NEWS
Local businessman selected to lead city
Bert Cunningham
By BARBARA GREEN
Why would someone who could easily move into retirement from a highly successful career running his own business want to jump head first into a new career in the rough and tumble world of city politics?
Bert Cunningham, who has accepted the job as Bowie city manager, says he wants to help fix the problems in his hometown.
While he has operated his own business for more than 40 years this 70-year-old is no stranger to small town politics. A former mayor, city council member and longtime member of Bowie Economic Development Corporation he has a passion for government and a desire to see his community thrive and develop.
“I can handle the rough and tumble, but I wanted to get into it because I saw the problems of the three previous administrations and they need to be fixed,” he said.
Read the full feature on the pending new city manager in the weekend News.
The Bowie City Council will meet at 6 p.m. on May 27 in council chambers.
Items on the agenda include the following: City manager’s report discussing the master plan grant, repairs to Rock and Pillar and status of the substation transformer; consent agenda of minutes and bills; speed limit ordinance update second reading; Bowie 4B Sales Tax Corporation request to approve expenditures on park enhancement project to include additional concrete parking at Pelham Park and installation of covered pickleball courts southwest of the Bowie knife and public comments.
Bowie City Councilors heard complaints about the recently approved food truck ordinance during last week’s meeting and were updated on damage from recent flash flooding.
Mayor Gaylynn Burris also presented a proclamation for Emergency Medical Services Week, as members of the local EMS team were presented with the proclamation.
In his city manager’s report, Bert Cunningham said there were numerous problems with excessive rainfall during the last few weeks, with the most significant at Rock and Pillar where the rusted washed out culverts have been deteriorating for several years. Portions of Rock have collapsed near that intersection closing part of the street.
Another less traveled street had a sinkhole which the city crews have repaired, and two crews have been out trying to fill potholes and make street repairs as they can.
Cunningham told the council they have to figure out a way to pay for the new culverts on Rock and Pillar, and he has been meeting with a pair of engineering companies to get some preliminary estimates that are close to $1,000,000. He also has been talking with the city’s financial advisor to discuss options for financing repairs.
Read the full story in the May 22 Bowie News.
Photo – Mayor Gaylynn Burris presented a proclamation from the City of Bowie for National EMS Recognition Week. Several members of the Bowie EMS team were present: Daniel Fogle, Enrique Roman, Fire Chief Doug Page, Chad Gerlach, Marco Sandoval and Luke Waltersheid. (Courtesy photo)
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