Comments by taxman

Written on Letter to the Editor: I.D. required:

But Nana whats to get in to eat lunch with your grandchild! And you want her to show an ID? What do you think she is going to do vote?

Written on Stage 3 water restrictions:

Would you rather have water to drink or test drive a car that hasn't been washed in 6 days? Really?

Written on City council to mull water issues:

in response to Wichita_Willie:

I drove back by the mansion located at the NE corner of Harrison and Avondale this afternoon and once again city crews, using city equipment are in the back yard of this mansion digging. Either the city is repairing a water line on private property or they are digging a swimming pool. Either way its inside the back yard on private property.

I don't think the city would have had a water main passing under someone's residence. Wouldn't these be located under city streets?

The home is for sale and listed by Bill McGregor.

I was not aware that the city would do work on private property, much less remove fences and go in with back hoes, two or three dump trucks, etc. The number of dump trucks alone would indicate that lots of dirt is to be removed and taken away, such as for a pool.

They were there last Thursday removing a section of fence to get into the backyard and again on Friday doing some digging as well. So far I've counted at least six different pieces of city equipment on site.

There run everywhere in Country Club because no alleys.

Written on Our Opinion: Extending school year should be meaningful:

How about this...if it takes the State so long to grade the test why don't you give the test two weeks earlier?

Written on Crop Duster:

Really? So this is what a crop duster looks like?

Written on Guilty plea in airplane shooting:

At least have your graphics folks get a picture of an agriculture aircraft. A vast majority of the one flying in the world are made right there in Olney at Air Tractor.

Written on WFISD Board defers taking action:

in response to outhousepoet:

Clearly, the honeymoon with Frossard is approaching the end. You know it's over when one is on the potty while the other is brushing their teeth.


Speaking of bond elections, does everybody know what tomorrow is?


The last day to pay your property taxes in a timely fashion. Don't Blow your chances or you will be hit with a 7% penalty unless......

Do not be indecisive regarding your property taxes. Indecisiveness in the citizenry will not be tolerated and in fact will be punished.
(In most cases)

Run along and be good citizens.
Nothing to see here folks.

C'ya this summer on the adult slide over at Councilor's Cove, where water is never in short supply.

I didn't know that tomorrow is the last day to pay your taxes without a 7% penalty. I guess I wouldn't know since I and the vast majority pay our taxes on time!

7% ouch, that just blows me away... That means that a past school board president and current school board members will have just short of $2,000 dollars added to his already outstanding tax bill come tomorrow? If he continues not to pay his back taxes the penalty increases each month all the way to 20% come July.
I am sure that he is down at the tax office right now cutting a check to pay in full his taxes / back taxes / interest / penalty that is due the Citizens of Wichita County and Wichita Falls and of course the students and teachers / staff of WFISD. If not will those parcels be sold on the court house steps come the day after tomorrow? Give him time...he has had over 10 YEARS or longer! Kids that started school when he stopped paying his taxes (including WFISD) are soon to graduate, I think that is enough time!

Wichita Tax Office has defered in the collection of his back taxes. The WFISD defers to take action on choice busing and Reginald Blow defers to pay his taxes. He should also then DEFER to vote on any WFISD school board issue that relates on how our tax dollars are spent!

Written on WFISD Board defers taking action:

It all boils down to money or the lack of it. I know where WFSID can get some of those needed funds, and they won't have to look very far.
At the next board meeting just look to your right, board members, and ask the good Rev. Reginald Blow about his tax bill that he hasn't paid to the City, County and of course WFISD for going on 10 years!
As of this morning he owes $27,404.55.
Look it up yourself at:
and search owener name "Blow Reginald" and "New Hope Church"
Yes, the church is tax exempt, however New Hope (Reginald Blow) has 7 OTHER properties that aren't located with the Church on Wichita and Corwin St.
Of those 7 four of those properties where owned by Harold Blow before being deeded to New Hope Church. I guess New Hope was hoping that the transfer to a church would elimate or stop taxes from being charged...Hoped wrong.
You can view the deed history here:
and search owner name "New Hope Church" "view details" and then at the bottom "deed history".

I know that 27 grand is a small drop in the budget for WFISD but you and I pay our taxes and I just can't understand how somebody can sit on the board and dictate and vote on how our tax dollars will be spent while Reginald hasn't paid his for going on 10 years!

Good luck with any upcoming bond election!

Written on Council considers making big splash:

Not a good move unless the water park will only use treated waste water.
The glass is getting empty and that drink of water (non treated waste water) is going to be harder to come by. Don't waste good drinking water so it can be evaporated away in the hot dry winds of North Texas and on the bodies of Castaway Cove customers.

Written on WFISD extends school year:

What about upper classmen that want to attend Summer School at MSU? Summer school is short enough and missing the first week to watch movies in High School is pretty sad.

Written on Lasting Lake Wichita:

in response to Trapper:

tiredofliberals, we don't need no Lake Ringgold, we have a Reverse Osmosis water plant so we will never run out of water as long as we have Lake Kemp.

Lake Kemp is under 25%. I call that pretty much dry.
Here is up to date lake levels for Kemp:

The City's combined lake levels don't include Lake Kemp that is why they have been pulling water out of it more than Arrowhead and Kickapoo.

Written on WFISD school year calendar debated:

Am I understanding that "In 2013, EOC tests will involve ninth- and 10th-graders" but K-9 and 11 and 12th graders which aren't effected by EOC have to watch movies for the last week of school while 9th and 10th graders wait for results?
Both Board members Payton and Wolfe expressed that their own children spend the last weeks of school watching movies. To quote Bob Payton "There's far too much Redbox rented during that time."
I agree!

Written on City to take on more mowing:

in response to Wichita_Willie:



I understand that the city takes care of the traffic signals on TxDOT row such as on Southwest Parkway (FM 369) and other TxDOT controlled roadways but those light poles on a US Highway and now we are mowing US and State ROW within the City?
Are any other towns about our size having the same thing happening to them from TxDOT?

Written on City to take on more mowing:

in response to Wichita_Willie:

I'm not sure what is going on here between the City and TXDOT. First the city wanted to start mowing for the state and federal highways. Then Adele Lewis with TXDOT let it out that the reason that all those high light poles were being replaced where Henry Grace Freeway meets 287 is so that it would be easier for the city when they start maintaining the lights this year.

Both examples are clearly TXDOT operations, so why is it that our city taxes are now being raised to pay for the city to maintain something that clearly isn't city business?

There's "mower" to this than the City and TXDOT are letting on.

Move the light poles for mowers? It would have been cheaper and less work to simply move planet earth :-)
The only way that I could see that this would be an issue if the light poles where placed too close to the highway and the mower stuck out too far.
That isn't the case. The new light poles are pretty much the same distance from the highway as before.
I think this is just another example of "quick spend all this money we have left over in the budget because if we don't we won't get that much next year" spending.
I would love to see a Federal, State and City governments reward someone who doesn't spend all their budget but aren't shortened the following year.

Written on Vernon issue is put on hold:

in response to Wichita_Willie:

So why would the Vernon ISD first contact the Wichita County Sheriff's Office? Even if the alleged suspect was in the hospital here, you would have contacted the Wilbarger SO first since that where the "issue" took place.

According to her facebook she lives in Electra, which is in Wichita County.

Written on Council keeps Dumpsters:

in response to sunny:

I guess I just don't understand why the big objection to curbside pickup. It is pretty darn easy to empty my trash from the kitchen to the container in the garage and then twice a week WHEEL it to the curb. I have heard complaints about the older people not being able to do that. My mom was 84 yrs. old and didn't have a problem. Would have been harder for her to walk down the ally with a big bag a trash than it is to WHEEL it to the curb. Would someone please explain this to me?

If the size of the container is an issue you can call the city and they will bring out a smaller one. In our neighborhood there is a lady in her late 80s early 90s that has no problem wheeling her container to the curb.

Written on Water leak's bill punishes family:

in response to awells33:

"Grace Ministries reviewed their case and requested that Times Charities help with the water repairs and their past-due rent". They did get help with repairs.

Thanks, I over looked that important part.

Written on Water leak's bill punishes family:

Great that Grace Ministries in Burkburnett was there to help this family out. But did that fix the problem with a landlord that fails to fix the leak that caused a high water bill?
What is going to happen next month?
This family needs to move out, now!
The owner of this home needs to be mentioned in this article so other will not rent from him.
Once again very happy that someone is there to help with this family, to help pay the past due rent and very high water bill but did that fix the problem? What about December water bill? Will Grace Ministries in Burkburnett be there again?

Written on Letter to the Editor: Doesn't seem fair:

in response to jetjocky:

I have spoken with my councilman and gotten some figures on why it costs more to do the dumpsters. First, separate hydraulic maintenance is required as the dumpster trucks are significantly different from the plastic can trucks. In addition, due to design differences between the two trucks the dumpster trucks must make 4 times as many trips to unload for eqivalent loads of trash from the plastic can trucks. It has to do with the ability to compact the trash in the truck. Extra trips means more fuel, more labor time and longer to do the equivalent trash hauling. Thus, it is more expensive to operate the dumpster trucks.

As to Mr. Fallis' claim about fairness, what is fair about charging those with plastic cans more so that those with dumpsters get a break. When the plastic cans were introduced I imagine that the reduction of $2 reflected the reduced cost of operation, as I noted above. It costs what it costs Mr. Fallis so get a plastic can or pay the $3.

I doubt sir you have the complete history and your comments seem to be a bit prejudiced. The city has done a very poor job of making its case for this project as well as many others. The city staff and council desparately need to learn to communicate with the citizens in more ways than at council meetings. The failure to communicate does not alter the fact that it costs more to do dumpsters.

Also besides the compaction difference the alley trucks are smaller than the curbside.

Written on Man goes on without water:



Written on WFISD reviews plans to recycle:

WFISD look very closely at that savings over the long term. Companies often offer great deals at cost or even at a loss but make it up at the last years of the contract.
Here is a thought, instead of the board and others researching this money saving venture why don't they go after the folks that haven't paid their required school taxes?
The WFSID board will not have to look very far nor dig deep into the tax office to find this "non tax payer". All they would need to do is look across the table at their fellow school board member and past president.

Written on Letter to the Editor: Water in short supply:

in response to Trapper:

Someone has misinformed you. Since the City of Wichita built a dam across the river that supplied the City of Henrietta with it's water, WF is obligated to release a certain amount of water a year for the City of Henrietta. Due to the rains that have fallen this year, I don't know if Henrietta has even requested any water release, but if they do WF has no option but to release it.

You are correct about Henrietta and the agreement with WF and the Little Wichita River.

Written on Letter to the Editor: Water in short supply:

in response to Trapper:

When did Henrietta start using Wichita Falls water?

Don't know when but it is my understanding that they purchase untreated raw water from WF.

Written on Letter to the Editor: Water in short supply:

Lake Ringgold!
This project would take many years but is about the only thing WF has before we run out of water.
Short term WF needs to limit the amount of water that is sold to all the other cities and water districts. WF water is being used from Electra to Henrietta and south clear to Olney.
To address the issue of damming Holliday Creek, not a bad idea but I think it would be a small amount of water that this City and surrounding area uses. If it is used I would say not to pump it all the way back to the lakes but pump it directly to the treatment plants and thus mix it with our other sources of water Lake Arrowhead, Kickapoo and Kemp.

Written on Manager approved for airport construction:

"a more comprehensive and integrated baggage handling system."

Just curious, but what is this? SPS (Wichita Falls Municipal Airport) is either the end of your flight or the start of your flight, with all flights going to DFW.
A Plane comes in and the baggage is unloaded and goes to one place, luggage pick up.
A plane is leaving it is tagged at the ticket counter with the appropriate airport code and is run though security and loaded on the only plane on the tarmac. What comprehensive and integrated baggage handling system is needed for that?

Written on Approval needed for cell tower:

As for MSUPD / City of Wichita Falls...follow the money. It is a win win for the City with allowing MSUPD to write tickets around MSU. MSU increase their ticket writing income. The City gets money from those tickets being written with "court cost" / "service fee".
MSUPD has 17 people on staff and the payroll* pays the Chief of Police $90,000 and a Sergeant $41,181 and the 15 other folks wages vary from $18,696 to under $40,000.

What bothers me is that there is no set limits on where MSUPD has jurisdiction. It states "neighborhood". MSU has lots of students on the otherside of Southwest Parkway does that include their "neighborhood"?
Folks you better slow down if you live in the western hemisphere and North of the equator MSUPD is out and has a payroll over half a million dollars per year and writting parking tickets and speeding tickets within MSU isn't paying the bills.

Written on Deans' plan draws debate:

"It was not clear in Thursday's discussion who the "higher-paid administrators" were, how many there were, or if that group included the president, his vice presidents or various directors and managers."

MSU and TRN here you go as of 1/13/2012

Written on WFISD board tackles key issues:

in response to wduran#288936:

Hey guys, I agree with the Blow situation. He will get his. Nobody messes with the IRS. It's all protocol. But the main story is Fossards' ideas and aggressiveness with WFISD! I think we need to give the city and the Board members some credit. This Fossard guy ain't playing. He wants to shape up WFISD. The last guy's so called best plan was to charge fees for a radio. Let's all step back and think about the real problems. It's our public school system. And hopefully these new and aggressive plans point us back in the right direction.

It is my understanding that Blow is paid up with the IRS. It is his local taxes City, County and WFISD School taxes that he hasn't paid going back to 2003!
You pay your taxes, I pay my taxes but Mr. Blow can sit on the board and spend our tax dollars while he hasn't paid his for 10 years?
I fully support Dr. Fossard and the way he is addressing WFISD problems. The first problem that needs to be addressed however, is to have Mr. Blow pay his back City, County and WFISD taxes. Is it right that a person can sit and vote on how our tax dollars will be spent while he owes those very students and citizens he sits on the board to represent?

Written on WFISD board tackles key issues:

Good luck with the upcoming bond election! The WFISD board past President and STILL school member, Reginald Blow still owes back taxes including those that belong to WFISD going back to 2003. Mr. Blow also owes Xerox and Cannon well over $50,000 for failure to pay.
And you want me and others to vote for a bond in an upcoming election?
I will vote for this when Reginald Blow pays his back taxes and is no longer on the board. I find the issue of having someone that has a say in how my tax dollars are spent when he hasn't paid his. Reginald thoughts on this matter on an increase of taxes, "sure it doesn't effect me. I don't pay taxes". The day Reginald stop paying taxes in 2003, children in the first grade are now looking to graduate from WFISD schools. That is too long! His properties need to be sold on the court house steps this afternoon!

Written on Secession talk draws skeptics:

Not in agreement with the thought of secession but I thought Texas has in their constitution that they could leave the United States going back to when Texas was an independent country before they were adopted into the union and before the Civil War.
Any Texas History / Texas political science folks want to weigh in?

Written on MSU hosts debate on marijuana use:

What concerns me is the criminal element of the sellers of "legal" marijuana in CO and WA. Were is the inventory going to come from that is going to be sold? Is it marijuana that was grown by the drug cartel or organized criminal organizations and illegally transported into the US?
If not and it is grown under strict regs in CO and WA then tax the 4ell out of it and sell it (with more tax) to users in those states that voted to do so.

Written on City, police face suit:

in response to blueline:

The Police dont wait to shoot back, you got a rifle or handgun your probably getting shot. Anyone knows the person that fires the second shot loses if he gets to fire the second shot. This is crap. All about money. It takes a micro second for someone to raise that firearm and pull the trigger. Sorry the guy had to die but I am more happy the officers lived. Shame on the attorney trying to milk a cash settlement out of this. Maybe lawyers should carry guns so they can do the job and make split second decisions. Nope too easy for them to Monday morning quarterback !!!! IDIOTS !!!!!!!!!!!

Couldn't have said it any better.
The only person that wins is the Lawyers. The legal team for this poor soul that is dead is making money from his family that is wanting "justice".
Sorry to tell you but he had a gun, steps out of the car with the gun, cops fired, he is dead and the police officers get to go home instead of the Chief of Police having to go to deliver the message to his wife that he died on duty.
Sorry for your loss and sorry that you were talked into getting legal advice to take this to court so some lawyers can make Mercedes payments.

Written on Smyth edges out Murdock as tax assessor:

in response to outhousepoet:



Guess it's not over
'till it's over.

Next it will be ballot manipulation.

Yes, budadean -- "Let it go..."

Bottom line,
does it really matter who the "head taxman-in-charge is?"

Remember to pay your taxes in a timely manner before February or you will be levied with a fine. That Blows man!



That isn't a dig toward Reginald Blow is it? He still owes taxes going back 10 years, taxes including WFISD in which he was the past president and still current board member.

Written on Our Opinion: Your vote is your choice:

TRN endorsement has no weight at all. They endorsed Reginald Blow to be reelected to the WFISD school board although he owes back taxes going back 10 years, doesn't live in the district he is elected to and has judgements against him for failure of payments to Cannon and Xerox.
And I and other voters will take their endorsement (if they had one) to the voting booth for this national election?
TRN you made the right choice in not having an endorsement because your past history of endorsement aren't very impressive.

Written on Rule blocks ISD, media:

I agree with the policy that WFISD has in place.

Written on Tax assessor faces competition:

in response to jetjocky:

My family and I are fairly new to WF so we really don't know the old politics and frankly don't care. I had a question on the valution of my home and received friendly, courteous and knowledgable assistance. My questions were answered fully, a representative of the office came out and remeasured my home to find there was an error. Within days it was corrected. Thanks to the leadership of Lou I am a very satisfied customer.

Lou has my vote.

Home valuations are set and handled by Wichita Appraisal District. Wichita County Tax office collects those taxes as well as car tags.

Written on Our Opinion: TRN editorial board endorses ...:

And I am and other voters are to take the TRN Editoral Board recommendations? Less than 6 months ago they endorsed the "Good" Rev. Reginald Blow to be reelected to the WFISD School Board even though he was back on his taxes (including those he serves for, WFISD) since 2003.

Written on Council tables conversion to curbside carts:

in response to KellWest:

Once again Tim Ingle is offering vague shallow solutions to problems.

We should explore "other options". What does that mean? What specific ideas do you have to solve this problem.

Another example. A few weeks back he voted against the budget and offered no counter-proposal. Again, what specifically would you have cut to balance the city's budget? A no vote is a cop-out when you offer no specific alternative.

What a panderer.

"Mayor Glenn Barham announced a survey would be conducted for Dumpster customers to see if they would be willing to pay an extra amount to keep their Dumpsters"

I am sure Ingle, Pope and the rest of the City Council failure to act on what is suggested is going to cost someone. That cost would be in higher trash rates or what about this "survey" that is mentioned in the paper. What is that going to cost?
Come on Council "grow a pair" and vote right or wrong make a choice and move on.

Written on Council tables conversion to curbside carts:

in response to Freethinker:

I don't have a dumpster. Or even an alley, for that matter. I just wonder why the city council called it "tabled" and not "defeated."

They have tabled it to go over other options which one includes you Freethinker. That option is increasing your curbside trash so that you will subsidize those alley dumpster customers (1/3 of all the WF residentual trash customers) with an increase to YOUR trash rate! So it does effect you.

Written on WFISD to stick with 'choice':

in response to Wichita_Willie:

Just because a family chooses to attend school at their "choice" school is no reason to feel that the WFISD is now somehow obligated to provide free transportation for them. One has nothing to do with the other.

If someone lives out by Rider, but chooses to attend Hirschi, I hardly see where it is the WFISD and tax payers responsibility to pay for their transportation. What we have needed here for decades is a school district that was willing to inform parents and students that if you make a decision to go to school six miles away, that it's now your responsibility to go the extra six miles.

This is a no brainer, yet here we are already in the 2012-2013 school year and we are still shelling out the big bucks to provide transportation to students who decided to not attend their neighborhood schools. No wonder the district is broke.

I agree!
WFISD provides bus service to YOUR school. If you choose to attend a different school, great but it is your responsibility to get your child to that school.

Written on Council tables conversion to curbside carts:

in response to Lizzie:

As a curbside customer every dollar added to my bill is offensive to me. I have a job and have to work daily to pay my bills, so I was unable to "pack" city hall. I understand the plight of SOME older customers who have trouble with curbside, but this city has money woes and we ALL need to work together to lower costs. Added to that dumpsters are a HUGE eyesore. They are battered, germ ridden, and the area around them is unkept by the same people who are fighting to keep them. IF the dumpsters are retained I will go on record as vehemently opposed to money added to my utility bill so some can keep their eyesores. I would be willing to take the day off to "pack" the city hall to protest my having to pay more because "some" don't like the trash cans and taking time to roll them to the curb. Are we a community working together, or individuals wh want it "their way"?

I agree!
The majority (2/3) of trash customers shouldn't have to pay for the wants and needs of the 1/3 (alley customers)!
I am telling you once you go to the curbside you will be so glad to get rid of that nasty, stinky, water catching, rat living, cat eating, maggot filled alley dumpster!

Written on Letter to the Editor: Wants curbside:

Also I would point out for the folks that think that they can't roll the trash out to the curb. The city has a very small one, just ask for it. Another note if you are that feeble and can't roll a small cart to the curb how are you able to lift those large alley dumpsters lids. I am fit and I have a hard time to lift those and besides, they stink and are nasty. Since I have a roll out if it gets nasty I can easily clean it out.
And as stated in the paper if the city keeps the alley dumpsters they will be facing a raise in trash rates just short of $20 a month. The other option is an increase to all trash users including the current curbside. If the City Council is hearing some arguments over these alley dumpster customers they haven't heard anything yet if the other 2/3 of the city are faced with an increase of rates due to the other 1/3 (alley dumpsters) that want to keep there current trash type collection.

Written on No pay raise for WFISD employees:

in response to cafemom:

Wow!!!!! Child Nutrition workers are stuck out again!!!!!! We are the ones suffering!!! Working our tails off for nothing....smh

To quote Bill Clinton "I feel your pain". I am sure that lunch ladies will get a raise when a certain school board member pays his back taxes going back 10 years.
Dr. Fro has a hard road and hard choices to make. Please hang in there better times will come once our schools are on better financial ground. Many years of bad management has caused this mess and it will take some time to fix it.

Written on Buss: Thanks for the memories, Josh:

"The Rangers may beat the Orioles tonight, but I'll eat an old catcher's mitt if they make it to the series again."

It is a long shot if they make it to the World Series but lets hope.
Do you like that old catchers mitt grilled, fried or baked? I can't wait to go to Kocks Liquor Store on Kemp and ask them what wine do they recomend that goes with old catcher's mitt?
Either way it is a winner for me...Rangers in the World Series and you get the recommend daily amount of catcher's mitt in your diet.

Written on Letter to the editor: Dumpster confusion:

in response to Freethinker:

They spent all that money on a new scoreboard and sod at the stadium.

And what does the City alley dumpsters have to do with WFISD (Wichita Falls Independant School District) scoreboard and artificial turf?

Written on School finance ratings high:

"FIRST was designed as a way for districts to let their constituents — parents and taxpayers — see that they're meeting the highest financial standards and that they're following a system of transparent and open financial reporting," said DeEtta Culbertson, TEA spokesperson, Wednesday.
"Much as we have academic accountability, this is a financial accountability."

"meeting the highest financial standards"...really? The WFISD past president and STILL current WFISD school board member Reginald Blow still owes back taxes going back to 2003 and WFISD gets the top billing of "Superior"? Really?

The accountability worksheet monitors a district's fund balance, its annual report disclosures and timely filing, tax collections, budgeting and financed projects.

"tax collections"...please see above statement.

What about the recent 2 million dollar short fall? What about WFISD $300,000 purchase of a score board? And they get a "Superior" rating? I would hate to see "poor" rated school district. I would assume to get a poor rating a school board member wouldn't pay his taxes (including school taxes) going back for over 10 years...boy I am glad I don't live and pay taxes within that school district...oh poop I do :-(

Written on Our opinion: Reduction in services peeves some Wichitans:

For the folks that can't handle the normal larger roll out carts the city has smaller ones. A person in our neighborhood (just shy of 90) has one and it is very tiny and she doesn't have any problem rolling it to the curb for pick up.

Written on Curbside decision collects ire:

Do you remember before the curbside (city supplied) roll out carts? Remember supplying your own garbage cans dragging them to the curb along with the bags of trash? Get them out too early and the dogs drug it across the neighborhood get it out too late and miss the truck?
Believe it or not even that change from your own supplied cans to city supplied roll out carts peopled complained. People in this town 6itch about everything.
Only 9,000 customers are effected. 9,000 customers that will have their bill reduced. 9,000 customers that will not have to have a smelly dumpster in their alley.
Have you priced diesel lately?
This only makes economic sense with the city having one type of residential truck. Even in the neighborhood that were being served by alley trash service their is some customers that do not have access to the alley that already had curbside trash (mostly on corners).
Your curbside cart is coming. Enjoy it and enjoy the reduced trash rate on your bill.