NEWS
County accepts tax rolls, calls special runoff vote
Montague County Commissioners handled a brief agenda Monday that included calling the special State Senate runoff election for Dec. 19 and accepting the anticipated tax totals for 2020.
The court is still running one short, as Commissioner Mark Murphey continues to recover following surgery.
Tax Assessor-Collector Kathryn Phillips presented to tax figures to the court. Taxable value is $1,962,961,209 and taxes are $10,651,780.59. Montague County has 100,082 properties which will be taxed.
County Elections Administrator Ginger Wall presented the order call the Dec. 19 runoff election for District 30 State Senate. Wall also got approval to consolidate the runoff to the four locations that presently serve for early voting in Bowie, Nocona, Saint Jo and Montague.
District 68 State Representative Drew Springer will face Metroplex area business owner Shelley Luther in the runoff. Neither won the required majority in the six-person race in September.
The county will amend its agreement with the Texas Association of Counties, which hosts the county website to add a secure sockets layer certificate. Jessica Thomas, county technology director, said these connections protect sensitive data such as credit cards that may be exchanged during a webpage session.
She explained while the county’s website does not collect customer data it would provide an additional layer of security at a relatively low cost of $150 a year. Thomas added hackers often target smaller businesses with ransom ware so there would be a precaution. The request was approved.
Commissioner Bob Langford told the court it has been brought to his attention they need to post any new subdivisions or requests for plat revisions on the county website 30 days before they come to the court for consideration. Thomas said if the court forwarded her those requests she would make sure they go on the website.
There will be two town hall meetings on April 24 where the proposed $65.8 million bond election for Bowie Independent School District will be discussed.
Superintendent Blake Enlow will review the May 4 bond proposal from noon to 1 p.m at the administration office, 404 E. Williams, and 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the junior high school auditorium.
Citizens are invited to attend the town hall that suits their schedule.
Updating Montague County’s subdivision regulations will be a major topic of discussion at the 9 a.m. commissioner’s court meeting on April 22.
As 2023 wound down the court named a committee to work with legal counsel to see what updates or clarifications were needed to the rules. The agenda list scheduling a public hearing on adoption of the revised rules, along with taking an impact assessment on the draft of the regulations.
An executive session is posted for discussion on the appointment of a development officer in conjunction with subdivision rules. This could be a new position or a present employee, there was no information available on Friday.
The court will consider appointing a local health authority for the county. Dr. Chance Dingler has been serving in that capacity.
The Montague County Historical Commission will ask to place a historical marker at the site of the old agriculture extension farm site outside of Montague.
In other topics they will consider a finance contract with Government Capital to finance the remaining balance of a 2022 Mac Truck for precinct four; allow precinct one to enter the Tyler Stark property on Lake Valley Road to address drainage issues on a proposed driveway entrance and tinhorn installation; precinct two going out for sealed bids to sell excess dirt; precinct three trading a loader; replat for two lots in Silver Lakes Ranch, phase seven in precinct two and a final plat for various lots in the Robb Addition.
Early voting for the Bowie and Forestburg Independent School District bond elections begins April 22 at one central location at the Bowie Senior Citizens Center.
Early voting will be April 22-26, and April 29-30, all from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. There is only one location for early voting for both elections.
On the May 4 election day the polls will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at these locations: Bowie Senior Citizen Center, Forestburg ISD library and Sunset City Hall.
Voters can cast ballots at any of these locations due to countywide voting.
Bowie ISD is asking voters to reconsider a $65.8 million bond issue, that was defeated in November 1,079 to 855, a shortfall of 224 voters.
There will be two town hall meetings this week where the superintendent will discuss the bond proposal on April 24 from noon to 1 p.m at the administration office, 404 E. Williams, and 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the junior high school.
Read more on the upcoming elections and the proposed bonds in the weekend Bowie News.
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