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City manager keeps his job on a tiebreaker vote

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By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
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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NEWS

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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