COUNTY LIFE
County budget, tax rate up for vote Monday
Montague County Commissioners will conduct public hearings and are expected to adopt the budget and tax rate during its Aug. 24 meeting.
The tax rate hearing will begin at 8:30 a.m., the budget hearing at 8:45 a.m. and the regular meeting at 9 a.m.
Commissioners could make last minute changes to the budget as a workshop is set on the agenda prior to the action item to adopt it. Budget expenses are proposed at: General fund, $9,434,015; indigent health care – $486,984; road and bridge one, $1,163,913; precinct two, $995,975; precinct three, $1,140,975 and precinct four, $1,000,975.
The proposed tax rate will be .5641 cents per $100 in property value. It will be broken down as follows: .4401 cents in maintenance and operation; .1289 special road and bridge and .0168 cents for debt.
Several election topics will be discussed including the order calling the November election, joint election agreements with the Cities of Bowie and Nocona, and schools districts in Montague and Bowie and approve the 2020 Help America Vote Act Election Security sub-grant to Texas counties.
Veteran’s Service Officer Colm Murphy will address the duties of his current assistant. During the recent budget workshops Murphy asked the assistant position salary be increased to a deputy clerk due to additional training.
A data processing service agreement between Justice Solutions and the sheriff’s office will be examined. The sheriff is looking to add six software licenses in use at the his office. He had hoped to purchase new software, but commissioners have indicated they can’t make it work in this year’s budget.
The 2020-21 county clerk records management and archive yearly plan will be reviewed, along with the energy capital reimbursement distribution.
In other agenda items: Precinct four will present a finance agreement for a motor grader; precinct one budget adjustment from gravel to part-time and renting an excavator; precinct one to enter the Mike Berkley property to clean debris from a bridge waterway; precinct one buying two acres on Farm-to-Market Road 455 for a maintenance and storage yard and precinct two accepting donations for chip sealing Tage Road.
Bowie will begin dressing up downtown during the annual Hanging of the Greens starting at 10 a.m. on Nov. 16.
On Saturday morning volunteers will gather to hang lighted garland and wreaths on the nearly 100 lamp posts throughout downtown Bowie. These sparkling decorations will light up the area for the Fantasy of Lights Christmas Festival the weekend of Dec. 7, as well as throughout the holiday season.
Any citizen, family, student, civic group or club is invited to take part. Those with questions may call the BCDB office at 872-6246. Volunteers will meet at city hall across from the BCDB office at Pecan and Mason to receive their supplies. Please bring along a step ladder.
It’s going to be a “Candy Cane Christmas” in Bowie this year during the Fantasy of Lights Christmas Festival on Dec. 7.
Event host, the Bowie Community Development Board is planning a full weekend of activities to help launch the holiday season in Bowie.
The lighted parade is one of the weekend’s highlights and those wishing to enter should remember the deadline is Nov. 16.
Dec. 6
Festival weekend begins with Sip & Stroll With Me from 5-8 p.m. on Dec. 6.
Throughout downtown participating merchants invite strollers to enjoy wine or other drinks, and other holiday munchies as they shop stores and meet retailers. There will be live music, a holiday photo booth, carriage rides and of course lots of shopping.
Wristbands may be purchased at any of the participating merchants for $15. Strollers will receive a wine glass with their wristband, but they also are welcome to use a previous glass. Proceeds go toward downtown beautification projects.
Dec. 7
Saturday offers a full array of family-fun activities to enjoy from pancakes to floats.
The City of Bowie Fire Department welcomes families to enjoy free Pancakes with Santa from 7 to 10 a.m. at the fire hall, 203 Walnut. Toy drive donations will be accepted and there will be photos with the Big Guy.
Read the full story in the mid-week Bowie News.
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
Montague County celebrated its veterans Monday during a program at the courthouse annex in Montague.
The young men of the Trail Life Troop 1309 of Bowie posted the colors offering the American and Texas flags, followed by the American Heritage Girls Troop 1031 also from Bowie who gave the pledge of allegiance. Thad Murphy gave a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem.
Jerry “Doc” Cody, Forestburg, was the guest speaker sharing a bit of his experience as a U.S. Army veteran. Cody is an active volunteer with the county veteran services office, which hosted Monday’s program.
After being drafted, he was inducted into the Army on June 13, 1967. After completing basic combat training, Cody went to Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio where he trained as a combat medic.
After a 12-day leave he was sent to Vietnam where he served in the Central Highlands assigned to the 2/17th field artillery.
Read the full story in the mid-week Bowie News.
Top photo – speaker Jerry Cody.
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