Kerrville Mountain Sun from Kerrville, Texas • Page 1

TIXAI PRIM ASIOCIA Saturday Harvester of Happenings in the Heart of the Hills Saturday Vol. 109 No. 81 P.O.BOX 1249 PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAY AT 78028 CARP experts criticize plan Holloway, UGRA testify at TWC hearing in Austin i AJt i L'SPS 293-880 July 1, 1989 by Michael Alexieff Citizens Against River Pollution presented its case during the continuation of the Texas Water Commission hearing on Ingram's application for a permit to operate a "zero" discharge wastewater treatment plant. CARP presented two expert witnesses who were highly critical of the application during the three days of testimony in Austin. Thomas Koch, a engineer specializing in wastewater treatment systems, testified on behalf of CARP and said that it was his professional opinion that "a site as sensitive as the confluence of Johnson Creek and the Guadalupe River is not a place to be experimenting with innovative technology." The proposed Ingram plant utilizing a treatment technology, called a filter system, that is considered "innovative" by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Koch also criticized the way the permit application and facilities plan for the proposed plant were prepared. The lack of detailed soil analysis was one of Koch's major points, as were estimates of the cost of the project and the amount of flow that would be generated'by the city Ingram. Dr. Robert Kiev, a geologist and hydrogeologist, testified that most of the soils on the site were not suitable for irrigation. Part of Ingram's permit application is to dispose of the treated effluent through spray irrigation.

Kier's testimony conflicted with testimony given by Ingram's project 'engineer, Bruce Motheral, and Texas Water Commission geologist Robert Morris. Kerrville Mayor Testifies Arthur Nagel, representing the Guadalupe River Association, called upon Kerrville Mayor Leonard Holloway to testify. The city of Kerrville is opposed to the proposed plant and would like to treat Ingram's waste. Holloway testified that Kerrville would be "very willing" to work with Ingram on the concerns it has about sending its wastewater to Kerrville. "We are open to any appropriate negotiations and the establishment of arbitration (on increases in Kerrville's charge per thousand gallons of wastewater) for future years," Holloway said.

"We want to be good neighbors and we desire to serve the city of Ingram." Holloway also said that the Kerrville City Council has passed a resolution declaring its desire to become a regional wastewater treatment site. (See related story, this page.) Asked if the city would be willing to expand its plant to accept regional wastewater, Holloway said, "If "wdecl. we hayejhejntejat to build additional capacity." UGRA Not For or Against Project The Upper Guadalupe River Authority's general manager, Bernie Brims, also testified. He stated that the UGRA, which is a party in the hearing, is not "for" or "against" Ingram being granted a permit. Brims did say that "we feel the permit needs to be tightened in several areas." (See related story.) TWC Geologist Finds Approximately 20 West Kerr County residents traveled to Austin to attend the Texas Water Commission hearing on Ingram's proposed wastewater treatment plant.

During a break in testimony Thursday, they posed for a picture with a sign that read "We will Win!" Most in the picture are members of Citizens Against River Pollution and all oppose Ingram's plan. See HEARING Page 2 Regional treatment site designation sought by Tammy Thompson-Prout The Kerrville City Council chose to begin "red tape" work and look into what it would take for the city to act as a regional sewage treatment center by passing a resolution during Tuesday's regular meeting. Bart Hines, the city's public works director, will be looking into the state requirements for such a municipal activity, said City Manager Glenn Brown. "I'm sure it will take a series of public hearings by the Texas Water Commission," Brown said. If, in fact, the plan becomes reality, rural residents within the county will be able to tie into the Kerrville sewar system, Brown said.

"It was done with the residents of Kerrville South in mind," Brown said. In addititon to this action, the council passed another resolu- tion ammending the 1983 resolution which prohibits the city from serving residents outside its boundaries with sewer and water service. The relatively new wastewater plant was built "oversized" with the expectation of such an action by the city and with hopes that the city of Ingram would tie into it as well, Brown said. The council adopted a economic development incentive policy in an attemp to attract new businesses to the area. They approved the Ingram Volunteer Fire Department's request to pursue a fire district formation that would include part of Kerrville's jurisdiction.

Councilmen approved Bill Tipton's request to put on a fireworks show within the city limits for the Fourth of July celebration. J. Tom Graham named new Sun publisher J. Tom Graham, a native west Texan and a veteran newspaperman, has been named publisher of the Kerrville Mountain Sun. Graham succeeds George Wilhite who resigned this week as he announced plans to return to college.

Wilhite has been publisher of the Mountain Sun for the past year and a half. "Beck and I hate to leave the Mountain Sun but I have been wanting to continue my college education for some time," Wilhite said. Graham was born and raised in Knox City, Texas, north of Abilene. He earned a degree in journalism from the University of North Texas at Denton in 1964. For the past two decades, Graham has published newspapers for Harte-Hanks Communications and for Bluebonnet Media in Huntsville, Big Springs, Del Rio, Burnet and Mineola.

Graham comes to Kerrville from Duncanville in southwest Dallas County where he had been publisher of the several Suburban Publishers Inc. newspapers in that area. His wife, Kathryn, is a native of Luling, Texas. They have a son, Jay, a junior in high school. "My wife and I have always loved the Hill Country of Texas," Graham said, "and when the opportunity came to become involved in the Kerrville Mountain Sun, we jumped at it." "This newspaper has a 110-year tradition of serving Kerr County and we want to build on this tradition by helping the Mountain Sun to be the best community newspaper it can be, Graham said.

J. Tom Graham Veteran newspaperman After being sentenced, JP Pet 4 John Hill still maintains his innocense while surrounded by Frank Gelsone, left, Tom Hill will appeal DWI conviction by Tammy Thompson-Prout The prosecuting attorney in JP Pet 4 John Hill 's DWI trial, which began on Monday, asked a six-person jury to keep in mind the legal definition of intoxication, not to have sympathy on an 81-year-old man, and to disregard the fact that a public official was a defendant in this case. The jury found Hill guilty. After deliberating for 30 minutes, jurors returned the guilty verdict on Wednesday. Following more than an hour of deliberation Thursday morning, the jury sentenced Hill to pay a $750 fine and gave him 90 days in jail, which was suspended, and gave him 12-months probation.

After sentencing and Judge William "Bill" Baskette's dismissal of the jury, prosecutor Tom Krampitz attempted to shake hands with Hill but Hill would not oblige. "You know damn well 1 wasn't guilty," Krampitz said Hill told him. Hill's attorney, Frank Gelsone, subpoenaed witnesess whose testimony was critical of the Kerrville Police Department's officers and their conduct. He also tried to prove that the officer who arrested Hill on Oct. 28, 1988, was rude and disrespectful, which hindered Hill's performance in the routine sobriety test.

Argument was given by Gelsone that Hill's age made it possible lor him to stumble and become excited. The prosecutor, Tom Krampitz of the Texas Association of County and District Attorneys, told jurors that Hill's witnesses the men drinking with him the at the American Legion Hall the night he was arrested and an ex-deputy of the Ken- County Sheriffs Office who was asked to resign from duty were not exactly credible witnesses. "His (Hill's) drinking buddies were not there at 10:15 when he was arrested," Krampiix reminded jurors. "The police officers were there." Hill had a blood test done after being released from custody three hours after his arrest, which revealed a level of blood alcohol below the state's legal limit of .10, but Kramptiz insisted that jurors not depend on that evidence because of the amount of time that had passed. JP Pet 1 Pat Knox was also called to the witness stand by Gelsone.

She testified by -she had seen Hill after he was arrested and she "had seen him a lot worse." After the trial, Gelsone said that he was not pleased with the outcome of the trial and that he would appeal the jury's decision "with evidence that was not allowed in this trial." Gelsone would not say what that evidence was. Krumpitz said Hill was looking for another break, as a public official, and he was pleased with the outcome of the trial. "He had his day in court," Krampitz said. Weather A high of 92 degrees and a low of 61 degrees was recorded this week by the U.S.D.A. U.S.

Official Weather Observers. The barometric pressure ranged from 30.08 to 30.02. The year-io-date rainfall stands at 15.47". This is .40" above the normal of 15.07". Rainfall so far this month stands at 2.71" which is 1.60" above the normal 1.11".

During the same period last year the temperatures ranged from 91 to 6(3 degrees. The high is recorded for the preceding 24 hours. HighLowRuin 28 92 til tr. June 29 HI 69 June 30 65 ti.