Connect with us

NEWS

Montague County qualifies to reopen at 50 percent; 1 new case reported Friday

Published

on

By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
Montague County Judge Rick Lewis said Friday morning he has shipped off the documentation on the “attestation for counties with five or fewer laboratory confirmed cases,” which will allow county businesses to increase the opening capacity for restaurants from 25 percent to 50 percent.
Montague County has had six positive cases with five recovered and one fatality.
Late Friday afternoon County Health Authority Dr. Delbert McCaig confirmed one new COVID-19 case in Nocona, the first in 10 days moving the county to seven.
Lewis cautioned while the county does qualify at this time, citizens and businesses must continue to exercise the same precautions with social distancing and hygiene. Any spike in cases could result in reductions in capacity or shutdowns.
“It has taken a lot of work, but we got it all finished. I am very proud of our people and the public for working so hard to keep down the virus, but we have to continue to be very diligent,” said the judge.
Lewis continued the main comments he has heard from business owners is they want to get open, but he also is scared of a spike in cases which everyone has to work hard to avoid.
The process is part of the governor’s plan to Reopen Texas announced Monday by Gov. Greg Abbott. His existing emergency order on limiting to essential services expired on Thursday.

Read the full story in your weekend Bowie News.

Continue Reading

NEWS

Amon Carter Lake Board to meet

Published

on

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.

Continue Reading

NEWS

Saint Jo City Council hires fire marshal

Published

on

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.

Continue Reading

NEWS

City of Nocona buys water storage tank, review dam repair

Published

on

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.

Continue Reading
Ad
Ad
Ad
Ad
Ad
Ad
Ad
Ad

Trending