NEWS
Commissioners continue budget, review septic system fees/duties in closed session
Montague County Commissioners face a lengthy agenda of business at a 9 a.m. June 13 meeting including fees and duties of the county sewer/septic inspector and a budget workshop.
The discussion of the septic inspector duties is set for an executive session with any action back in open session.
In the budget workshop, county officials are expected to start presenting their budget proposals for the new fiscal year. Final certified values will not be available until late July.
The Montague County 4-H members will make their annual interpretation to the court reviewing some of their activities for the past year. The Upper Trinity Water Groundwater Conservation District staff also will provide an update on its work this year.
Several annual tasks are scheduled including the court going out for bids for gravel and various sizes of rock; the county investment policy will be reviewed; endorsement of the Texoma Area Paratransit System new administrative/operations facility and future transit terminal; vendor licensing addendum with Justice Solutions; request unclaimed property capital credits for counties from the Texas Comptroller; and consider the North Texas Tri-County Child Fatality Review Team Interagency Agreement.
Facing rising gas and diesel prices commissioners will consider amending the fuel line item to cover a projected shortfall of $25,150.
Atmos Energy Corporation will submit three right-of-way road bore applications for work in precincts two, three and four on Haney Road, Tage Road, Harper Road and Lonestar Road. Unanticipated revenue from those permits also will be approved.
More property development is coming to the county with several preliminary plats up for review: Lots 1-30 Carter Heights, 63.82 acres in the Daniel Farris Survey; lots 1-5 Kingdom Heights, 30 acres in the S.A. Mills Survey; lots 1-2, Kingdom Heights II, 10.03 acres in the T.E.&L Co. Survey and lots 1-13 Stonewood Ranch 48.87 acres in the Henry D. Lindsey subdivision.
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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