The City of Commerce’s financial situation is the reason Bob Monday got into the race for City Council.
“The indebtedness of the City of Commerce was interesting me quite a bit,” Monday said. “We owe $19,132,174. For a town of less than 10,000 that is a substantial burden to withstand.”
Monday is running for the Place 4 seat on the Council against Russell Lutes and Dr. Billy Taylor. He is concerned with how much debt the city has.
“Twenty-five percent of our ad valorem taxes goes to debt service,” he said. “They’re trying to call for another $3 million (bond election for a) street program and that $3 million will cost you almost $5 million in 20 years. To me, it’s totally revolting and out of place.”
The debt service the city would pay on the street program would be $245,000 per year on average, according to Monday. It could be a maximum of $324,000.
“What I believe is, you can go somewhere in between and start putting that money up,” he said. “The streets are all shot anyway. There are over 50 miles of streets in Commerce, Texas. They’re all in pretty wretched shape.”
Monday said he would much rather have the city set money aside and fix streets and water and sewer problems as they could.
“I think if people see some action on streets, whether it’s in the old part or the new part of town, they say, ‘Well, we’ll have our turn at some time.’ It takes a lot of discipline to do that,” he said.
Another thing Monday would like to do is look at all the property the city owns outright and if there are no other plans for it, to sell it.
“It is absolutely ridiculous for the city to hold the amount of property it does that’s not being used,” he said.
He also wants to speed up the sale of property in which the city is the trustee for other taxing entities. The budget also needs to gone over meticulously with the department heads to see how service can be improved while reducing cost.
Another thing Monday would like to see is better use of people sentenced to community service for municipal court fines they are unable to pay.
“I want to use those to the best advantage to the city of Commerce and maybe not to the individual,” he said.
Downtown Commerce also needs help, according to Monday. He would like to see a committee formed to seriously look into what can be done to improve it.
“We have one shot of getting the downtown moving in such a manner so that it would be a service to the citizens of Commerce,” he said. “Failing that, it looks awful bleak to me for the downtown portion. Even though we’re seeing movements now, we must continue. There are too many vacant buildings downtown now. It’s not a tax-supported thing, but it should be encouraged by the City Council.”
Monday was born and raised in Commerce. He and his wife, Norma, have been married 52 years. They have three grown daughters, eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Local News
Related Photos
-
Jay Strickland
Discussion
Monday worried about city's debt, condition of streets
- Local News
-
-
CISD School Board announces special session for May 31
Commerce ISD Board of Trustees announced a special meeting for May 31 at 6 p.m. The meeting will be held in the CISD Professional Development Room at 3315 Washington St.
-
Annual golf classic to benefit college scholarships
The 42nd Annual Texas A&M University-Commerce Alumni Scholarship Golf Classic will be held on June 8 Sand Hills Golf Country Club, one of the top-rated nine-hole golf courses in the state of Texas. Check in will begin at 11 a.m., with a shotgun start at noon.
-
Community turns out to ‘save the library’
More than 50 people, including the newly-elected Mayor Dr. John Ballotti, attended the “Save the Library” event on May 17 held at City Hall. The event demonstrated the services the library offers to the citizens of Commerce and informed citizens of a project that will restore the 95 year old building and make it handicap accessible.
-
Perry slated to make local stop
Texas Governor Rick Perry plans to visit downtown Greenville this week.
Perry will be appearing at the Landmark on Lee Street, 2980 Lee, at 5 p.m. Wednesday. -
CISD Board of Trustees to meet Monday night
The Commerce ISD Board of Trustees will meet at 6:15 p.m. in the CISD Board Room tonight. The board will recognize the CHS valedictorian and salutatorian, consider an appointee for CISD Board of Trustees Place 7, and receive an update on Communities In Schools.
-
Harvey receives CISD award
Scott Harvey of KETR FM was recently named to the 2012 Media Honor Roll by Commerce ISD. Sponsored by the Texas Association of School Boards, (TASB) the Media Honor Roll program recognizes reporters statewide for fair and balanced reporting of news about public schools. Media representatives from more than 470 Texas newspapers, radio and television stations and online publications were honored by their local school districts.
-
Commerce Lions event raises funds, helps children
On May 8, Commerce Lions Club held their 46th Annual Commerce Lions Club Carnival in downtown Commerce. Proceeds from the event went towards charities and projects they support, such as the Commerce Skatepark Project and vision clinics.
-
New officers sworn in, council updated on sewer
Mayor John Ballotti was sworn in as mayor at the Commerce City Council meeting held on May 15. Newly elected Emma Martin and incumbent Sue Davis were sworn in to City Council Places 2 and 4, respectively.
-
'Save the Library' meeting set for 7 p.m. May 17
The Commerce Public Library is holding a town hall meeting May 17 at 7 p.m. at City Hall. The meeting, titled "Save the Library" will discuss the necessary steps in resoring the 95 year old building to its 1972 condition, the year the library took the building over from the city. The library used to house the Commerce Post Office, which is now next door.
-
Dr. Johnson receives Lifetime Achievement Award from NASW
Dr. Robert E. L. Johnson was awarded the National Association of Social Workers’ (NASW) Lifetime Achievement Award at the April 26 Social Work Profession Day awards luncheon.
- More Local News Headlines
-
CISD School Board announces special session for May 31
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
Raw Video: Fight Erupts in Ukrainian Parliament
Texan Ranchers Remain Wary of Drought
Raw Video: Soldiers Plant Flags at Arlington
Police: Man Arrested in Etan Patz Disappearance
NYC Protests: the Revolution Will Be Scripted
Chicago U.S. Attorney Fitzgerald Resigns
Neighbors of Etan Patz's Suspect: It's Shocking
Gulf Fishermen Reel From Seafood Troubles
Stuntman Makes Skydive Without Parachute in UK
Raw Video: Bride Who Faked Cancer Released
