The Sachse News (Sachse, Tex.), Vol. 3, No. 31, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 30, 2007 Page: 1 of 18
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Volume 3: Issue 31
Sachse, Texas
m
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Shining on the community, events and people of Sachse
© Copyright 2007All rights reserved.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
C&S Media Publications 3 Sections, 18 pages 50 Cents
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Proposed city budget highlights public safety
By Patty Montagno
Transportation, public safety and
security, infrastructure and economic
development and open government
are some of the priorities addressed
in the 2007-2008 city budget.
The proposed ad-valorem tax rate
is $.5534 per $100 valuation in the
$21,974,155 million budget.
The proposed tax rate is the same
as last year's.
The budget is an overall increase
of $296,869 over the 2006-2007 bud-
get of $21,677,286.
"The city is able to maintain its
high quality of services without rais-
ing the tax rate," City Manager Allen
Barnes said.
"The city maintains a very low
debt to assessed valuation margin of
one percent and a debt to operations
margin of 11 percent."
The property tax rate is sufficient
to cover typical general purpose
operational expenditures such as
public safety and the city's bonded
debt.
"The Council certainly appreci-
ates the hard work of the city manag-
er, finance director and the manage-
ment team needed to put together
this very thorough document,"
Mayor Mike Felix said.
"1 also want to commend the
Council for once again prioritizing
public safety and transportation and
making them top issues."
Barnes said the budget process
was one in which the management
team worked in unison to recognize
the resources and needs of the city.
"This team budgeting approach is
one that we believe made the budget
process informative and representa-
tive of the City Council's goals and
objectives," he said.
Finance Director Alan Dickerson
said the projects and programs in the
budget are rooted in the goal-setting
work completed by Council two
years ago during a three-day plan-
ning retreat.
During the retreat, the Council and
city manager met with a facilitator to
complete a plan that outlined the
vision, priorities, strategies and goals
for the organization for the next one
to three years.
"More specifically, through the
goal-setting process, the Council
developed priorities which are the
vital few issues of broad concern,"
Dickerson said.
"Next the City Council adopted
strategies or general approaches used
to address priorities, and finally
goals or what is to be achieved with-
in the next one to three years with
respect to specific programs or pro-
jects."
Dickerson said with many goals
and limited resources, this process
undertaken by the Council has
proven to be beneficial in respect to
planning, and it has proven to be
invaluable in developing recommen-
dations for this budget.
"The priorities listed below were
utilized by the city staff in develop-
ing the budget strategies and recom-
mendations for 2006-07."
See BUDGET page 3A
ii
?!
11
Public
invited to
business
seminar
By Patty Montagno
In the interest of expanding the
economic base in Sachse, the
Sachse Public Library, Economic
Development Corp. and Chamber
of Commerce have partnered to
sponsor two small business work-
shops.
Both workshops will be held at
the library and are open to the com-
munity.
"The first workshop is entitled
'How to Develop a Business Plan'
and will be offered at 8 a.m. with a
light breakfast," SEDC Executive
Director Guy Brown said.
"The second workshop revolves
around a business marketing strate-
gy and is scheduled for noon on
Sept. 27.
"We will serve a light lunch."
Director of Library Services
Dolores Greenwald said having a
business plan in place is an impor-
tant part of owning and managing a
company.
"The program will guide atten-
dees through organizing and writ-
ing a successful plan that will put
See SEMINARS page IDA
- c*
Photo by Patty Montagno
School bells ring
Greeting in the hallway of Sachse High School on the first day of school are from left, Matthew Mahn, Katrina Stephens,
Tommy Truong, SHS Principal Steve Hammerle, Heather Banning and Matthew Nelson. Classes started at 7:30 a.m.
Monday and students jumped right into the new school year with a full day of classes. "It was a very typical first day of
school," Hammerle said. "Everything went as planned. Things are going wonderfully ... very smooth." September events
include Meet the Teacher, a pep rally and school pictures. Related photos on page 10A.
Sept. 1
brings
slate of
new laws
i
By Donnita Nesbitt Fisher
From new rules for elderly drivers
to requiring safety belts on school
buses, several new traffic laws go
into effect Sept. 1.
Known as Katie's Law, HB 84
requires drivers 85 years of age and
older to pass a vision test to have
their driver's license renewed.
Licenses will be valid for two years
instead of six. Drivers age 79 and
older are not allowed to renew their
driver's licenses electronically.
HB 586 limits who is eligible to
have speeding tickets dismissed by
taking a defensive driving course.
This new law prohibits a driver
found guilty of driving at a speed
higher than 95 miles per hour from
taking a driving safety class for tick-
et dismissal.
The Legislature has also outlawed
the use of blurring or reflective mat-
ter on a license plate "that signifi-
cantly impairs the readability of the
state name and license plate num-
bers and letters; prohibits the use of
material or
See NEW page 14
Police advise community to prepare for extreme temperatures
By Patty Montagno
With temperatures continuing to
climb into triple digits, the Sachse
Police Department urges people to
take precautions in order to avoid
heat-related illness.
"I've referred my officers to the
FEMA Guide to Citizen
Preparedness," Interim Police Chief
Marty Cassidy said.
"This preparedness guide contains
valuable information on how to pre-
pare for and stay safe during extreme
temperatures."
According to the FEMA guide,
heat kills by pushing the human
body beyond its limits, and in
Lake Lavon
Water Level
Normal 492 ft.
extreme heat and high humidity,
evaporation is slowed, and the body
must work extra hard to maintain a
normal temperature.
"Most heat disorders occur
because the victim has been overex-
posed to heat or has over-exercised
for his or her age and physical condi-
tion," Cassidy said.
"Older adults, young children, and
those who are sick or overweight are
more likely to succumb to extreme
heat."
The guide lists conditions that can
induce heat-related illnesses, includ-
ing stagnant atmospheric conditions
and poor air quality.
Consequently, people living in
urban areas may be at greater risk
from the effects of a prolonged heat
wave than those living in rural areas.
Also, asphalt and concrete store
heat longer and gradually release
heat at night, which can produce
higher nighttime temperatures
known as the 'urban heat island
effect."
Cassidy said a heat wave is a pro-
longed period of excessive heat,
often combined with excessive
humidity.
The heat index is a number in
degrees Fahrenheit that tells how hot
it feels when relative humidity is
added to the air temperature.
Exposure to full sunshine can
increase the heat index by 15
degrees.
Extreme heat hazards
•Heat cramps - Muscular pains
and spasms due to heavy exertion.
•Heat exhaustion - Typically
occurs when people exercise heavily
or work in a hot, humid place where
body fluids are lost through heavy
sweating.
•Heat stroke - A life-threatening
condition. The victim's temperature
control system, which produces
sweating to cool the body, stops
working.
"To prepare for extreme heat.
See POLICE page I0A
Photo by Patty Montagno
Officers Dan Lewis and Carissa Vargas go over the heat precau-
tions for distribution with Interim Chief Marty Cassidy.
Holiday deadlines, hours set
The Sachse News offices will be closed Monday for
the Labor Day holiday.
Letters to the Editor and special occasion announce-
ments intended for the Sept. 6 issue must be submitted
by noon Friday, Aug. 31.
Obituary and classified ad deadline will be noon
Friday, Aug. 31. Deadlines for news and display adver-
tising is 4 p.m. Friday, Aug. 31. The office will re-open
at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 4.
Historical Society party
The Sachse Historical Society is inviting
the community to attend a celebration of the
one-year anniversary of the museum opening.
The celebration will start at 1 p.m. Sept. 8
at the museum. SHS board members, muse-
um staff volunteers and city officials will be
at the party. Refreshments will be served. For
information call Karen Reed at 972-463-
5259.
Fail events announced
The Sachse Parks and Recreation
Department has completed its fall/winter
brochure for classes, program and events.
The brochure will be mailed to every
household. Additional copies can be
obtained at City Hall or the Sachse Public
Library.
To volunteer for city special events con-
tact Cynthia Wiseman at 469-429-0275.
Area Briefs 2A
Education 6A
Op/Com 9A
Sports IB
Real Estate 1C
Classifieds 3C
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Fisher, Donnita Nesbit. The Sachse News (Sachse, Tex.), Vol. 3, No. 31, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 30, 2007, newspaper, August 30, 2007; Wylie, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth353336/m1/1/: accessed April 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Smith Public Library.