September 28, 2006
CITY HELPS CELEBRATE GROUNDBREAKING
Officials with the City of Midland will take part in the official groundbreaking of Midland’s newest IHOP. The new restaurant will be located at 302 E. Interstate 20, east of Wal-Mart. The ceremony will take place at 10:00 a.m., on Monday, October 2, 2006. The media is encouraged to attend.
IHOP managers will also be available for comment. The new 5300 square foot restaurant will be the first icon model building in Texas. IHOP will premiere the new building design that is a modernization of the old A frame look. The restaurant will be open 24-hours a day and have parking for trucks, buses, and RVs.
The IHOP is just the latest in a string of development along Interstate 20.
Jamie Lim, owner and franchisee, has four other IHOP restaurants: one other in Midland, one in Odessa, one in Abilene, and one in San Angelo. The second IHOP location in Midland is his fifth restaurant.
NEW PATROL VEHICLES HIT THE STREETS
Newer, more efficient, police patrol vehicles are now on the streets of Midland. In all, 23 new Chevrolet Impalas are in service. Sixteen are being used as patrol vehicles and another seven are unmarked supervisor vehicles. The Impalas are a departure from the Crown Victorias previously purchased.
The City Council approved the purchase of the slightly smaller, yet more efficient, vehicle in February. The Impalas cost less than the Crown Victorias, have lower fuel costs, and lower maintenance costs. A life cycle cost analysis reveals approximately $5,000 less cost over a 100,000-mile life to own and operate the Impalas inclusive of any diagnostics the city may have to buy and fix them. The Impalas average 12-13% better gas mileage and compare favorably in performance.
When considering the cost to purchase, fuel costs, maintenance costs, and residual value, the difference between the Impala and the Crown Victoria is $5,700 or for the purchase of the 23 units at total of $131,100.
The City will evaluate the performance of the new Impalas and consider replacing more vehicles with the more fuel efficient Impalas. The City currently has approximately 130 Crown Victorias in the fleet.
The Impalas are already used by many major agencies including Lubbock, Odessa, Fort Worth, and Dallas.
WATER RATES
On August 22, 2006, the Midland City Council approved a new rate structure for water usage, sewer usage, and garbage service. The new rates will go into effect in October and be seen on November bills.
The new water rate structure:
| Base Rate |
$13.00 (includes first 2,000 gallons) |
| Apartment Base Rate |
$9.75 per apartment (includes first 2,00 gallons) |
| Additional Gallons |
$2.95 per each thousand gallons above the 2,000 up to 10,000 |
| |
$3.15 per each thousand gallons above the 10,000 up to 35,000 |
| |
$3.40 per each thousand gallons above the 35,000 |
Sewer rates will be increased from $14.68 per month to $15.75 per month.
Garbage rates will increase by $0.25 per customer for residential customers. For commercial customers, the base rate will increase by $0.25 per customer per container or portion of the container.
*Addition of escalation clause that would automatically increase the water and sewer rates 1.25% each October unless modified by the City Council
The increased rates are for upcoming capital expenditures, increases in operations and maintenance costs, increased fuel costs, and development and annexation costs.
Media Contact: Kay Snyder/Director of Utilities at 685.7261
Calculate at the New Rate
| Number of gallons used |
37,000 (example) |
| Number of 1,000-gallons over 35,000 |
2 |
| Multiply by $3.40 (charge for each thousand above 35,000) |
$6.80 |
| Number of 1,000-gallons between 10,000 and 35,000 |
25 |
| Multiply by $3.15 (charge for each thousand from 10,000-35,000) |
+$78.75 |
| Number of 1,000-gallons between 2,000 and 10,000 (1st tier) |
8 |
| Multiply by $2.95 (charge for each thousand from 2,000 to 10,000) |
+$23.60 |
| Add the base rate |
+ $13.00 (or $9.75 for apart.) |
| Total |
= $122.15 |
FIREFIGHTERS HELP ONE OF THEIR OWN
Midland Firefighters are hosting a benefit lunch to assist a fellow employee. The lunch will be held on Tuesday, October 3, 2006, from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at Central Fire, 1500 W. Wall.
Donations of $6.00 a plate will be collected. The meal will be carne guisada, rice, beans, with desert, and a drink.
Proceeds will assist Firefighter/Paramedic Bryan Chatwell with expenses his family has incurred with the high-risk delivery of a twin boy and girl.
Family members, city employees, as well as the public, are invited to attend.
Media Contact: Corky Heredia at 685.7344
Can't find what you're looking for? Try our search engine.
