The San Saba County Appraisal District held a public hearing on a proposed budget for the 2013 fiscal year and other items of business on Wednesday, July 25th at 8:30 a.m. in the City Council Chambers. County Commissioner, Rickey Lusty called the meeting to order and reported that Chief Appraiser, Randy Henderson, could not attend the meeting because of attending his uncle’s funeral. Thurman Saxton, RSISD, gave the invocation.Charlie Peeler, Alderman, City of San Saba, was welcomed to the Board of Directors, completing the term of Mayor Ken Jordan who resigned. Peeler was admin- istered the Oath of Office by Jan Vanderburg, Appraisal District Office Manager. Rickey Lusty was elected Board Chairman by acclamation. The following items were presented, discussed, or action taken:1. The Board approved the minutes of the May 23rd meeting.2. Jeff Garcia of Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson LLP, Houston, Texas, gave an update on the Colorado/San Saba Railway that has been in default of payments on taxes owed since 2008. On July 3rd, 2012 the Railway (for property in San Saba County) was scheduled to be auctioned for sale by the order of Sheriff Brown, at the Courthouse in San Saba, Texas. Ten minutes before the sale, the Railway declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The total value of the Railway is 24 1/2 million dollars and the debt is 3.6 million dollars (includes San Saba County and all other counties).3. Matt Thomas of Pictometry International Coop with headquarters in Rochester, NY, gave a proposal and video for the Pictometry EAP program. Aireal photos of San Saba County that show individual Oblique images, individual Ortho images, Mosaic Standard Tiles, Mosaic Area Wide Individual at 4" Nominal GSD or 9" GSD was presented. The aireal maps and images would be helpful to appraise property, locate an area/road, estimate the footage or miles, and locate certain features of the property such as all structures, doors, neighbors and etc. Pictometry can assist law enforcement, city, county and school departments in many ways. The pictometry proposal amount is $35,000 a year for three years - totalling $105,000.00. After discussion of the proposal, it was tabled to be voted on at the next meeting of the Board.4. The Board approved the 2011 audit presented by local CPA Kevin Shahan.5. The approval/disapproval of the 2013 proposed budget was tabled for the next Appraisal District Board meeting scheduled for Tuesday, August 14th at 8:30 a.m. in the San Saba City Council Chambers.Jan Vanderburg presented the Chief Appraisers report which included the following:a. The Market Value is down on homesteads in San Saba County.b. The water damage to the Appraisal District offices was contributed to a ball of foil stuck in the drain pipe on the roof when the new roof was being installed and plugged up the drain. The roofing company is accepting responsibility and will replace equipment, carpet and etc.c. September 15th is the deadline for the county budget.Chairman of the Board, Rickey Lusty, adjourned the meeting. Attending the meeting were Board members, Rickey Lusty, County Commissioner; Thurman Saxton, RSISD; Kim Kirk, SSISD; Devin Everett, Cherokee ISD; Charles Peeler, City of San Saba and San Saba County Appraisal District Office Manager, Jan Vanderburg. Also in attendance were: Cherokee ISD Superintendent, Chris Perry; San Saba ISD Superintendent, Leigh Ann Glaze; County Coordinator, Marsha Hardy; Kevin Shahan, CPA; County resident, Henry Warren; County Judge, Byron Theodosis; County Treasurer, Gayla Hawkins; County Com-missioner, Otis Judkins; and San Saba News & Star Reporter, Alice Smith.