NEWS
Bowie City Council meets on Monday night
The Bowie City Council will consider the second reading of the budget adoption ordinance and conduct the final public hearing on the proposed tax rate when it meets at 6 p.m. on Sept. 9.
After months of working on the budget the council approved its first reading at the Aug. 26 meeting.
This budget ordinance shows $8,251,643 in general fund allocations and $9,471,000 in the utility fund. The budget proposal includes several big ticket items.
There is a three percent pay raise for employees, a $700,000 loan that will be used to replace the 40-year-old fuel tanks ($250,000) at the airport and for a new UV system ($441,000) at the water plant replacing its 25-year-old system; and a fleet program to replace about a dozen vehicles across the city service at a cost of $108,000 a year projected to save the city about $133,000 in maintenance and purchase costs during the next three years.
A second public hearing on the proposed tax rate opens the agenda. The rate is offered at .5445 cents per $100 in property value compared to .5250 cents in 2018. The tax rate adoption is listed for its first reading in new business.
City Manager Bert Cunningham pointed out this tax rate increase is offset in the budget by a reduction in the small business commercial electric rate. For a customer with an average 2,000 kilowatt hours this will bring a reduction of about $14.40 per month and impact 656 meters in the system.
In new business an ordinance amending the subdivision rules will be examined. The planning and zoning commission has made a recommendation to make a change that relates to an owner conveying a portion of his land to an adjoining land owner in order to settle a boundary line discrepancy involving permanent structures which are encroached. The commission members believe this small change will expedite this process instead of requiring a full replat.
The final two items of new business is a resolution to nominate a candidate to the Montague County Tax Appraisal District Board and an ordinance amending the municipal budget for fiscal 2018-19 for specified funds, account and line item designations.
| AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) today encouraged Texans to take part in this year’s Emergency Supplies Sales Tax Holiday Weekend starting Saturday, April 27 through Monday, April 29. “Having emergency supplies on-hand is a critical part of being prepared for potential severe weather,” said Governor Abbott. “I encourage Texans across the state to stock up on supplies they might need in an emergency to protect themselves and their loved ones, such as first aid kits, flashlights, or hand-held fire extinguishers.” Signed into law by Governor Abbott in 2015, Senate Bill 905 established Texas’ annual Emergency Supplies Sales Tax Holiday Weekend allowing Texans to purchase certain emergency preparation supplies tax free either online or in person. Texans can visit the Texas Comptroller’s website for more information on qualifying purchases. As spring storms and increased wildfire danger impact Texas, along with the approaching hurricane season which begins on June 1, Texans are encouraged to review disaster preparedness tips and information on building an emergency supply kit at TexasReady.gov. |
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)
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