NEWS
Burris only mayoral applicant; Kent resigns to force special election
Former Bowie Mayor Gaylynn Burris was the lone applicant to express interest in filling the unexpired term of Mayor Bill Miller who resigned two weeks ago.
Last week, the council agreed to accept applications for those interested in the position this week, afterwhich they would be interviewed and appointed.
As the called meeting of the council was posted late Friday with interviewing and naming a mayor the only agenda items, Councilman Thomas Kent resigned his position immediately indicating it was his effort to create a double-vacancy forcing a special election in November.
Per the city charter, the council had 30 days in which to fill the vacancy or call a special election in November for the mayor’s position or any council position.
City Secretary Sandy Page said she has sent the issue of a double vacancy to the city’s attorney for a ruling which can be provided to the city council.
In his resignation, Kent said he feels this action best protects the interest of the citizens of Bowie. See his full resignation below.
Burris was named to the council in June 2017 to fill a precinct vacancy and elected mayor in November 2017. She was defeated by Bill Miller last November .
Miller had served just under six months of the two-year term. He did not offer a reason for his resignation in his letter to the council.
The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. May 18.
May 15, 2020
RE: Resignation
To: Mayor Pro Tem, Bowie City Council
Please accept my resignation as Councilor PCT 1 City of Bowie, TX effective immediately. I feel that this action best protects the interest of the citizens of Bowie, TX. By this action, it will create a double vacancy within the Council and thus mandate that these positions are filled in a Special election at the ballot box by the citizens of Bowie.
I feel strongly that no elected official that has been voted out of office by the public should be eligible to be “Reappointed to that same office” by a sitting council. They should be put back up before the people to be voted on for that office.
I hope that during the revamping of Bowie City Charter this is addressed and corrected.
Sincerely & Respectfully,
Thomas W. Kent
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.
-
NEWS3 years agoSuspect indicted, jailed in Tia Hutson murder
-
NEWS4 years ago2 hurt, 1 jailed after shooting incident north of Nocona
-
NEWS3 years agoSO investigating possible murder/suicide
-
NEWS3 years agoWreck takes the life of BHS teen, 16
-
NEWS3 years agoMurder unsolved – 1 year later Tia Hutson’s family angry, frustrated with no arrest
-
Show us something good9 years agoCountry music star children perform in Bowie
-
NEWS3 years agoSheriff’s office called out to infant’s death
-
100th Birthday4 years agoLooking back at the 1958 Centennial edition of The Bowie News








