Hawkins City Council
Citizens demand action on mosquitoes, tire breeding ground
By JOHN SPARKS

Meeting in regular session, Monday, July 16, the Hawkins City Council faced several residents seeking action to control the mosquito population and to take action against the Foster & Sons tire recycling operations. The council also approved the acquisition and installation of two new pumps for the U.S. Highway 80 lift station and acknowledged a notice from Allied Waste of rate increases for garbage pick-up service.

Jessica Kincaid, manager of Hatfield Apartments on south FM-14 complained that Foster & Sons “was not taking care of business” with the thousands of tires being stored on property adjacent to the apartments. “Mosquitoes, bugs and snakes are a constant problem for those living in the apartments and the nearby tires are a massive breeding ground for such pests.” She said numerous contacts with officials at the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality have not brought any satisfaction. Steve Thompson, a resident in the apartments said the Foster firm should be held financially responsible for solving the problems caused by the huge accumulation of tires. Others spoke to the intensity of the swarming mosquitoes limiting any outside activities for them and their children.
 

Mayor Bradley will speak with Foster & Sons regarding their responsibilities on chemically spraying the tires stored on both sites in the city.
 

Mayor Sam Bradley reported the city is expected to enter into an interlocal agreement with Big Sandy for the use of that community’s mosquito spraying spraying/fogging equipment. Bradley is attempting to expedite the several steps necessary. Police Chief Ron Voda volunteered to seek an applicators license from the Texas Department of Agriculture and to secure prices on the spray chemicals. It is likely the council will have to meet in special session to approve the process.
 

The purchase of two new pumps at a cost of nearly $20,000 was approved to replace and upgrade 25-year-old pumps at the U.S. Highway 80 lift station. The water/sewer department will install the new pumps. It was also reported road patching and pot hole filling will proceed as weather permits.
 

Allied Waste has advised the city of a rate increase for garbage collection beginning August 1. A single family residence will see the monthly rate go from the current $8.03 to $8.35, a four-percent increase.
 

City Secretary Janis Smith reported difficulty in securing proposals for required auditing service for the city. The firm which has been conducting the audit for several years has resigned the account because of continuing education requirements related to changes in GASB standards.
 

In other action, the council
- approved a proclamation regarding Hawkins-Fouke Reunion Week (July 29 through August 4), noting special activities at Jarvis Christian College August 3-4;
- approved appointment of John Jones as Hawkins Emregency Management Coordinator;
- approved appointment of Robert Haney as director of Hawkins Youth Sports Incorporated, and
- condemned a burnt-out property on Second Street.
 

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Hawkins City Council is scheduled for Monday, August 20 at 6 p.m. A special meeting of the council can be called with 72 hours public notice.