COUNTY LIFE
County adjusts public access to buildings, offices
By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
With disaster declarations issued for the county and state, Montague County government offices have made adjustments to office hours, services and emergency operations for all offices.
County Judge Rick Lewis issued a disaster order on Tuesday stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, following the governor’s similar order the same day. During the ensuing days many county offices have instituted new policies that limit public access, but still allow a customer to complete their business while protecting themselves and the county staff.
Montague County Commissioners conducted a called session Tuesday afternoon to meet with elected officials and other department heads to discuss operations during this emergency.
Lewis emphasized the purpose of these talks was to protect county employees and the public, while continuing to operate. During the discussions the officials voiced how they were going to work now and in the event some of their staff becomes ill.
A policy for employee leave connected to COVID-19 was approved and there were discussions about tips to minimize business disruption. Jennifer Fenoglio, county treasurer touched on specifics for the leave policy, but also added the employees want to be here to work, but they all need to be ready when illness strikes.
“The public is very aware and some are scared, we need to provide leadership and use our emergency operations plan in each office. We want to stay as proactive as we can,” said Lewis.
Read the full story in the weekend News including closings and access to county offices and buildings.
Make plans to come out and honor Bowie High School state tennis champions Heidi and Willow Siebert on Wednesday afternoon.
Members of the Nocona City Council will meet for a regular meeting at 5 p.m. on May 12 in council chambers.
A public hearing on an ordinance annexing adjacent and contiguous territory to the city will be offered. This relates to two small tracts of land at the front and back of the Tales ‘N’ Trails Museum property. It does not involve providing any services, but clarifies the property in the museum’s tract. Any action would follow in the regular agenda.
Mayor and council reports on items of community interest follow along with public comments.
Items slated for the agenda include the following: Discuss bid to mow and weed-eat the Nocona Cemetery; discuss bids to furnish a 180,000-200,000 gallon capacity tank for potable water; three requests from the Nocona Economic Development Corporation – Type A and B boards funding a grant for signage at the American Legion at $2,300, both boards fund a grant for Tales ‘N’ Trails to enclose the east win of the barn for $18,000 and both boards to grant the Chisholm Trail Art Association $2,000 to support the Art of the Song Music Festival Art Show.
Other council topics will be consider repair of the water found at Enid Justin City Park; discuss public nuisance code violations; hear request from David Yowell to purchase water for the Nocona Hills Golf Course; discuss appraised value, setting price and conditions for sealed bids on 19.5 acres of city-owned land adjacent to the Nocona Hills Golf Course; discuss slide on upstream water side of dam and discuss changes to rental agreement for H.J. Justin Community Room.
The majority of these items will be considered for action during the regular agenda following the workshop agenda.
Present for the Bowie Community Development proclamation for National Travel and Tourism Week May 3-9 made by Mayor Gaylynn Burris were volunteers and staff: Matthew Hunt, Cindy Roller, Brittany Barnes, Sylvia Henning, Mildred McCraw, and Joe Barnhill. Community Development focus is on beautification and tourism for the City of Bowie. The group focuses on tourism through its many festival and events, welcoming people to the community. (News photo by Barbara Green)
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