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New electric rate ordinance passes first reading

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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 reportedly “unknowingly” implemented without a new ordinance.
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.

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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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