Be sure to check out our new look....
http://Titusgop.org has a new look. Lot's of new goodies, news and information.
Be sure to take our quick poll too...http://titusgop.com/instant-poll.html
Let us know what you think....
Tony Mize
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Pate Transportation Partners sued Forney for $50 million after contract termination on pass thru project
Not all the projects that Pate Transportation Partners have been involved in have had happy endings, just ask the city of Forney. They hired PTP on a pass-thru project like Titus County and were sued for $50 million in damages by Pate when they terminated their contract. Read more below.
Barbara Bruechner
Forney pays $2 million to settle road contractor's lawsuit
STAFF WRITER
- Published: March 22, 2013 10:35 PM
The Forney City Council agreed to settle a road contractor's lawsuit for $2 million this week, stopping the legal process short of an April 30 date in court.
Pate Transportation Partners sought $50 million in damages when it sued the city in 2011. The city filed a countersuit contending that Pate's missed deadlines were delaying $40 million in reimbursement from the Texas Department of Transportation.
The focus was narrowed during the suit. The company had sent the city a letter in 2010 saying it was open to a mutual termination of the contract for over $3 million. The city did not challenge that it owed $1.2 million in invoices for work done but not paid.
"PTP has always maintained the claims described in the suit have merit," said Michael Grimes, spokesman for the company. "This has been reinforced by rulings made and orders entered throughout the process."
Forney officials say that the settlement will not force tax rates higher and that the much-needed roadway projects were accelerated in spite of the suit.
In 2006, Forney voters approved bonds for three separate projects on state roads — a U.S. Highway 80-FM548 interchange and widening and other improvements on FM740 and FM741.
As rapid growth in western Kaufman County was putting pressure on Forney's roads, the city opted to borrow the money and be gradually repaid by the state.
"We weren't building so much for future capacity as we were for capacity needed now," City Manager Brian Brooks said.
Though TxDOT acknowledged the need, Brooks said, the projects estimated at $50 million were eight years from being on the state list, with no guarantee of funding even then. In March 2007, Pate entered into a contract with the city to do the work.
The state's repayment of the city is dependent on completion of the projects. That is why city officials say missed deadlines became such an issue.
In late 2010, the city asked the company to consider mutual termination of the contract. Then, in its last regular meeting of 2010, the City Council voted to terminate the contract whether the company agreed or not.
"Breaking the contract was really a non-issue with us," Brooks said. "We knew we were responsible for $1.2 million."
In December, a judge ruled that the city had failed to comply with the termination clause in the contract and set the April 30 trial date to determine damages.
The other $800,000 in the settlement is to cover related expenses incurred by Pate. Forney also dropped its countersuit.
TxDOT took over the projects for a short while until a new construction manager was hired. The interchange and FM741 projects are now completed.
City officials said the roadway bonds will be paid off 10 years early, saving $5.9 million.
The settlement also secured Pate's assistance in identifying and gathering records requested by the Federal Highway Administration as backup for audits in connection with a $5.6 million federal Bottleneck Grant for the U.S. 80 interchange. Those documents arrived in Brooks' office Friday.
The third project, work north of the highway on FM740, has a groundbreaking scheduled for Tuesday.
"Our goal from the beginning was to get these roadway projects completed on time and on budget," Mayor Darren Rozell said.
KLTV story and video on our $1.845 million taxpayer funded bridge fiasco
This story aired on KLTV Tyler last night. Since a lot of us are on satellite TV and don't get the local news, forwarding to you.
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Titus Grassroots invited to Ted Cruz Teletownhall tonight!
Teletownhall with Sen. Ted Cruz
Wednesday, January 29th 6:30 pm CT
Call in Number: (877) 229-8493
ID Code: 112400
Wednesday, January 29th 6:30 pm CT
Call in Number: (877) 229-8493
ID Code: 112400
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Another taxpayer opinion about who should pay for bridge and my opinion
I have talked with numerous small business owners and tax payers the past few weeks and we are in total agreement on the subject of who should pay for the bridge that OOPS is 16 inches too low to the railroad track. In the real world if you make a mistake, you fix it at no charge to the owner or in this case, the taxpayer.The taxpayers of this county have paid Pate Transportation Partners a lot of money, about 7 million to be exact, on construction oversight alone.
The tracks were not raised 16 inches, the bridge is just too low period. The problem is Pate's, not ours. Time to pass the responsibility up the food chain to Pate, not down to the taxpayers of this county.
Barbara Bruechner
Brain,
I would like to express my concerns about the bridge over Old Highway 271 and the Union Pacific Railroad track. I believe we have a SUPER ELEVATED HORIZONTAL VERTICAL CURVE structure. This is a very complex design although I would think in this day and time there are computer programs that do this but the elevation part should be as simple as arithmetic.
The letter from Mr. Keith Kridler that states the original information from the very first surveys and continuing to present should or has been given to Pate Transportation. I have attached a position of their contract that plainly states that they are solely responsible for all of this project. I see no reason for we the citizens of Titus County to pay $1.8 million for their mistakes and adding to our debt, when other infrastructure's in the County would and could use that kind of money.
You and the Commissioners are elected Officers of Titus County and are responsible for the finances of this County, so man up and do the right thing and make Pate Transportation pay. That is what they have agreed to do in their contract.
Respectfully;
Jerry D Domino
Titus Co taxpayer alert: $168 million (at least) bridge re-do dominates agenda Monday night, January 27, 6 pm
NOTICE OF MEETING OF THE
COMMISSIONERS' COURT OF TITUS COUNTY, TEXAS
Notice is hereby given that a Special Meeting of the Commissioners' Court of Titus County, Texas, will be held on the 27th day of January, 2014, at 6:00 o'clock p.m., in the Titus County Courthouse, County Courtroom, 100 West First Street, Room 205, Mt. Pleasant, Texas 75455, at which time the following subjects will be discussed not necessarily in the order presented:
INVOCATION
-----
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
1.
Public Comments and/or Requests for Information on Non-Agenda Items in Accordance With Section 551.042, Texas Open Meetings Act
2.
Consider and Possibly Approve Minutes from January 13, 2014 Regular Meeting of the Commissioners' Court
3.
Status Report on Titus County Pass-Through Projects
4.
Consider and Possibly Approve a Work Authorization for Williams Brothers in Order to Begin Work on the Union Pacific Railroad Crossing at the South End of the 271 Loop
5.
Consider and Possibly Approve Hiring An Independent Engineer to Represent Titus County on the UPRR Bridge Repair
6.
Discuss and Possibly Take Action on Whether to Open the North End of the 271 Loop Between Highway 49 and Interstate 30
7.
Consider and Possibly Approve a Retainer Agreement With Allison, Bass & Magee, LLP to Represent Titus County Pertaining to the Loop Project and the Union Pacific Railroad Overpass, or Such Other Matters as May be Assigned by the Commissioners Court
8.
Discussion and Potential Action Regarding the Creation of One or More County Energy Transportation Reinvestment Zone (CETRZ), as Authorized by Law, to Promote One or More Infrastructure Projects to be Located Within the County to be Funded by the CETRZ including the Potential Boundaries and Requirements of a County Energy Transportation Reinvestment Zone (CETRZ), as authorized §222.1071 of the Texas Transportation Code
9.
Discussion and Potential Action Regarding the SB 1747 Prioritized Project List for the County Transportation Infrastructure Fund Grand Program
10.
Discussion and Consideration of Accepting County Road Report(s) for Filing in the Minutes of the Commissioners' Court
11.
Consider and Possibly Approve Repairs and Improvements to the County Owned Property at 303 East 11th Street, Currently Occupied by Health and Human Services
12.
Presentation of Annual Sheriff's Office Racial Profiling Report
13.
Consider and Possibly Approve Payment of Pauper's Funeral for Toni Mitchelle in Amount of $950.00
14.
Consider and Possibly Approve Travel and Seminars for Titus County Employees and Elected Officials
15.
Approve Oral and Written Reports of County Officials
16.
Consider and Possibly Approve Treasurer's Report
17.
Approve Budget Amendments
18.
Sign Pay Orders and Approve Payments
19.
Closing Comments by County Judge and Commissioners, if any
20.
County Judge Requests an Executive Session Pursuant to Texas Government Code Section 551.071 Regarding Consultation with Attorney to Update the Court on Pending and/or Threatened Litigation, Settlement Offers and/or Matters in Which the Duties of the Attorney Under the Texas Rules of Professional Conduct of the State Bar of Texas Require Confidential Communications with Possible Action to Follow
ADJOURN
Commissioners' Court of Titus County, Texas
______________________________________
County Judge
I, the undersigned County Clerk, do hereby certify that the above Notice of Meeting of the Commissioners' Court of Titus County, Texas, is a true and correct copy of said Notice, and that I posted a true and correct copy of said Notice on the bulletin board and doors of the Titus County Courthouse and Annex, places readily accessible to the general public at all times, prior to 6:00 o'clock p.m., on the 24th day of January,2014, and remained so posted for at least 72 hours preceding the scheduled time of said meeting.
Sent from my iPhoneElection Clerks!
HELP!
Four years ago the Titus GOP decided to open all the voting precincts on election Day to give all our Republicans easy access to their regular polling place. Of course that means staffing them also.
I need about six (6) more people to be clerks. If any of you would be willing, or know someone who would be willing, PLEASE let me know ASAP.
The pay is minimum wage, but then you wouldn't want it to be $15/hour since much of it comes out of YOUR pocket as taxpayers!!!! LOL
Teenagers are also welcome, but they must be responsible Republicans 16 years of age.
CALL ME IF YOU CAN HELP!
Thank you,
Anxious Sue
Friday, January 24, 2014
Meet & Greet the Titus GOP Candidates
The Titus County Republican Party is hosting a Meet & Greet for GOP candidates on Tuesday, January 28 at the Civic Center. An informal social time will start at 6:00 PM and a candidate forum at 6:30. Light refreshments will be served.
There are quite a few Republican candidates running on the Republican Primary ballot and this would be a good time for you to meet them personally and find out how they feel about the issues that concern you.
County Judge - Brian Lee is running unopposed
County Clerk - Dianne Norris Owens
Joan Newman
Precinct Commissioner #4 - George Sanford
Keith Kridler
Jimmy Parker
Steve Agan
Alan Braddock
Russell Dunn
Precinct Commissioner #2 - Larry Snopel
Chris Shelton
JP #2 - Tim Blair running unopposed
JP#1,3,4 - Diane Auer running unopposed
The Republican Primary is a time when citizens who identify themselves as loyal to the Republican Party philosophy and platform, have the opportunity to choose the candidate they feel will be the best person to run in the General Election against a Democrat opponent in November. It is an important process and voters need to take the time to be informed.
There are many issues in our community that people are talking about. Tuesday night would be the time for you to ask some questions.
See you there!
Deputy Registar training
Precinct Chairman,
I know this is the last minute, but I just found out today that Leonard has scheduled Deputy Registar training tomorrow (Friday) evening at 4:30 PM, at the Election office.
As a Deputy Registar you will be able to actually help register people to vote, and then personally carry the card to the Election office to get the person on the registered voter rolls. Otherwise, you could only encourage them to fill out the card and send it in. That means you can personally register folks at church, at the county fair, at any community event, or when walking door-to-door in a campaign. The legislature requires everyone to participate in a training class before they are sworn into this voluntary position.
Why is this important???? Let's just say I would like our good Republicans to be just as much a force in Titus County as the Obama/ACORN crowd.
If you have the time, please consider being there tomorrow.
Sue
Thursday, January 23, 2014
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