NEWS
Mayor updates on storm cleanup, available resources
In a Sunday morning press briefing, city officials reported on the clean-up efforts underway across the city.
City crews from all departments have been joined by county teams, Texas Department of Transportation, other cities in the area and many other volunteer organizations eager to help.
Mayor Gaylynn Burris said “saw teams,” from the state have arrived to help cut down large debris. People who have cleared those items at their homes can place them at the curb for pick up or take them to the Bowie Business Park where they can be dropped off. This is for vegetation only, no household trash such as furniture.
Rolloff dumpsters also have been placed around the community for household items. They are located at the junior high parking lot behind the main building, Wilbarger Street and Bowie Industrial Park.
Donations are being accepted at the community center east hall of food, water, diapers and formula only. Also in the west hall there will be a damage assessment team member available to answer questions and help those who incurred damage. Call 211-click option 1 for details.
A storm relief fund will be set up at Legend Bank for monetary, tax deductible donations. Details on that will be available as soon as it is set up. The mayor said it is the hope this can assist those who may be uninsured or under insured.
Burris said CERTZ teams will be going door-to-door to make damage assessment. She said this is vitally important and this information is vital to any future aid programs the city, its businesses and residents may qualify for assistance.
Samaritan’s Purse has come into the city with its volunteers to provide disaster relief. They have chainsaw teams, tarping and they welcome other volunteers to join their efforts. The group is set up at Calvary Baptist Church. Call 940-229-8877 if you would like to help or require assistance.
Residents also are urged to take part in a damage survey listed on the city’s webpage: cityofbowietx.com. This is part of the damage assessment that will be used to determine funding for repair and relief. It also will be on the city’s Facebook page.
The mayor said if there are any citizens who cannot stay in their home due to damage or have needs, go to a local church where they can guide you to some of the resources which are available to help storm victims.
The second community meeting on needs for an emergency room or hospital in Bowie is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Nov. 19 at the Bowie Community Center.
This is the second meeting to discuss these needs following the closure of the Faith Community Health Center emergency room on Oct. 6, just shy of a year of operation. More than 200 people attended that first meeting, where discussion centered on the creation of a taxing district to support any sort of medical facility.
Citizens in the Bowie area are encouraged to attend and take part in these discussions.
The Bowie City Council has moved its Nov. 18 meeting to 6 p.m. on Nov. 19 where three new council members will take the oath of office.
Councilors include Laura Sproles, precinct two, Brandon Walker, precinct one and Laramie Truax, precinct two. After the votes are canvassed and the oaths given, a mayor pro tem will be selected.
The new members will jump right into training as City Attorney Courtney Goodman-Morris provides an orientation and discussion of duties for council members.
City Manager Bert Cunningham will make his monthly report on the following topics: Nelson Street, which opened last Thursday, update on the sewer line replacement project, substation transformer placement and information on medical companies.
A closed executive session on the Laura McCarn vs. City of Bowie lawsuit is scheduled. The suit arose in November 2022 when the city broached selling some 25 acres it owns on Lake Amon G. Carter, originally part of the land purchased for the 500-acre Bowie Reservoir completed in 1985.
McCarn challenges the ownership of the property stating it should revert to the original owners since it was not used for the lake.
This 24.35 acre tract is located at the end of Indian Trail Road surrounded by the lake and the Silver Lakes Ranch subdivision.
One of Bowie’s major thoroughfares, Nelson Street, was reopened Thursday after one busy block has been closed since August 2021 when a section of the street failed.
Construction finally came to an end on Thursday when the street, including the Nelson and Mill intersection were reopened. Mayor Gaylynn Burris, City Manager Bert Cunningham, Councilors TJay McEwen and Stephanie Post, Engineer Mike Tibbetts and Public Works Director Stony Lowrance met at the site Thursday morning and removed the barricades. It only took a few minutes for vehicles to start arriving and drivers were excited to go through on the new roadway.
This section of Bowie has endured flooding and drainage problems for many years and in the summer of 2023 the city council finally bit the bullet and sought bids for the repair work expected to top $3 million. In August 2021 a one block section of Nelson was closed when a large sinkhole appeared on the north side of the street. Traffic had to be diverted including all the school traffic flowing from the nearby junior high and intermediate.
Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.
Top photo – (Left) Mike Tibbetts, engineer with Hayter Engineering, talks with Bowie City Manager Bert Cunningham as they look over the massive drainage project on Nelson Street.
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