The Waco Citizen from Waco, Texas • Page 1

SMALL BUSINESS EDITION Brazos Trails By BILL FOSTER Publisher, Tht Waco CHton The Waco mmmm 1 FRIDAY Confusion At City Hall There is much confusion at city hall The Waco onvention Board held a meeting recently and due to the lack of direction from the city coun cil and city administration the 15 members of the board didn't know what to do and met for two hours discussing the problem In fact they are not even sure of the name of the board They are not sure if it is a real board or just an advisory board is too bad. because there are Mime good people giving of tlieir time to serve on this board They keep hearing the council will be meeting with them and give them a job description and tell them what the real name and status of this board is. or is going to he. but tar that hasn't happened Deputy itv Manager John Hat chel said this board has been re organized 4 times since he came to Waco 27 months ago And the sad thing is that as late as the council meeting Tuesday no official action has been taken to straighten out this problem Malcolm Duncan, city coun cilman, says he wants to fire the en tire board and manager of the con ventbn center, and stan over Hiring and firing of city personnel is up to the city manager, according to the city charter. Wilton lannmg.

a member of the board, says the council appointed them, and guessed they could do what they wanted to do with them But I thought it was strange that the council appointed them and then told them to plan the expansion of the exinvention center, and they did, and now Duncan and Mayor laNelle McNamara voted to hold up this progress Fortunately, they were overruled by the other four members of the council The board has spent three years planning the expansion and working with the architects and engineers, not to mention two different consultants that clashed over the plans At this point bonds have been sold for the project and already SI 35.000 of the money has been spent on architects and plans luesdav at the city council meeting Pat Henry, president of the Waco Hotel Ac Motel Association tokl the council would be glad to work with the council, or any board they approve, arol Guinn, the new Public Information Officer, or anyone to get the problems resolved The adverts ng and promotion budget lias kis; 100.000 Henry said if the budget is mil restored the city mighi not be wetting the bed tax money that is budgeted, if room sales don't meet expectations, due to the lack advertising and promotion money From my seat on the Trail. I think basically everyone wants to go torward. and all have about the gtuh But lack of communication is hampering prevgress VOLUME 59 Your home-town community newspaper ACO, TEXAS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3, NUMBER 75 Business Edition Offers Information This 1986 Small Business edition offers information aimed at the business or the entrepreneur ontnbuting articles for the edition are the ontinuing Education tment of Mclennan Community College, the School of Business at Bay lor, the ireater Waco hamher of Commerce and Nf federation of independent businessmen, plus many others 1 he 1 itmsClub of last Waco is a sponsor of this special edition. Daughters Of Charity Approve Providence Hospital Relocation Public Hearings Begin On "Harter Lone Star Files Rate Increase Lone Star Cias Regional Manager. Terrv Irwin, Wednesdav filed an application for a rate increase which would raise the average residential customer's monthly bill in Waco by $2.71 in the winter and $4.06 in the summer Similar filings were mack in Bellmead.

Beverly Hills, Hewitt, Lacy Lakeview. Nor thcrest, Robinson, and Woodway Baited on Lone Star's rate ap plication, a residential customer who uses an average of 5.4 thousand cubic feet of gas a month paid $25 05 for gas service in the winter I nder the requested rate, that same customer would pay $27.76 Commecial gas customers' rates would also increase under the requested rate schedule "Our customers are accustomed to natural gas says Irwin. I his rate increase is necessary to continue a high performance level and for other necessary expenses, such as maintaining and improving the kical pipeline distribution system, which are vital to dependable ser vice The last time I one filed for a rate change in aco as in 1983 "Since that time, every business, including awk Star has experienced increased iterating says Irwin of course, unlike other businesses that can raise their prices as expenses go up. we must applv to the city etmneil lor a rate increase No one likes rising prices, but any business must earn enough money to meet operating expenses and still achieve a reasonable profit Ihe Daughters of harity Health System Board of Directors approved luesday the rekxation of Providen cc Hospital's acute care surgical ser vices facilities to a new complex to be constructed on land owned by the System adjacent to the DePaul en ter on Slate Highwav 6 near the aco Regnwial pTnst Office Announcement of the facility con struction was made to local physKians Jueniay evening and to public on Wednesday Ihe rekicated hospital will be a four structure of approximately 183,000 square feet with a licensed inpatient care capacity of 140 beds. Plans include new design concepts of the latest medicai equipment, and state of the art equpment The facilnv will ifKrease the emphasis on outpatient services and ease ot access privately financed professional office building ill be connected to both the hospital itself and an ambulatory care pavilion is scheduled to be constructed Kent keafiev.

President ot Providence Hospital, emphasized Wednesdav. the approval of the project ts evidence of the continued dedication of the Daughters of hanty to the ity of Waco and its residents keahey said that the following relocation, the existing 185 bed facility at 18th and Providence Drive would be converted to provide ad ditiona! non acute care services for the elderlv which will include skilled nursing care and a retirement resident The present emergency care department will become an urgent care center for the immediate area, Keahey said the facility would also become a teaching center for Family Practice residents in the field of gerentokigy He noted the large elderly population of the area in creases the need for expanded studies Providence Board of Trustees Sister Mary Louts Stubbs, along with board member Dr Falcone, said all of the plans for the current facility have not been finalized and will not be until the rek non is mi pie ed Keahev said a name has not been selected for the new facility at this time Ihe rosthwait enter will con unite to operate as it is for the elderly patients, Keahey said Donated by ihe rosthwait the center has provided heart treatment for area 'vsaknts Dr Falcone said. nice new facility may attract more physicians to the area hen we talk with them we will expect a more positive response Keahey said there were no plans to offer obstetric sen ices at the new facility because Hillcrest Baptist Hospital is doing a good job for the community have cooperated on this and cardiac care and do not plan any changes (Continued on page 2) DA Investigation Continues Before Federal Grand Jury 'AMELIA FOSTER Six attorneys and one businessman were in Austin I uesday to appear before the federal grand jury investigating the operations and conduct of McLennan County District Attorney Vic Three of the attorneys are assistant DAY They were Deanna FIRST ASSISTANT DA Danna Fitzgerald and Assistant DA David Jordan leave the U.S. Federal Cour thouse in Austin. Fitzgerald.

First Assistant DA and Pat Murphy and David Jordan, Assistant DA Guy ox huney Fanning and Bill Stallings, all kical private practice attorneys also appeared before the grand jury Cox and Fanning were the first at torneys to appear and spent over two hours with the grand jury Billy Allison. Austin attorney representing Cox, said they were with Shops in Waco, also came to the grand jury and said possibly have a Asked what he had taken into the grand jury in a brown ny the committee 1958 document was pretty sound." Mike Morrison, chairman of the revision committee, said charge from the council was without limits. It was not a charge of change but our charge was to examine and recommend Among the changes are a recom mendation to increase the number of council members from six to eight with one member to be elected at large The charter commission also recommends the selection of the mayor remain intact That ts that the mayor be elected by peer council members was disagreement on the commission on this issue." Morn son. a Baykir law professor, said, we decided to leave it as it is as a commission the number of council members would create a greater opportunity for interest in voter turnout than the election of a mayor and would not make campaigning as expensive Morrison also said more districts in the city would do more than deal only with the election of mayor We discussed the consideration of odd versus an even members council ullen Hams, a member of the commission and former council member, said a tie vote sometimes led to a better ordinance. It strengthens the consensus on a voting matter and does not offer one vote the chairman added A majority of the changes in the charter are housekeeping duties which will bring the charter into compliance with state and federal laws.

Mornson said One example of this type of change is kiwenng the age for a council candidate from 25 to 21 A new sect Kin in the charter deals with the formation of an ethics committee The ethics committee would he empowered to inquire into the official conduct of any depar tment. agency, office, officer or em pknee feel this would be a watchdog' over city government and the Morrison said The council would appoint the commit tee i he revision continues to limit the council from interfering with per the quashing of his subponea which Sobel when they searched his office. tnamla Sobel replied it was matters This would be left up records dealing with advertising, campaign information and con inbutKins. Sobel is a friend of Ihe DA has handled several legal matters for him and federal agents took four envekipes with material relating to WACO ATTORNEY WHITNEY FANNING leaves the Federal Cour thouse in Austin with one of his attorneys. (Staff photo) JEROME SOBEL outside the federal courthouse as he chats with kical reporter Tommy Witherspoon, PAT MURPHY, Assistant DA speaks with the media outside the Austin courthouse.

was granted However, a kxik at the daily record of Judge James Nowlin did not verify that action. Sources ckise to the federal in vestigatKin said. Cox's first subponea requested he bring all of his records since he became an attorney and that was changed to say he should bnng his records since DA Vic has been in office. If that is the case then Cox will be making another ap pearance before the grand jury Fanning nor his attorney had any comment on hts appearance before the grand jury Following Cox and Fanning was David Jordan, Assistant DA. who spent about two hours with the grand jury.

Jordan said the grand jury asked him if he had ever taken a bribe and he answered only no but hell was also questioned about the running of the office and answered them to the best of my Jor dan said. was also asked about the James Fauver case, which I han (The Fauver case was listed in the indictment served Feazell.l Murphy began his time before the grand jury before lunch and con tinued after lunch. He was in with the members about 2 hours. After leaving the grand jury room, he said, was asked general questions in relation to the office. I believe this investigation is political in nature and I have utter faith in the DA and the people will have to decide his Jerome Sobel, owner of the Script home, car and storage bin on Sep tember 17 Sobel also served on a grand jury dunng 1985 and federal agents took tapes relating to grand jury infor matKin from home when they carried out a search warrant on September 17.

Deanna Fitzgerald arrived in Austin at 8:30 Tuesday morning in to the city manager to deal with problems in that area A number of changes were made in Article VI which deals with municipal court It formerly was called the corporation coun I nder finance the commission is requiring certification of a no deficit budget to be prepared annually. The city currently prepares no deficit budgets, but Morrison said this would insure that continue with a lit tie strength added. Another recommendation is to alkiw the council to decide what dollar amounts should be placed on purchases through ordinances This will eliminate the current bid limit city purchases In finance the commission is recommending an independent audit at the close of each year hich is not new. but the commission also calls for the establishment of an indepen dent audit department which will on a daily basis audit the financial con dition of the city The city council will appoint the members of this department from current employees which should not increase the staff. Mornson said The department will report directly to an audit committee of the council The commission recom mends the tax limit remain at $1.85 per $100 valuation, By state authority the amount can be raised to $2.50 per 100 but the action was not taken In the planning department the revision committee is recommending the commission be not levs than nine or more than 15 members and that each district shall be represented Members shall have three year terms No member can serve more than two consecutive terms A city plan shall be placed at citv hall so it ls accessible to all citizens, the commission recommends The council will be given the authonty to change the city plan after proper notice and public heanngs Residence requirements is another item that has stirred comment dunng input meetings between the public and commission The commission is recommending all current mem bers of the staff The council will set a cutoff date and when that is new staff members ill have to move into the city limits within six months after empkiyment It also states that after a date is reached, current city em pkiyees will not be able to move out side the city The first public hearing will be held at 7:30 p.m.

in the George Young Auditorium at Paul Quinn ollege on Monday night On Tuesday the second public hearing will be held at 7 30 p.m. in the Texas Room of the Waco Con vention Center On Wednesday. October 9. the third public hearing will be held at the Sacred Heart atholic hurch Hall. 2621 Bagby Ave Morrison said the commission would like to have the justice depar tment look at the revised charter before a vote is taken He noted this would take at least 60 davs Baylor Lariat Quotes DA Assistant On Contributions On Wednesday.

John Ben Sutter. Administrative Aide to Distnct Attorney Vie told response to her subponea from the members of Dr Gayle Av ant's grand jury and went in to be political science class that his boss questioned about 3 p.m. Ms Fit -has no problem accepting political said she would be appeanng contributions in return for this type before the grand jury a second time of consideration and a kit of people Bill Stallings was the last attorney to appear and he had no comment Jan Patterson, federal prosecutor on the case, had no comment when she entered or emerged from the federal courthouse. On Wednesday, the Fifth ircuit Court of Appeals, approved a ruling to at and a lot of attorneys have con tnbuted to his political Sutter was explaining to the class how handles Bay lor students when they get in trouble with the law, according to a story pnnted in the Thursday. September 25 edition of the Baylor Lanat.

According to the story written by torneys request to obtain additional Brian Estes, Sutter was explaining material from the federal agents who why and how DA dismissed had searched his office and home eases for fnends and for people he The prejudiced ruling means they never saw as part of the criminal will consider the motion again at a justice procedure later date, but the preliminary ruling what every DA in the was to deny return of any of state does and is required to Sut the material taken. ter said, the court of A trial date of February 2 in criminal procedures says the district Austin has been set by Judge Walter attorney is required to do justice Smith. Preliminary trial hearings cases where somebody comes have ban set for December 29 in wjth a DWI and his entire life is Waco. SUBSCRIBE TO THE WACO CITIZEN 754-3511 going to be ruined by getting prosecuted, Vic will say, ill hold this case for one year You give me a waiver of speedy trial act, and I'm going to keep it in my file, which means that I can prosecute you at any time' you do anything wrong in the next year. I'm aoing to prosecute your butt.

I will do everything I can to get the most out ot my prosecution, but if you go a year without any trouble, by gosh. I'll dismiss this Sutter said, accor ding to the Baylor Lanat story According to the story this is where the consideration came in On Friday the Baylor Lariat ran a story where Sutter was attempting to clarify his statements. He disputed the statement reported in the Thur sday edition of the Lanat, that dealt with the DA accepting payments in return for special consideration on prosecuting cases. who was mdKted tember 17 on racketeering and mail fraud charges, never accepted a contribution in return for any type of consideration on a He continued in the September 26 article, saying, was a definite miscommumcation Sutter oontinued in an interview with the Lanat to explain that the statement was relative to a subject on the Channel 8 series and some of the allegations that had been made to the dismissal of cases..