NEWS
Bowie City Council to consider how to fill mayor vacancy
Bowie City Council members will consider how to fill the mayor’s vacancy and discuss the electric cost of service study when they meet at 6 p.m. on May 11 in council chambers.
Former Mayor Bill Miller resigned on April 30 effective immediately in after last November’s election.
As per the city charter any vacancy on the council must be filled within 30 days by a vote of the council or a special election may be called. If the position is not filled within 30 days a special election is required. The person would fill out the unexpired term.
Mayor Pro Tem Jason Love will preside in absence of a mayor and may be considered for the position.
The city is accepting applications for those interested in serving on the council. City Manager Bert Cunningham said the council wants to have the position filled before the end of May.
The city manager will present information from the electric cost of service and rate study conducted by Schneider Engineering. There have been recent discussions about possible rate adjustments that could reduce some of the commercial rates, and this study is expected to provide data to help make those decisions.
Council members will look to replace one person to the charter commission, after one asked to be removed. When group meetings are allowed again they will begin reviewing the city charter and develop updates and changes that would be presented to voters for consideration.
A memorandum of understanding and delegation of authority between the City of Bowie and the Montague Emergency Communications Team will be discussed.
Linda and Sean Reno will present a proposal to develop a BMX race track and bike park within the city possibly on city land near the Haggar Ball Complex.
A lengthy slate of topics will be updated in the city manager’s report: New UV system at the sewer plant; water plant bleach conversion; paving Lee and Matthews Streets; Clay Street water line; Community Development Block Grant; Texas Public Power Association Board appointment; Texas Department of Agriculture and block grant scoring at the state level Nortex appointment to state scoring committee; business openings – pool; Selma Park; Nature Conservancy and Bowie vs. Midwest lawsuit.
(Correction: This story was corrected from the print version and should state the vacancy will be filled within 30 days, not 10 days as the print version states. We apologize for this error. )
NEWS
Amon Carter Lake Board to meet
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.
NEWS
Saint Jo City Council hires fire marshal
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.
NEWS
City of Nocona buys water storage tank, review dam repair
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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