Lone Star improvement projects on track for 2017

By: J. Leslie Riseden

Special Contributor to

The Steel Country Bee

Major improvements to the city’s water and sewer system will move forward in 2017, according to Lone Star Mayor Karl Stoermer. At the regular meeting of the Lone Star City Council Dec. 15, Mayor Stoermer reported that the city has established contact with the appropriate representative of U.S. Steel in Pennsylvania, which was the reason for the delay. Because much of the affected land is owned by U.S. Steel, their signature is needed on a number of easements before work can begin. Some of the land was acquired decades ago, making the research and documentation a tedious and time-consuming process. The shutdown of local U.S. Steel administrative offices has made the task even more daunting, and Mayor Stoermer commended City Secretary Devon Whatley for wading through all the paperwork and following through on taking the necessary steps to get the $2.5 million project back on track.

The public boat ramp and dock are also scheduled for replacement in early 2017. Thanks to a three-to-one grant from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the city will have to pay only about one-fourth of the estimated $200,000 cost for this project. (For every dollar the city invests, TPWD will contribute three dollars.) “Winter is the ideal time to get this work done, since this is when there is a reduced usage of the facility,“ said Stoermer. “Weather permitting, we’d like to have it finished before the boating season begins.”

In other city news, the council approved the transition of part-time police officer Stephen Rathbun to full-time employment. In addition to citing Officer Rathbun’s excellent performance, the mayor pointed out that this action will have a positive impact on the budget by reducing overtime demands within the department.

The Lone Star Vocational Training Center presented a proposal to the council for placing a technical training and career center in the vacant Lone Star Elementary School facility. Representatives of the center will return to the council at its next meeting, Jan. 19, to present more details and answer questions from the council.