Most businesses adhere to tax cut terms
By BARRY HALVORSON news@leader-news.com

All but one of the businesses receiving tax abatement relief from Wharton County are in compliance with the terms of their agreement according to a report delivered during Monday's meeting of the county commissioners court.

In a phone interview, County Judge John Murrile said the only business currently not in compliance is the El Campo Bowling Center, adding that a meeting with the business will be scheduled to review progress.

Five other businesses with abatement arrangements are in compliance, Murrile said. He cited Junior's Texas Smokehouse in particular for having hired twice as many new employees as called for in their agreement. He said the Holiday Inn in Wharton also hired more than the agreed to number of new employees. Others include Navasota Power Plant, Phase I, Pocketful of Learning Day Care (which has since changed its name) and Lamberti, a chemical company located along U.S. 59 between Wharton and the Fort Bend County line.

In discussing a different kind of contract, Murrile said the commissioners voted to continue to hold back final payment to Stoddard Construction for the Wharton County Courthouse project. The remaining payment is for $15,700.

"The commissioners decided not to pay because their is outstanding work left," Murrile said. Specific items the judge mentioned included doors, locks and a crack in a wall of the building.

"We met with some representatives with Bee County, which also used Stoddard as the contractor for their courthouse restoration, and they said they had problems with Stoddard on warranty work. The work that still needs to be done probably exceeds the funds being held back, but it does give them some incentive to come back and get the work done."

In other actions, the commissioners:

• Approved renewal of a contract with Fort Bend Detention for juvenile detention. The cost is $97.70 per day per juvenile.

• Approved canceling its contract for weed control chemicals. Murrile said the low bidder sent the county a letter stating it could not deliver at the bid price because the cost of chemicals has doubled in recent months. The judge said the county would purchase the chemicals, used to control growth in right of way and drainage area, on the spot market and bid a new contract later in the year.

• Approved an application on a mass gathering for the 4th Annual Tough Outdoor Conference on May 17. Murrile said the event, a gathering for four-wheelers and trucks for mudding, will be held at a location in Precinct 1.

• Approved executing the contract for the sale of a lot located across from the County Annex Building to the Wharton County Central Appraisal District for the construction of a new building for the agency. The county and CAD closed on the property last week at a price of $46,000.