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CM asks for budget direction with new council; city consider buying golf course

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By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
Bowie City Manager Bert Cunningham wasted no time in getting “direction” from the new composition of the city council Monday night asking how he should proceed based on campaign proposals offered by two new members.
There also were discussions about the city possibly buying the golf course and building a solar array.
Following last week’s elections, new council members took their seats Monday. Incumbent Councilor Chuck Malone took the oath, along with Tami Buckmaster and Thomas Kent. Wayne Bell was re-elected by the council to serve as mayor protem.
Outgoing Councilors Terry Gunter and Craig Stallcup also were presented with Bowie knife plaques for their service to the council.
Buckmaster and Kent have both promoted various agendas across social media even prior to their campaign runs for council. Cunningham said he brought no animosity with his statement, but he wants to know the council’s feelings based on positions two new members had during their campaigns.

“My question is, are we going to continue on the road set for ourselves to upgrade or follow their agendas and cut back on everything. The reason I want this vote now is we don’t need to borrow any money if we are not going to proceed. We can handle regular spending with the present budget or we can borrow money to finance equipment and get to work. I am not asking how you will vote on each project, but I need to know how to manage based on your direction. Our budget was passed in September to borrow $2 million, is that still the plan or are we changing direction? I need this answered,” explained Cunningham.

Read the full story in the mid-week News.

 

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Amon Carter Lake Board to meet

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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.

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Saint Jo City Council hires fire marshal

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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.

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City of Nocona buys water storage tank, review dam repair

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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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