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.
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.
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