NEWS
Petitions verified for Tier 2 election
Organizers of the Tier 2 petition against forced annexation turned in all their signatures reaching the goal needed to request an election from the Montague County Commissioner’s Court.
That petition will be discussed in a called meeting of the court at 1 p.m. on Feb. 15.
County Elections Administrator Ginger Wall said the group submitted all its petitions late last week shooting for 1,340 verifiable signatures of county voters. Wall said they surpassed that number with more than 1,350.
The petition ask the court to place the issue of moving from a Tier 1 county to a Tier 2 county on the May 4 election ballot.
The drive was spearheaded by Montague Citizens Protecting Property Rights and referred to Senate Bill 6, approved during the 85th Legislature and going into effect Dec. 1, 2017.
The bill requires landowner or voter approval of annexations in the state’s largest counties (Tier 2 – those with 500,000 or more in population).
Smaller counties less than 500,000 are Tier 1, and can opt-in to the bill through a petition and election process which would move them into Tier 2 status.
If approved where any potential involuntary annexation would have to be voted upon by the area in question. Without a change in tier status, the annexation process would remain unchanged.
Last November voters in Wise, Parker, Palo Pinto, Johnson, Freestone and Atascosa approved the measure moving from a Tier 1 to Tier 2 county in Texas.
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
A public hearing has been scheduled for 9:45 a.m. on May 28 for the Montague County Commissioner’s Court to present the updated subdivision regulations that have been in the works for several months.
That date was set during Monday’s court session, where a development officer also was named and a state-required notice was approved. The 89-page draft of the subdivision regulations are available on the county website co.montague.tx.us/page/montague.home.
It was August 2019 when the regulations were adopted by the commissioners after much debate among water well drillers, groundwater district staff and directors, realtors and land developers.
During those original discussions water issues lead the way as many counties especially around heavily populated urban areas are experiencing water shortages and possible contamination due to an inadequate number of houses and wells or even the use of a public water system in the rural areas.
Charley Lanier, who has been working as a grant officer for the county, was named to be the subdivision development officer. After a brief 10-minute executive session, the court named Lanier who they said would be the “initial contact” for all developers who will accept all paperwork and plats.
Read the full story in the mid-week Bowie News.
City of Bowie water and street crews repair a broken water line in the area of Walnut and Smythe last week, along with repairing a large pot hole in the same area. (Photo by Barbara Green)
Bowie Intermediate School students, staff and families enjoyed a “STAAR” Party on April 18 celebrating the hard work of all preparing for STAAR testing as well as other year’s successes. There were about 200 students and parents attending to enjoy the activities that included telescopes provided through the 3Rivers Foundation. It was a clear night perfect for star gazing, there also was an outdoor movie and other activities. (BIS courtesy photos)
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