NEWS
City manager contract going to council; revamp of Main Street on tap

Bert Cunningham
Bowie City Councilors will consider the employment agreement for its new city manager when it meets Tuesday, along with an organizational plan for the new Bowie Community Development Program, formerly Main Street Bowie.
On March 21 the council selected Bert Cunningham, longtime Bowie businessman, as city manager. Bowie has been operating since last November without a city manager.
After passing the prerequisites of a drug screen and physical, the council is expected to move forward with the employment agreement. Cunningham could start within the first week of April.
The new community development program will replace Main Street Bowie as the city leaves the Texas Main Street program where it has been a member for more than 20 years.
In January, Mayor Gaylynn Burris pushed through a proposal to withdraw from Texas Main Street and develop the city’s own program with a focus on beautification and tourism. The council gave its approval and is working with the Main Street staff and board, the new organization has been created.
The resolution establishes the composition of the board, terms of office, appointment of members and other aspects.
This group will operate with an executive director in a similar fashion as the Main Street program. Members of the previous Main Street board will make up the new board.
Other topics
An item to consider moving council meetings to Mondays will be examined. At the last meeting there was brief discussion on possible changes, but it was tabled.
Members to the hotel/motel board will be re-appointed.
Kirk Higgins of the Montague Emergency Communications Team will make a presentation.
NEWS
Amon Carter Lake Board to meet
Members of the Amon Carter Lake Water Supply Corporation will meet at 6 p.m. on May 26 in the office at 607A Lindsey for a monthly meeting.
Items on the agenda include a consent agenda and minutes and financials. Possible discussion/action may be considered on the following topics: Treasurer’s report, review of finance and current loans; president’s report as to the written agreements with contractual employees; consider current water rates and a possible increase; and review of expenses and areas that need amendment.
An executive session may be entered to discuss personnel issues.
NEWS
Saint Jo City Council hires fire marshal
The City of Saint Jo has a new fire marshal as the city council made the appointment during its May 13 meeting.
Gary Hines, a retired professional firefighter and certified fire investigator, will take the position. City Secretary Debbie Dennis said the post is required by ordinance but has not been filled for a long period.
The council set dates for a budget workshop for 2 p.m. on June 14 and 2 p.m. on June 28 for the ordinance workshop, as the council works to update its rules.
Aldermen gave their support to a proposition by Councilman Jack Dunn who is asking the Legislature to allow Texas’ smallest cities, those with 2,500 or few in population, to receive an additional share of sales and use tax. He would like to see the funds used in these communities to repair and replace aging infrastructure without new taxes or reliance on state grants.
In letter to State Rep. David Spiller, whom Dunn will meet with on June 1, the alderman explains much of the state’s 6.25% share generated locally flows into general funds and is spent on other priorities. He would like Spiller to author this legislation. Dunn gave the letter to the council along with a powerpoint on the plan.
“A single water treatment plant upgrade or sewer rehab carries massive, fixed costs that do not shrink with population size. These communities, often with only a few hundred or a couple thousands residents, simply cannot spread those costs across enough ratepayers or a broad tax based,” the letter states.
Dunn suggests a “graduated sales tax retention policy:” 1% additional share for cities with 2,500 or fewer residents; .75% for those 2,500 and 5,000; and .50% for cities between 5,001 and 10,000. It would be dedicated to infrastructure. Dunn says the overall statewide fiscal impact would be negligible, but could help sustain small, rural cities.
NEWS
City of Nocona buys water storage tank, review dam repair
The Nocona City Council approved a bid for a new 203,000 gallon capacity tank for potable water at the water plant and learned a slide repair to the lake dam is going to be pretty costly.
At its May 12 session the council received three bids on the tank and went with one from Tank Depot of Cleburne for $193,923. It is for a a 217,600 gallon tank usable for 203,000 gallons. The price could change slightly since it was based on estimate freight costs.
Read the full story in the Thursday Bowie News.
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