NEWS
Bowie adds 5% credit card fee to pay bills
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
Bowie City Councilors agreed there was a need to implement a credit card fee for city utility bills, however, the panel debated the amount eventually going with a 5% fee effective June 1.
City Manager Bert Cunningham and City Finance Director Pamela Woods presented the proposal at Monday’s meeting. It was tabled from a previous meeting to allow time to research the company Certified Payments to handle the process, along with researching all the fees and calculating what is needed to help pay for more than $92,000 in fees the city pays to process card payments.
The issue had been raised in prior years, but Cunningham reported about two months ago the fees were nearly $100,000 and the city needs to do something to at least break-even with the fees. He previously noted $100,000 would buy a pretty good piece of equipment for the city.
In February the manager reported he would be researching Certified Payments as a potential vendor to handle the process; however, he said Monday night after examining the costs it was about the same as they have now and would not save money. In addition, using the present billing system would not require retraining of employees or customers who pay online or with a card.
Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.
City of Bowie officials were on hand to inspect the emergency electrical generators that were delivered last week.
Mayor Gaylynn Burris and City Manager Bert Cunningham inspected one of three emergency electrical generators purchased as part of an ongoing Federal Emergency Management Agency Hazard Mitigation Grant. They also talked with Jay Evans, head of the city electric department, and Jerry Sutton, director of the water treatment plant about the next step for installation of the generators.
This grant provides funding for one 150 kW and two 250 kW generators for use at the water treatment plant.
Read the full story in the mid-week Bowie News.
City Manager Bert Cunningham and Mayor Gaylynn Burris talk with the electric and water department staff about the new generators. (Photo by Cindy Roller)
No action was taken on a legal issue after members of the Bowie City Council met in a called closed session at 4 p.m. on July 12.
City Secretary Sandy Page said the council met for almost one hour for “consultation with attorney – Midwest Waste Services LLC vs. City of Bowie.
This lawsuit goes back to August 2019 when Midwest sued the city for its action requiring those who receive city water outside the city limits to use the designated waste collector, which is Waste Connections. This was shortly after the city signed a new long-term contract with WC.
The suit was dismissed in June 2020 on two points in the suit, but City Manager Bert Cunningham said a third point remained in mediation.
The Department of Public Safety has provided information on an auto vs. motorcycle accident that reportedly occurred on July 4.
James Lee Hilton, Nocona, was driving a 2019 Harley-Davidson motorcycle and Daniel Parra, Chico, was driving a 2018 Ford Fiesta. Both vehicles were north on State Highway 101 outside Sunset with the motorcycle behind the car.
Parra was attempting to turn left on Farm-to-Market Road 2265 when the motorcyclist attempted to unsafely pass to the left states the report. The bike struck the left side of the Fiesta. Both vehicles came to rest off the roadway on the northwest corner of SH 101 and FM 2265.
Hilton was transported to Denton Medical City with
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