According to Peggy Walker, finance director for the city, the city had previously planned to follow the commissioners court's lead in the matter, matching whatever donation the court decided to make.

“We looked at this during the last council meeting, but the original intent had been to mirror whatever amount the county put in,” said Walker. “They in fact decided not to fund any portion of this committee's costs. They decided that because it is a federal census, the federal government should pick up any costs associated with the census.”

The commissioners court effectively rejected the request Monday by taking no action.

Tuesday, Mayor Russ McEwen asked for a clarification of what the money would be intended for.

“The logic behind this would be to do some type of advertising or public relations?” McEwen asked.

Walker confirmed McEwen's belief, saying the return on their investment wouldn't likely help the city draw more grant money.

“It would involve an all-out, county-wide promotion of the census. There are some people that are, for whatever reason, just afraid of the census,” said Walker. “They were going to give away promotional materials, such as clips, magnets, pens, as well as do some advertising with the radio (stations) and newspaper. They want to get the word out to everyone. And it's (the census) certainly important when you look at funding for certain projects through different state and federal agencies.

“The higher your population is, you reach certain benchmarks when looking at guaranteed funding. It's certainly important to our county to have a complete count, or as complete as possible. Whether it would actually encourage anyone to respond to the census that wouldn't normally, I don't know. Generally, the benchmark is 25,000 and then 50,000 people,” she added. “We're not going to get our count up to 50,000.”

Councilwoman Gloria McDonald said she doubts an increase in advertising and promoting would solve the common problems with the census.

“The people we need to touch are not the people, certainly, advertising is one of the strong points for,” said McDonald.

The council allowed the agenda item to die for a lack of a motion to approve.

Also during the meeting, the council approved:

• Emergency reading of an ordinance that would change the name of Comanche Trail Park's Starlight Drive to San Miguel Del Alto Avenue, in observance of the city's recent agreement to become a sister city of the Mexican municipality. The ordinance was made an emergency item to have the change made in time for the sister city's delegates visit, which is expected to be July 1 through the Pops in the Park celebration, set for July 3.

• An agreement between the Big Spring Economic Development Corporation and Three Chairs Consulting, doing business as Peer Group Consulting. The agreement would provide the Big Spring EDC with services including marketing, public relations and Web site consulting. The contract will cost the government entity $115,000 for a one-year contract.

• An agreement between the city and the Settles Hotel Development Company for a $20,000 economic development incentive to purchase and rehabilitate property near the Settles Hotel. According to city records, the property SHDC is considering is the west 75 feet of Lots 7 and 8, Block 14, Original Town of Big Spring. As part of the agreement, SHDC would agree to rehabilitate the property so that it no longer is a substandard building pursuant to the city's Structural Standards Code within three years of the purchase.

City Attorney Linda Sjogren said the agreement was actually approved back in November, but slow negotiations between SHDC and the property owners made it necessary to re-approve the measure now that the property has been acquired by the company.

Contact Staff Writer Thomas Jenkins at 263-7331 ext. 232 or by e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it