NEWS
Council splits on budget, rates during angry session (Tuesday called meeting update)
UPDATE FROM THE SEPT. 17, CALLED CITY COUNCIL MEETING
In one of the briefest Bowie City Council meetings in recent history, the panel approved all four items of business: Adoption of the rate schedules for water and wastewater, adoption of the budget for 2018-19 and first reading of the ordinance to set the tax rate. The vote margins were the same as in the prior meetings. See the full story of the meeting in the weekend News.
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
Things got nasty and personal within the Bowie City Council last Friday night as the members debated proposed rate structures and the 2018-19 fiscal budget.
The called meeting for 5 p.m. Friday was necessary after the council tabled action on all those items on Sept. 10. With a Sept. 20 deadline to allow enough time to publish the ordinances, hours were ticking away for the budget that starts Oct. 1.
When the council met on Sept. 10, two members, Machelle Mills and Terry Gunter were absent and the motion was passed seeking a full council.
Before discussion even got under way the tension was obvious.
Councilor Chuck Malone moved to approve the water rates with a three percent increase. When it appeared Mayor Gaylynn Burris may move ahead with a vote, Councilor Craig Stallcup, who has been the most vocal council opponent of any rate increases, asked “are we not going to have a debate first, seriously?”
Stallcup then proceeded to tell the mayor they were not following parliamentary procedure anyway. It was a rocky start.
Stallcup opposes any rate increases, reiterating his earlier arguments. While he supports the restructuring of the rates, his intention was to see any increase offset in the electric rates.
In the end the budget was adopted, along with the two rate ordinances on split votes as two ties were broken by the mayor. Read the full story in the mid-week News.
| AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) today encouraged Texans to take part in this year’s Emergency Supplies Sales Tax Holiday Weekend starting Saturday, April 27 through Monday, April 29. “Having emergency supplies on-hand is a critical part of being prepared for potential severe weather,” said Governor Abbott. “I encourage Texans across the state to stock up on supplies they might need in an emergency to protect themselves and their loved ones, such as first aid kits, flashlights, or hand-held fire extinguishers.” Signed into law by Governor Abbott in 2015, Senate Bill 905 established Texas’ annual Emergency Supplies Sales Tax Holiday Weekend allowing Texans to purchase certain emergency preparation supplies tax free either online or in person. Texans can visit the Texas Comptroller’s website for more information on qualifying purchases. As spring storms and increased wildfire danger impact Texas, along with the approaching hurricane season which begins on June 1, Texans are encouraged to review disaster preparedness tips and information on building an emergency supply kit at TexasReady.gov. |
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
A public hearing has been scheduled for 9:45 a.m. on May 28 for the Montague County Commissioner’s Court to present the updated subdivision regulations that have been in the works for several months.
That date was set during Monday’s court session, where a development officer also was named and a state-required notice was approved. The 89-page draft of the subdivision regulations are available on the county website co.montague.tx.us/page/montague.home.
It was August 2019 when the regulations were adopted by the commissioners after much debate among water well drillers, groundwater district staff and directors, realtors and land developers.
During those original discussions water issues lead the way as many counties especially around heavily populated urban areas are experiencing water shortages and possible contamination due to an inadequate number of houses and wells or even the use of a public water system in the rural areas.
Charley Lanier, who has been working as a grant officer for the county, was named to be the subdivision development officer. After a brief 10-minute executive session, the court named Lanier who they said would be the “initial contact” for all developers who will accept all paperwork and plats.
Read the full story in the mid-week Bowie News.
City of Bowie water and street crews repair a broken water line in the area of Walnut and Smythe last week, along with repairing a large pot hole in the same area. (Photo by Barbara Green)
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