NEWS
Bowie budget, rate proposals adopted amidst angry debate
The Bowie City Council met in called session tonight to consider water and wastewater rates that were tabled Monday night, along with adoption of the 2018-19 budget, also tabled.
There was tremendous tension in the meeting with more than a dozen people present in the audience, several obviously upset the city council was considering a rate increase in any area. The mayor pointed out public comments were not listed on the agenda.
Councilor Craig Stallcup reiterated his arguments from Monday against any rate increase if it is not offset with a similar decrease in electric. Things became very tense between him and City Manager Bert Cunningham when he was asked to tell the councilor why the rate increase was necessary. Cunningham said the goal was to make water and sewer begin to fund themselves, as well as work on infrastructure. He said he has explained the philosophy =several times, but Stallcup either does not agree or understand. Stallcup said there is no financial justification for the tax or water rate hikes, which will provide nominal funds to the budget.
Councilor Arlene Bishop, also adamantly against the rate proposals and the budget plans to borrow money to buy some heavy equipment for big projects and other capital equipment for the city, demanded to go into executive session to discuss a salary issue she had discovered. Mayor Gaylynn Burris asked why that was necessary at this time and Bishop said she wants to know why they are reimbursing the city manager for his insurance. Burris convened into executive session that last about six minutes. No action was taken back in regular session.
The council approved on tie votes the proposed rate structures for water and wastewater. Councilors Bishop, Stallcup and Machelle Mills voted no, with Terry Gunter, Wayne Bell and Chuck Malone voting yes. Burris broke the tie with a yes vote.
The budget proposal was approved with Bishop the lone no vote. Stallcup said he believes it is a good budget, a “bold budget,” and there are a lot of good things that can come out of it. However, the only thing he is ashamed of is the rates, adding it is the first time has has “been ashamed to be on the council.”
Watch for mid-week News for full coverage. A second called meeting is planned for Tuesday night, which will allow for the required reading of the rate and budget ordinances.
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
A petition was filed mid-week with the 97th District Clerk seeking the removal of 97th District Attorney Casey Hall for “incompetency or official misconduct.”
The document was filed by Tim Cole, former DA and longtime area attorney, on July 17. Texas law allows any resident of the county where the allegations occurred to file such a petition on any elected official.
As of Friday noon, no judge had been assigned and Hall had not been served notice of the filing per the district court.
A recent example of this type of petition occurred in Clay County in January 2023 after Sheriff Jeff Lyde was arrested on charges of official oppression. Former District Judge Frank Douthitt filed that petition and the state was represented by Hall and the Clay County attorney Seth Slagle.
Casey Hall, DA for the three-county 97th District since 2016, was arrested on July 8 on a grand jury indictment for theft of property $2,500 to $30,000, a state jail felony. She was released on a $5,000 bond. The allegations stem from misappropriation of state grant funds with the investigation conducted by the Texas Attorney General’s staff.
Removal action
The removal action is directed to David Evans, judge of the 8th administrative judicial region, which has jurisdiction in this case. It seeks to have the officer removed for incompetency or official misconduct, acts or omissions while in the performance of her duties as the district attorney.
Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.
A missing person’s alert has been issued for Bryce Dingler, who was last seen July 16 at his parents’ home in Nocona around 10 p.m. as he left going home to his apartment in Plano.
The 29-year-old is the son of Dr. Len and Waynette Dingler of Nocona. According to missing person circulars posted by the Clay County Sheriff’s office and Put Me First, Dingler’s vehicle, a 2015 white Ford F150 lifted with large tires and Dallas Cowboy’s star on the tailgate was found on the side of U.S. Highway 287 in the early morning hours of July 17. His ID and phone were left in the truck.
The initial SO posting stated Dingler was at the courthouse Tuesday to midday, and he told his parents that night was he was heading home to Plano. His family tried to call him throughout Wednesday, but he never answered. It states his last known location was near Butler Road, 1 mile west of Jolly on U.S. 287. Those with any information are urged to call the Clay County Sheriff at 940-538-5611. Case #24010013.
The Put Me First circular stated a license plate reader picked up Dingler’s truck around midnight in Plano. He was wearing a light color T-shirt, dark grey athletic shorts and tennis shoes. He has a left lower arm sleeve with pine trees, leaves and a wolf. He is 5-foot-6-inches tall, 135 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes.
It continues the truck was spotted July 17 around 6:30 a.m. on the westbound side of U.S. 287 by Duck Creek. Put Me First states Dingler had a “promising job interview” the day he went missing, noting this is “not normal behavior.”
As of 2 p.m. Friday Dingler was still missing.
The regular meeting of the Bowie City Council for July 22 has been cancelled. City Manager Bert Cunningham and Mayor Gaylynn Burris will be attending the Texas Public Power Association conference.
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