NEWS
New electric rate ordinance passes first reading
By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
The Bowie City Council approved an updated electric rate ordinance Monday night clarifying changes that should have been done back in 2016 and reflect the reduction approved in fall 2018.
Not unexpected, the debate was heated as two council members wanted to change the overall electric rate schedule despite the prior council’s adoption of a rate plan last fall that was
The electric rate ordinance approved at the last meeting was up for a second reading, but Mayor Gaylynn Burris asked the council to set that aside and consider one that has been revised with a couple of changes discussed in that meeting.
In the new ordinance, the date was taken out eliminating any need to backdate it to meet the Dec. 1 date when new electric rates went into effect. The monthly wholesale power and transmission charge will be computed at “regular intervals” instead of monthly.
It was discovered in January, after many questions to the engineers, the last time a rate ordinance was approved in 2015 following a rate study in 2015. However, in 2016 some changes were made to the electric rates directed by a former Schneider engineer without recommending a change to the electric rate ordinance.
Schneider Engineering officials said they understood nothing had changed since that time and told city officials there was no need for a new ordinance in fall 2018. The council approved the electric rate reduction effective Dec. 1, 2018, but did not do an ordinance.
Councilor Tami Buckmaster who has raised many of those questions to the engineer about the rate schedule which led to the further investigation said the new ordinance clarified a few of her legal questions, but her problem is not cutting businesses in on the rate reduction. She said this happened before she was on the council so she does not know the reasons for the rate plan.
Read the full story in the mid-week Bowie News.
Several personnel issues including the superintendent’s summative evaluation and filling the vacant intermediate principal position face the Bowie School Trustees when they meet at 5:30 p.m. on June 16.
The superintendent’s review is usually done in two parts during the year with the summative an effort to evaluate overall progress. Donna Hale’s contract also will be considered. as she marks her first year leading the district.
For the intermediate principal’s job, Jason Childress left the post last month taking the new formed director of student services, which will handle many of the tasks the assistant superintendent handled such as curriculum and test scores. That assistant position was eliminated by the board after Lee Ann Farris left the job. Childress’ resignation has been submitted.
Filling the principal’s job and consideration of a rental agreement for a portion of the bus parking lot property also are set for executive session. Any action all these topics will be considered back in open session.
On the regular agenda, the board will receive the 2025 fiscal audit for Jack County. A small portion of the district runs into that county.
The superintendent will provide operational reports and personnel updates. Childress will present the preliminary STAAR scores and the status of board goals, while Paula Peterson, finance director, gives the monthly financial report.
Numerous annual items will be up for action: Contract for cafeteria software; budget amendments; consider the ESSA application, the Montague and Jack County Tax Appraisal District budgets; library books for the elementary; ESC 9 contracts and a Texas Association of School Boards policy updates.
The board also will consider offering open enrollment for pre-kindergarten students for the next school year.
Six Montague County volunteer fire department have received grants from the Texas A&M Forest Service.
The service recently approved $29.3 million in funding for grants to through the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program.
In the fourth funding round of the year, the program awarded 531 grants addressing volunteer fire department requests for personal protective equipment, slip-on units, fire and rescue equipment, water tenders, small brush trucks and training aids.
Nocona Hills Volunteer Fire Department received a $300,000 grant for a water tender vehicle. Montague and Sunset VFDs each received $45,000 for a slip-on unit, and the Nocona rural, Nocona city and Saint Jo VFDs each received $25,000 for fire and rescue equipment.
Read the full story in the Thursday Bowie News.
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