Pump Jacks ready for second season

With one season under their belt, the East Texas Pump Jacks finished their inaugural season at Driller Park. The pressing question was: Would they be back?

Jody Clements, superintendent of Kilgore Independent School District, and the KISD board of trustees heard from Mike Lieberman, general manager for the team, during Monday night's board meeting.

Lieberman's presentation included a rundown of the season, including the fact that Stan Phelps, Pump Jacks head coach, was named Texas Collegiate League Coach of the Year award.

He talked about individual players and said recruiting is well underway for next season.

"We brought in fans not just from Kilgore, but from Longview, Tyler, Henderson, Marshall and beyond," said Lieberman.

The Pump Jacks employed more then 60 people over the course of the season, according to Lieberman.

Clements said the union between the Pump Jacks organization and KISD got off to a rough start but, through meetings over the weeks since the season ended, strides have been made to rectify many problems.

"All the problems have been worked out except the deck," said Clements. "The deck, which was supposed to be put in for the Pump Jacks season, still sits unfinished. It is crucial for the deck to be finished prior to KISD starting its season in February."

Clements said Lieberman has guaranteed the deck will be completed before the start of Bulldogs baseball.

Revard Pfeffer, business manager for KISD, said he was provided a list of Driller Park improvement costs from Lieberman.

"As part of the contract, the Pump Jacks organization must make $30,000 of park improvements during the course of the three-year contract," said Pfeffer.

According to Lieberman, $3,251.69 was spent on the ticket booth, deck material costs totalled $12,112.51, electrical work cost $2,000, and concession electric repair was $149.81, for a grand total of $17,514.01.Pfeffer said all of these costs would have to be verified.

The Pump Jacks' next season will begin on June 1, 2009, and Lieberman said ticket sales have already begun. Clements said the Pump Jacks organization is already preparing to hire a more qualified groundskeeper for the upcoming season, as well.

In other business, Pfeffer brought numbers to the board showing the progress that has been made after granting 14 businesses Freeport exemptions in 2007.

"Each of these companies agreed to keep paying KISD the tax money the district would lose until values rose enough to offset the loss," said Pfeffer. "The start was $79 million in 2007 and needed to be $108 million in 2008, but the increase in values has already increased to $525 million, offsetting any loss KISD would have for granting the Freeport exemption for these companies."

Final numbers are also in on all five major construction projects recently finished at KISD, said Pfeffer.

The Chandler cafeteria project and the Agricultural Building were bid together for a estimated cost of $2,386,234. Chandler's final cost was $1,142,199 and the ag building was $1,156,933. The two projects came in under cost by $87,000, Pfeffer said.

He said three other major construction projects included the academic addition at Kilgore High School, boys' dressing rooms and an indoor practice facility (IPF).

"These three jobs were estimated together for a cost of $4,956,867," said Pfeffer. "The final cost for the academic addition was $3,347,504.96, the dressing rooms $225,755.18 and the IPF $1,217,369.08, for a total of $4,710,629.22, coming in at almost $246,000 under the estimated cost.

Costs incurred for these projects not included in the original estimates were office and classroom furniture, padding for the IPF, technology in the classroom wing, Chandler furniture and equipment, Chandler cafe AV system, Chandler cafe equipment, ag building furniture, equipment and a compressor. These costs totaled $253,931.12, said Pfeffer.

With new state regulations now out by the Texas Teachers Administration regarding KISD's 403(b) plan document, teachers and administrators will be forced to make some tough choices during the next month and a half.

Bobby Wheeley, assistant superintendent for KISD, said meetings will be held all this week at each campus to inform teachers and administrators regarding what companies are on the approved list for retirement funds.

"At this time, KISD has about 33 employees that need to change their 403(b) program, or have those companies sign an agreement with TEA," said Wheeley. "By signing this agreement it would require each company to agree to make their records available and they would have to pay an annual fee."

Pfeffer said one important question to be answered is if an employee has to switch companies, would that employee incur any penalties or interest for the change?

"Employees don't have to switch companies. They can start new plans or keep paying into the same one they have, the money just can't be directly deposited prior to taxes being taken out. It would have to be paid by the employee after," said Pfeffer. Employees have until Jan. 1, 2009, to make the transition.

Employees don't have to have a 403 (b) plan at all said Pfeffer, but district officials said they encourage all who are participating to stay with a plan.