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City manager keeps his job on a tiebreaker vote

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By BARBARA GREEN
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It was round two for the Bowie City Council’s budget workshop Tuesday night, and after an anger-filled Monday session, the second discussion was just as tense.
The agenda called for the workshop, followed by evaluations of the three employees hired by the council: City manager, city secretary and municipal judge. Following brief reviews of City Secretary Sandy Page and Judge Darla Cordell that lasted less than 10 minutes each, the council met with City Manager Bert Cunningham for about 30 minutes.
Back in open session Page and Cordell had their employment continued for one year with a three percent raise if that is included in the budget; however, Cunningham, who had been involved in rancorous exchanges with two councilors the night before continued thanks to a tie-breaker.
Councilor Arlene Bishop made a motion to retain the manager for one year, but without the three percent raise. Councilors Bishop, Buckmaster and Thomas Kent voted yes, Chuck Malone, Jason Love and Wayne Bell voted no, with Mayor Gaylynn Burris casting the tie-breaker no vote. Cunningham will continue as city manager with the raise if it is included in the budget.
The council went into executive session after about two hours in the workshop but then went into closed session for the evaluations. The council reconvened into the workshop afterward, but Councilors Buckmaster and Bishop left.
With a quorum still present, the workshop continued.

Read the full story in your weekend Bowie News.

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BHS students, staff celebrate Veterans Day

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Bowie High School staff and students welcomed veterans for their annual tribute and breakfast on Veterans Day. Members of the FFA, Kyle Keeler and Rylan Cole folded the American flag as each fold was explained during the ceremony.

This group of veterans were each introduced and received arose from the students. (Photos by Jordan Neal)
Culinary students cooked up a special breakfast for the veterans and their families who attended the program Monday. See more photos in the mid-week Bowie News.
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New Saint Jo City Council members to receive oath

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Newly elected members of the Saint Jo City Council will take the oath of office when they meet at 6 p.m. on Nov. 13 in city hall.
While the city did not conduct an election due to none of races being contested, new officers will include Mayor Kelly Williamson and returning Aldermen Colton Thomas and Melissa McPherson. A new mayor pro tem also will be elected and the mayor, mayor pro tem and one council member will be added to city financial accounts.
The majority of Wednesday’s meeting is reorganization with member changes to the economic development boards and other officers.
New appointments to the Saint Jo Economic Development Board 4A are: Amber Smith, president; Melissa McPherson, vice president; Kelly Bob Bayer, treasurer; and Jennifer Vogel, secretary. Smith and Bayer will be added to the board’s bank account signatures, while Carla Hennessey and Lucas Thompson will be removed.
Hennessey resigned from the boardin July and Thompson is no longer on the council. Debbie Dennis, city secretary, said these changes were made at the directive of the bank to have specific updated names for those who can sign documents.
Colton Shelton will be removed from the 4B board bank account.
Other topics
Beau Mauldin will make a request to place a tiny home on property located at 101 Katy Lake Road.
The council will discuss removing James Tidwell with Wolfe, Tidwell & McCoy as the city attorney and approve Zac Renfro of Reeves, Renfro Law Group as the new city attorney.

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Burn ban expires, caution still urged

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By BARBARA GREEN
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While Montague County’s ban on outdoor burning expired, commissioners still urge residents to use caution.
Commissioner Mark Murphey in public comments told the court Tuesday while the burn ban has expired after its 90 days, people should still exercise extreme caution with burning. He urged any person doing major burns to call the sheriff’s office at 894-2871, ext. 1, to let them know.
In a brief post-holiday meeting Tuesday the Montague County Commissioners approved numerous routine items.
The court paid two invoices out of its American Rescue Plan federal funds for work on the sewer plant for the courthouse/annex complex. One bill is the permit fee of $620 from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. County Judge Kevin Benton said this will be an annual fee, which they will pay for with ARPA funds this year and budget it next year.

Read the full story in the mid-week Bowie News.

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