NEWS
Commissioners may consider lifting burn ban
Lifting the ban on outdoor burning will be one of the topics for the 9 a.m. April 11 Montague County Commissioner’s Court session.
The burn ban has been in place for the past two months and despite sporadic rainfall and cooler weather, the dry conditions have been fodder for numerous wildfires across the county and in North Texas.
Michael Edgin of Edgin, Fleming and Fleming will present the 2020-21 financial report.
The court will open bids on property located at 11224 State Highway 59, which came to the county due to taxes not being paid.
Commissioners also will consider applying for a Federal Emergency Management Administration individual safe room reimbursement grant. This grant was one of the primary projects talked about as the county, plus its cities and school districts took part in developing their mitigation plans, a requirement to apply.
Sealed bids for five air conditioning units to be placed on the roof of the county jail will be opened and awarded. The precinct also will ask to go out for sealed bids for emulsified asphalt and prime oil.
Other topics on the agenda include: Request from the county historical commission to install a wider gate at the Poor Farm Cemetery; precinct one request to enter the Kyle Skinner property to retrieve concrete scrap to use in a county washout on Dean Road to help stop erosion; precinct one request to place two pieces of equipment in a surplus auction; and consider the Texas Association of Counties Healthy County program.
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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