Credit card fees for city bills and infrastructure work are just a few of the topics slated for the March 14 meeting of the Bowie City Council that begins at 6 p.m. in council chambers.
At the last council session, City Manager Bert Cunningham reported last year the city incurred nearly $93,000 in credit card payment processing fees the customer pay their bills. In the past, the council has rejected any fees, however, as the fees continue to grow Cunningham said he was preparing a recommendation for consideration.
There will be a discussion to take $72,000 from the infrastructure fund for the southside sewer project that will replace a collapsed line. Councilors also will return to the Honeywell energy retrofit proposal and decide if the city will participate. The company has offered a plan to finance the replacement of aging HVAC units, various controls and systems throughout city operations that can improve the energy efficiency and save in energy costs, which are in turn used to pay for the financing.
Honeywell has estimated a half-million program, however, if the council decides to proceed an “investment grade audit” that would define all costs. It would then be up to the city to decide after its receives this audit to proceed forward with the overall project. If the city declines after the audit shows positive savings, it would pay a “breakage fee” of $19,000 and if no positive savings are found Honeywell would not pursue it.
A resolution related to the filing of a grant application with the Nortex Regional Planning Commission for a regional solid waste grants program will be presented, along with four appointments to the parks board.
In the city manager’s report the following topics will be reviewed: Raise grant, solid waste grant, hospital emergency room, Public Utilities Commission workshop, southside sewer bid opening, audit meeting, Enterprise meeting and credit card fees.