NEWS
Firefighters make a pitch for upgraded radio system
By BARBARA GREEN
Several costly budget proposals including a plan to resolve ongoing radio repeater problems for all the county fire departments were debated by the Montague County Commissioner’s Court this week.
Monday’s session included awards and recognition, but the court also tackled financial issues for the next budget year, while awaiting the arrival of final certified property values and projections for revenue.
Randall Preuninger, chief of the Bowie Rural Volunteer Fire Department, talked with the court representing a committee from the county firefighters association.
Richard Self, local radio technician, said they have come up with a proposal for a simulcast system to replace the repeater system with an ethernet wireless system. It has an estimated cost of $160,000, but Preuninger said they expect it would come in slightly cheaper.
Sheriff Paul Cunningham and Saint Jo Superintendent Larry Smith also discussed the state of a School Resource Officer program with the MCSO. Read the full story in the mid-week News.
(Left) Montague County Sheriff Paul Cunningham and Saint Jo ISD Superintendent Larry Smith discuss a school resource officer program with the county commissioners on Monday. (Photo by Barbara Green)
Pictured – (Left) Randall Preuninger, fire chief of the Bowie Rural Volunteer Fire Department, and Richard Self, local radio technician, talks with the Montague County Commissioners Court Monday about radio upgrade options to resolve communication problems with the fire departments across the county. (News photo by Barbara Green)
The Bowie News office will be closed Dec. 24-25 for the Christmas holiday, and Dec. 30 and Jan. 1.
There is an early deadline of 4 p.m. on Dec. 27 for the Jan. 1 Bowie News for all news and ad items.
Your Jan. 1 edition will be delivered to the mail and racks one day earlier due to the New Year’s holiday. We hope you have a great Christmas week.
Your Bowie News staff wishes you the blessings of a wonderful Christmas as you enjoy time with family and friends. Our offices will be closed Dec. 24-25 for the holiday.
Montague County Commissioners wrapped up a few items before the end of the year as they met on Dec. 23.
Grant Coordinator Charley Lanier asked the court to go ahead and obligate $276,961.84 from the American Rescue Funds to complete the new wastewater treatment plant that will serve the courthouse complex.
He explained Dec. 30 is the last date where grant funds can be obligated, and he did not expect any issues since this project had already been approved in court using ARPA funds, he called it a “safety net,” to avoid any problem and possible return of the funds to the federal government.
Montague County has about $276,961.84 in grant funds which has not been allocated.
The court gave approval on the request.
Lanier also asked the court to apply for a grant for a tire cutter. Funded through the Nortex Regional Planning Commission and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the application will ask for $26,865 to purchase a larger gas-powered cutter on a trailer, which can be moved around for use. It would cut the larger tires into four pieces, which would be allowed into a landfill. Lanier said if the cutter comes through the county would need to obtain a permit for its use from TCEQ, which he added should not be an issue.
Commissioner Mark Murphey said he picks up more tires abandoned on the county roads than he disposes of at his own yard, adding he probably has 500 at his yard. The court gave approval to apply for this competitive grant.
The remainder of Monday’s brief meeting were year-end items. Bonds for the justice of the peace one, county clerk, county attorney, district attorney, sheriff, commissioner three and constable two were accepted.
A cooperative agreement with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the county was approved, along with a license and services agreement with Local Government Solutions to provide software for both justice of the peace officers. The county attorney’s Chapter 59 Asset Forfeiture report was presented with no new seizures or forfeiture.
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