NEWS
Bowie Council to consider credit card fees, energy retrofit project
Credit card fees for city bills and infrastructure work are just a few of the topics slated for the March 14 meeting of the Bowie City Council that begins at 6 p.m. in council chambers.
At the last council session, City Manager Bert Cunningham reported last year the city incurred nearly $93,000 in credit card payment processing fees the customer pay their bills. In the past, the council has rejected any fees, however, as the fees continue to grow Cunningham said he was preparing a recommendation for consideration.
There will be a discussion to take $72,000 from the infrastructure fund for the southside sewer project that will replace a collapsed line. Councilors also will return to the Honeywell energy retrofit proposal and decide if the city will participate. The company has offered a plan to finance the replacement of aging HVAC units, various controls and systems throughout city operations that can improve the energy efficiency and save in energy costs, which are in turn used to pay for the financing.
Honeywell has estimated a half-million program, however, if the council decides to proceed an “investment grade audit” that would define all costs. It would then be up to the city to decide after its receives this audit to proceed forward with the overall project. If the city declines after the audit shows positive savings, it would pay a “breakage fee” of $19,000 and if no positive savings are found Honeywell would not pursue it.
A resolution related to the filing of a grant application with the Nortex Regional Planning Commission for a regional solid waste grants program will be presented, along with four appointments to the parks board.
In the city manager’s report the following topics will be reviewed: Raise grant, solid waste grant, hospital emergency room, Public Utilities Commission workshop, southside sewer bid opening, audit meeting, Enterprise meeting and credit card fees.
Mike Tibbetts of Hayter Engineering and Steve Ruse, structural engineer, were at the City of Bowie raw water pump station this past week to take a look at the location where a new raw water pump will be added at the directive of Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The unfunded state mandate requires the city to add a 60-hp pump, to the present pair of 200-hp pumps in order to meet the capacity requirements of state standards. Estimated cost of the pump is between $850,000 to $950,000. (Courtesy photos)
There was very little courtroom activity during the Dec. 17 pre-trial hearing of former District Attorney Casey Hall on theft charges as the judge invited the attorneys into his chambers to discuss what they were doing.
Hall, who lost her bid for a third term as 97th District Attorney in the March primary, was indicted in July on a charge of theft $2,500-$30,000 connected with funds from a Texas Attorney General office’s grant.
The original pre-trial for the theft case was set for Aug. 16, but was rescheduled for Dec. 17. Judge Gabriel came into court that morning and after confirming both Shawhan and Hall’s attorney Abe Factor, were there, he reportedly asked both sides to come into his chambers.
After a brief period they left the judge’s chambers and went into another separate office, before going back to talk with Gabriel.
Court never resumed and both attorneys left the courtroom after picking up their belongings and left. The Nocona News reported as Shawhan left the courtroom when asked if the case was being dismissed he said, “It’ll either be a plea or a trial in February.” The case paperwork in the district clerk’s office does not reflect any additional action in this case or any other scheduled hearing or trial.
Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.
The Texas Department of Public Safety reminds Texans of the upcoming changes to the state’s Vehicle Safety Inspection Program beginning on Jan. 1, 2025.
These changes—which eliminate many vehicle safety inspections—are due to House Bill 3297. The bill was passed by the 88th Legislature and signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott in 2023, abolishing the Vehicle Safety Inspection Program for non-commercial vehicles.
As a reminder, starting New Year’s Day, non-commercial vehicles will no longer need a vehicle safety inspection prior to registration. All non-commercial vehicles in the state will still be subject to a $7.50 inspection program replacement fee per HB 3297. The inspection program replacement fee will be paid when you register your vehicle with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.
New vehicles (those of the current or preceding model year on the date of purchase) purchased in Texas that have not been previously registered in Texas or another state are required to pay an initial inspection program replacement fee of $16.75 to cover two years.
Note the inspection program replacement fee is not an increase in the cost of your vehicle registration. As its name suggests, this fee simply replaces the revenue source for state programs and operations—like the construction and expansion of state highways—once supported by vehicle safety inspections.
Read the full story in your weekend Bowie News.
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