NEWS
Water/sewer rate hike tabled
By BARBARA GREEN
A water and sewer rate proposal that could add $100 annually to the average city bill was tabled Monday night as Bowie City Councilors asked the staff to explore a possible cap on sewer usage.
In order to address ongoing budget revenue shortfalls, including a wastewater department that has generated a revenue loss for several years, as City Manager Ricky Tow prepared a new rate schedule.
This comes on the heels of a 2016 base rate increase that was implemented in both department during three years. That change made only a slight difference in the revenue amounts.
In 2016, the sewer department had a net revenue loss of $294,432. In 2015 it was $338,600, in 2014 it was $449,631 and in 2013 it was $532,961. Currently through February the net revenue loss is at $151,521.
For 2016, in the water department $120,574 in revenue was generated. In 2013 it was much higher at $229,473, dropping to $85,279 in 2014 and $81,360 in 2015. Currently through February is seeing $61,742 in the red for revenue.
The rate proposal is based on an average of 7,000 gallons of usage over a year and uses 2,100 accounts. Customers should also note the water and sewer gallons are gauged at the same level, they do not separate as they are calculated through the meter.
Read the full story in the mid-week News.
City of Bowie officials were on hand to inspect the emergency electrical generators that were delivered last week.
Mayor Gaylynn Burris and City Manager Bert Cunningham inspected one of three emergency electrical generators purchased as part of an ongoing Federal Emergency Management Agency Hazard Mitigation Grant. They also talked with Jay Evans, head of the city electric department, and Jerry Sutton, director of the water treatment plant about the next step for installation of the generators.
This grant provides funding for one 150 kW and two 250 kW generators for use at the water treatment plant.
Read the full story in the mid-week Bowie News.
City Manager Bert Cunningham and Mayor Gaylynn Burris talk with the electric and water department staff about the new generators. (Photo by Cindy Roller)
No action was taken on a legal issue after members of the Bowie City Council met in a called closed session at 4 p.m. on July 12.
City Secretary Sandy Page said the council met for almost one hour for “consultation with attorney – Midwest Waste Services LLC vs. City of Bowie.
This lawsuit goes back to August 2019 when Midwest sued the city for its action requiring those who receive city water outside the city limits to use the designated waste collector, which is Waste Connections. This was shortly after the city signed a new long-term contract with WC.
The suit was dismissed in June 2020 on two points in the suit, but City Manager Bert Cunningham said a third point remained in mediation.
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