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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (March 10, 1976)
Cbe Battalion Vol. 68 No. 89 College Station, Texas Wednesday, Mar. 10, 1976 trictly adhering to zoning laws By JIM PETERS Battalion City Editor race for Place 2 on the College Sta- ICity Council features two candidates I conflicting ideas on land use policy, e Stephenson, 40, is challenging in- junr ent councilman Homer Adams in the P,)i JOS S5.SS i515 Lane Stephenson April 3 election on the grounds that Adams has “frequently voted against the interests of landowners. ” Associate director of the Texas A&M University News Service, Stephenson said his primary concern is for strict adherence to zoning regulations. “Any zoning changes for which I vote will have to be clearly beneficial overall and have the overwhelming support of sur rounding property owners.” Stephenson, who lives at 1202 Dominik Street, was an active remonstrator during the controversial Seaback rezoning issue last year. The city council had rezoned some land behind Dominik Street residences from single family residential to apartment building district over the objections of sev eral hundred residents. The council later overturned its decision by declaring the rezoned area “questiona ble” for building purposes. Houston land developer Harry Seaback subsequently has never filed for building permits for his pro posed apartment complex. A resident of College Station for ten years, Stephenson also called for stronger enforcement of existing building codes. “I understand there are a lot of problems with cheap construction of some of the apartment complexes,” Stephenson said. He also cited what he called the “city’s versus Resolving utilities question poor record” on the issue of parkland dedi cation. The city requires that apartment de velopers donate one acre of “parkland” per 133 dwelling units constructed. T’m not against apartments, Tm against some of the particular locations of apart ments, ” Stephenson said. A graduate of North Texas State Univer sity, he is a member of the city’s recreation council and the Capital Improvements Committee. He was Councilman Bob Bell’s campaign manager last year. The Capital Improvements Committee is drafting a $5 million city bond issue which will be presented to the voters later this year. “It will require more taxes, ” Stephenson admitted, “but there are things we have to have. ” The issue will include ten proposals to be voted on separately by the voters. The biggest proposal would provide $2.7 million for sewer, water and electrical dis tribution for the utility system. Another proposal would provide $1.1 million for the expansion of the city hall, police station, fire station and city warehouse. Other pro posals would provide for street and park improvements. Stephenson’s opponent. Councilman Homer Adams, also expressed concerned about the bond issue. “We’ve got to do something soon or it will stymie our growth,” Adams said of the overcrowded city facilities. The two-term incumbent had earlier talked of not filing for re-election this year. But with four other council positions up for re-election Adams said he “had to do some rethinking. It takes awhile to learn what’s going on and I feel we need some con tinuity.” Adams has been a College Station resi dent since 1941 when he entered A&M. He is owner of Adams Transfer and Storage Company. The 52-year-old councilman also said he would like to stay on the council to help resolve the utility question. College Sta tion is presently renegotiating the terms of its utilities contract with the city of Bryan. “The main thing is to decide whether we re going with our own system or con tinuing with Bryan,” Adams said. Other areas of concern, he said, are the increasing traffic and parking problems and the lack of intercity transportation. “The shuttle bus system that A&M has is the way to go,” Adams suggested. A former A&M accounting professor, Adams criticized those urging stricter de velopmental controls as “crybabies.” “They don’t want anything in their end of town. They want it in my end of town (205 Timber in South College Station,)” Adams said. Referring to parkland advocates, Adams said, “Some want a lot of green spaces but you don’t see them personally owning them, do you? They want utopia, but they want their neighbor to have the cash for it. “Parks are nice but if business wants to come they should be able to if it doesn’t interfere with residential property,” Adams said. mmm Homer Adams School board hopefuls debate issues Bandidates for the A&M Consolidated iool Board had their chance to perform ling a question and answer session held Consolidated High School last lit. meeting was sponsored by the Col- jgeStation Education Association (CSEA) Bcquaint the candidates with the school ■riot’s teachers. All 11 candidates, ex- ■tWilliam Fitch, attended the meeting. Most of the questions centered on the posed $6.4 million school bond issue |ch will appear on the Apiil 3 ballot. A liar bond issue was narrowly defeated |t November. Jls. Sue Ashburn, president of the KA, asked the candidates, if they were loragainst the bond issue. Tbe majority lecandidates favored it, although three lividuals expressed reservations. ■ 1 voted yes for the proposed issue, said Lambert Wilkes. “However I will not work actively for it. I feel, as I said to the board, that it should be broken down into separate propositions.” Wilkes is the only incum bent among the candidates. George Boyett agreed with Wilkes say ing, “It does not offer the taxpayer an op portunity to select those programs that he supports. ” Hoy Richards said, “I think a bond issue has two sides. One is an expense side, and one is a revenue side. I feel the homework has been done for the expense side, but I don’t feel it has been done for the revenue (bond proceeds) side. I can not support the bond issue until that homework has been done.” Ashburn said the teachers in CSEA have unanimously supported the proposed bond issue. Other questions asked of the candidates. and their responses, were: —If the bond election fails, would you follow through with another? The candidates were unanimously in favor of another bond issue provided one could be formulated in 30-60 days. Elliot Bray, a member of the Citizens Advisory Committee said, “Yes, I would be in favor of coming back with another bond election, but obviously if this one fails, I would think there would have to be some question if we wanted to come back with another. ” —If programs are cut, what programs would you cut? Helen Wilborn said, “That is a very bard question to answer because not many teachers of the community want to talk about cutting programs.” Fred Bouse said, “I can not give an an swer to this question at this time because I am sure it would require an in-depth study before a decision could be reached. ” Elizabeth Naugle, a strong advocate of PLACE 1 Elliot Bray Lambert Wilkes PLACE 2 George Boyett Roger Feldman Elizabeth Naugle Hoy Richards PLACE 4 Fred Bouse William Fitch Bruce Upham William Wason Helen Wilborn music, art and language programs said, “We have spent too much on competitive athletics and if something has to go that’s it.” —How do you feel about spending tax payer’s money? Bouse had the quote of the evening when he said, “I have been spending taxpayer’s money all of my professional life, and I would like to think that I have gotten the maximum out of it. ” Bouse is an agriculture engineer. —What do you feel is a good classroom size? The candidates said at the elementary level there should be a classroom size about 18 to 20 people. As the students grow older then the classroom size can be larger. Bruce Ujiham, a sophomore at Texas A&M said, “I think a class situation where there is little communication between the teacher and the student can be larger. Where there is greater classroom feedback, such as math, then it should be smaller. —How do you feel about corporal punishment? Tbe general consensus of the candidates; was that it should be used only as a last resort. They said they felt the teacher needed this measure of punishment avail able in order to maintain discipline. Wilborn disagreed with this approach. She said, “I am in favor of punishment, yet whenever I hear the words corporal punishment I think of inflicting pain. I think that if the teacher deals with the prob lem, and makes the student do what they are supposed to do without paddling, then I think you will come out much better. ” Places 1 and 2 on the school board are three-year terms, and place 4 is a one-year term. — Paul Arnett Respite no opposition Bravenec says he will actively campaign jUnopposed College Station mayoral Ipdidate Larry Bravenec says he intends loconduct his campaign as if he had an ■ponent. ■ I’m going to try to talk to as many people as I can,” the 40-year-old Texas A&M ac- wunting professor said yesterday. [ I have an unorthodox view of politics indcampaigning,” he said. “1 feel that a litician should be an ordinary citizen. ■City Councilman Bob Bell earlier had Jedfor the mayor’s race, but withdrew an lour before the filing deadline. This left ■avenec alone in the race. ■Bravenec said he would rather have an Opponent but that being unopposed has left I’kim with an extra month to get organized for his duties as mayor. ■“What I’m doing now is planning for after peelection,” he said. ■Bravenec has supported strict enforce- penl of parkland dedication requirements aid strong developme ntal control s. H e also Ivors a bike path system, a first-class am- Jance service and construction of a corn- unity center. Bravenec has become known among luncilmen as a man who carefully weighs a tuation before making a decision. He has a law degree from the University Students told to look elsewhere I The Housing Office has notified 2,500 flew students that there will be no housing available for them on campus during the fall mester. Chances of living on-campus are slim, Mess you are already in a dorm or have had your name on the long waiting list, said jplenn Jennings, assistant director for stu- lent affairs- housing. The recent trend is or the student to live on campus he said hut that this situation could change | Because of this possibility, Jennings said thatthere are no plans in the near future for lew dorms. University officials are expecting an en- Mment of 27,500 by 1979 and Dr. John J. Mdus, vice-president for student ser- dces, said last year that he feels it will be up lo the private housing industry to build daces for the additional students. The office of student affairs helps stu dents find a place to say and a roommate. It is located in rooms 103 and 108 of the VMCA building. of Texas and a master of law degree from New York University. In his announcement for mayor Bravenec said, “The mayor should provide leadership to the city council and to the city administration. The position is an ex tremely important and sensitive one at a time when College Station is experiencing unparalleled growth, when new land de velopment is commonplace and when re- zoning requests are frequent,” he said in his announcement for mayor. He has served as a College Station coun cilman for the past two years. He was elected to a one-year term in April 1974 and a two-year term in April 1975. He resigned his post as councilman, effective March 31, to run for mayor. Bravenec said he has never had any polit ical ambitions but became interested in politics because he had an uncle in Burle son County who was county judge. “He was a man of high ideals, and I al ways respected him,” Bravenec said. Asked if he has any plans to pursue a political career, Bravenec said “Who? Me?” He said that after serving as mayor, he plans to retire into private life or seek a council position. On election night last year, when Bravenec won a bid for councilman, he spent the evening moving bees. “I have a few beehives, and I felt like getting away to myself for awhile, so I moved bees,” he said. >r . ** Keep on hikin' Photo courtesy of John Oswald Cyclists in the Primavera Road Race March 7 in Austin were ham pered by rain and cold. A&M was represented in the race by members of the A&M Wheelmen. Jerry Anderson from A&M fin ished eighth in the Senior Men 2 class. Myron Gerhard, Wheelmen president, finished tenth in class 4 event. The races covered a 40 mile course. Some riders averaged 23 to 24 miles per hour despite the rain. The racing team will be university funded next year. Index Jill Courtwright teaches belly dancing to women age 11 to 55. Page 4A. The Hearst trial became a scene of verbal battle that soon left Patty’s case of only secondary importance. Page 4A. Speleological Society explores caves at high physical risk. Page 6B. First women in A&M history will receive degrees in forestry. Page 8A. THE FORECAST for Wed nesday and Thursday is contin ued partly cloudy and mild. High today 72; low tonight 52; high Thursday 76. Council to hear transit request A request for a permit to operate a bus service in College Station is on the agenda for the city council meeting Thursday night. College Station City Manager North Bardell said Tom Bass, of Cameron, wants to run a bus between Bryan and College Station. The Bryan City Council yesterday turned down a request by Bass for a similar permit in Bryan. The Bryan council ap proved a permit request for Roy Ellis of Bryan. Ellis said he will make a similar request for a bus service permit to the College Sta tion City Council later this month. He has a 48-passenger bus ready for use. Ellis said his bus service can be opera tional within 10 days after approval by the College Station City Council. “I will make a survey to determine where the needs of the community are,” Ellis said. “I will probably run an advertisement beginning tomorrow to poll those who are interested in alternate transportation.” Also on the agenda for consideration by the council is a proposed bicycle path plan which must be approved by the council to receive federal funds. The plan was created by the city’s plan ning department and the Texas Highway Department. The League of Women Vot ers was instrumental in obtaining informa tion used to prepare the plan.