Editor:

The belated February Cibolo newsletter, which arrived in my mailbox March 11, confirmed what many residents have long suspected — bond projects are behind schedule.

On May 29, 2007, the Cibolo city manager prepared a project schedule and presented it to City Council. It showed all 2006 bond projects would soon be completed. He then convinced council to immediately issue $8 million in bonds for the 2007 projects. This action required increasing city property taxes for a third consecutive year.

The Arenas pedestrian bridge (erroneously called the Borgfeld pedestrian bridge in the newsletter), Dobie Creek and Town Creek East drainage projects were supposed to be completed by July 16, 2007. All three projects are now eight months behind schedule.

The Weidner 16-inch connector was supposed to be completed in December 2007. It is now three months behind schedule. The Weidner 12-inch connector was supposed to be completed in October 2007. Construction has not yet begun.

The standby electric generator for the water tank was supposed to be completed by September 2007. It was ordered, but is now six months late.

The Old Town line contract was awarded four months late, on Feb. 12, 2008. Even the long-awaited Main Street project, which should have begun two months ago, has been delayed until May.

As soon as bonds are issued, interest payments starts to accrue. This year’s debt service totals $855,729. Issuing bonds closer to when projects begin would save taxpayer dollars. It’s that simple.

Charles Ruppert
Cibolo resident

Swallow overrun for football

Editor:

No one should have been surprised that the Judson School District school board approved spending the extra $4.1 million necessary to rebuild D.W. Rutledge Stadium. It was not whether the district failed taxpayers miserably as they rushed into a bad contract. It was not even about how or where the district could come up with another $4.1 million.

So why did they vote to push ahead with the stadium? Board Superintendent Dr. Willis Mackey alluded to the real reason as he commented on how they should guarantee the stadium “be ready by August the 19th.”

And there you have it. Was there ever any doubt? We knew that the school board would swallow a 40 percent cost override just as long as high school football is not interrupted.

Ted W. Mathis
Live Oak resident

Unable to support Judson

Editor:

As the treasurer of the 2001 bond and member of the district’s building committee, I am embarrassed at what is happening at Judson.

I walked out of a recent board meeting after realizing that the majority of the board had approved using bond renovation monies for a new-build project. This is illegal, as the last two bonds were line-item votes and money for one item could not be used for anything but that particular purpose. If all the money was not used, the bond could not be cashed or used for any other purpose.

During one of our building committee meetings it was decided and recommended that O&M money be use from our current surplus. This again was completely ignored by a certain administrative staff member, who put forward to the board to use renovation monies for the new build.

Now they are claiming they can use leftover monies from the 2001 bond and again this is not right and supposedly illegal. This is not the first time I have been made to look like a liar and fool to my friends and neighbors, who I encouraged to vote for the betterment of JISD and for the kids. However, until certain administrative staff are relieved of their position(s), I will not attend any more meetings or support anything for Judson. I assume the administration doesn’t care about my vote or my influence in the community. In the meantime, I will truly miss my involvement with trying to help the students.

Mark Cymbalist
Live Oak resident