."

Jack Watts, owner of Watts Drilling Co., speculated that large amounts of water being used to fracture gas wells is the major reason for the drop in the water table. He said it often takes up to 5 million gallons of water to frac a Barnett Shale gas well.

"You can only put so many straws in a bowl and you'll suck it dry," Watts was quoted as saying.

Residents who want a longer term guarantee are looking at drilling into the Trinity aquifer - but that deeper well could cost as much as $20,000 in Parker County, Watts said.

"What are you going to do?" Watts said. "You have a $200,000 house. It's not worth a dime if you don't have water."