NEWS
Code battle brewing between Rack owner, city
By BARBARA GREEN
There’s an ongoing code enforcement battle brewing between the City of Bowie and Tawni Jones, owner of several businesses in downtown Bowie.
Jones said she has been directed by the city to bring the second floor of The Rack, which is used as her residence and office, up to code which includes installation of a fire suppression system.
The business owner has played out the conflict across social media recently telling the public it looks like she may have to close her businesses The Rack, The Brick (The Knife at 223 located in The Brick) and Swanky J if she is unable to get the code issues resolved sending some 26 employees to the unemployment line.
She has already closed the former Swanky J, 203 N. Mason, opened since the fall of 2016. Jones said the store will be turned into a gym.
The Rack, 210 N. Mason was purchased by Jones in the summer of 2015 from Andrew Wendt, who renovated the old Russell’s building into the sports bar.
Wendt also created a residential space upstairs. According to fire and code inspections he installed fire suppression and fire alarms downstairs and the fire suppression system was stubbed to the upstairs where it could be extended.
Jones was informed in December she will need to install a fire suppression system upstairs of The Rack in order to remain compliant with city codes with a 60-day time frame.
Read the full story in the mid-week News.
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
The Bowie City Council welcomed three newly-elected members Tuesday night and the panel had its annual council orientation of duties presented by the city attorney.
Brandon Walker and Laramie Truax took the oath of office for their respective seats during the meeting. Laura Sproles was sworn in prior to the meeting as she was enroute to the hospital after a fall at home where she injured her hand and wrist. All the candidates had to take the oath by Tuesday night after the votes were canvassed.
City Attorney Courtney Goodman-Morris made the presentation on council duties and obligations, as well legal requirements. Brent Shaw was elected as mayor pro tem.
Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
Trustees of the Bowie Independent School District welcomed one new member this week following the Nov. 5 election and accepted the 2023-24 outside audit with no exceptions.
Incumbent Trustee Jacky Betts returned to place one and Angie Christmas took the place two seat. After the board officers were dissolved with the new ones taking the oath, officers were elected. Betts will continue as president, Guy Green as vice president and Kent Dosch as secretary.
Paul Fleming of Edgin, Parkman, Fleming & Fleming, PC, presented the audit telling there were no issues and the process went smoothly. He noted the biggest change was the Legislature compressing the district tax rate and additional changes in the tax law. State aid formula grants increased due to the state’s funding formula compensating for lost property tax revenue due to the law change previously mentioned.
Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
Information was the watchword for the second hospital/emergency room community meeting Tuesday night, as the steering committee was announced along with additional financial considerations.
About 50 people attended the meeting. Melody Gillespie, who was named chairperson for the committee, said the goal is to gather information to get it out into the community. This group was formed after the Bowie emergency room was closed by Faith Rural Health System in early October just shy of one year of operating in Bowie.
Kylie Ward, one of the public relations volunteers, said, “This committee is not here to force things on you and there are assumptions already we are proposing a tax. We are not, we don’t have that ability, we are just a research team here to explore all the options.”
Other members of the committee include Tiffany Chandler and Damon Benton handling finance and grant research; Jennifer Tellef, secretary; Valerie Tomerson, grant research; Ann Smith, PR and Margin Latham and Gillespie, legislative research. It was pointed out there are other members of the sub-committees who are helping with research, but they also invite anyone interested to help with the process.
Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.
Top photo – Jack County Judge Keith Umphress spoke at this week’s steering committee meeting. (Photo by Barbara Green)
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