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. )
Members of the Bowie City Council will meet at 6 p.m. on Aug. 25 to finalize the budget and conduct a public hearing on a proposed tax rate.
The ordinances adopting both the 2026-27 budget and the 2026 tax rate are on the agenda for action. The public hearing on the tax rate presents a rate of .5750 cents per $100 in property value, which is slightly higher than the 2025 rate that is .5430.
The new rate is projected to generate $2,990,998, compared to $2,703,176 from last year’s rate. This is the first significant change in the rate since 2019, when it was .5445 cents. The next year it went to .5447 cents, where it stayed until 2023, when it went to .5430 cents, through 2025.
A bid will be awarded for the Rock and Pillar Street drainage project. Wall Contractors will be recommended by the city engineer and staff review. The bid came in about $1.3 million, which was lower than the estimated $2 million. It is expected to straighten the channel and get this intersection reopened for traffic after more than a year of closure to collapse of a portion of the pavement on the street.
The council will consider stop signs regulating traffic flow around the Kingdom Ridge Subdivision next to the elementary school.
In the city manager’s report Bert Cunningham will provide information on the hazard mitigation plan, the 2025-26 audit preparation and the bid for the Rock and Pillar project.
Montague County Commissioners will adopt a budget and tax rate when they meet at on Aug. 24 in the courthouse annex.
The budget hearing will be at 8:30 a.m. Aug. 24, followed by a public hearing for the proposed tax rate at 8:45 a.m.
During the regular meeting at 9 a.m., there will be one final budget workshop for any last minute tweaks or changes, followed by adoption of the 2026-27 budget and 2026 tax rate.
The proposed tax rate is .4961 cents per $100 in property value, which is the same rate as 2025. Due to the increase in property values despite the same rate, the total tax levy on all properties will see a 3.64% increase.
A copy of the proposed budget is available on the county website at https://www.co.montague.tx.us/.
Several other financial related items are on the agenda. Accumulated comp time in the sheriff office and jail will be discussed. The commissioners also will consider any year-end expenditures utilizing any or the budget year contingency funds.
Other items on the agenda will include: Acceptance of the District Attorney’s 2023- 2024 and 2025 Chapter 59 asset forfeiture reports and authorize DA Katie Boggeman to sign them; imposition of optional fees from the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles for 2027; House Bill 3834 cybersecurity and AI training certification for state and local governments compliance reports; interlocal cooperation agreement between the Department of Public Safety and the county court and district court; review the sherif office application for sheriff immigration law enforcement grant program Senate Bill 8; consider distribution of state grant HB 3000; and consider using Real Estate Station LLC Agent Denise Thurman to sell 5.9 acres on the corner of U.S. 81 and State Highway 59.
It should be no surprise, the month of July is recorded as the hottest month on record for the country.
July wrapped up with seven straight days of 100 degrees or higher July 25-31. August also opened hot with the first 100-plus degree day on Aug. 3 and it has topped that marked through Aug. 19. On Tuesday the high was 107 degrees at the water plant, but in town thermometers recorded 108 and 109 degrees.It was expected to top that mark on Wednesday.
There was no rainfall recorded in July or in August. Bowie has only 21.71 inches for the year so far and Nocona has 22.35 inches.
Lake Amon Carter
Aug. 19 –
917.22 msl, 80.2% full
July 19 – 918.10 msl, 86.1%
Aug. 19, 2025 – 919.84 msl, 98.8% full
Lake is full at 920msl
Lake Nocona
Aug. 19 – 823.48 msl, 76.3% full
July 19 – 824.41 msl, 81.05%
Aug. 19, 2025 – 826.878 msl, 95.85%
Lake full at 827.5msl
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