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Water well applications reflect new growth across Montague County

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By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
Officials with the Upper Trinity Groundwater Conservation District told the Montague County Commissioners they are starting to see development connected with the new subdivisions, but it is still moving slowly as the projects are sold and get off the ground.
Doug Shaw, executive director of the UTGCD, and Tracy Mesler, chairman of the UTGCD board of directors, met with the court at its Monday meeting. Shaw said there have been 101 water well applications through May 31 with five more in June so far for a total of 106. The historical average is 116 for the year.
“Well applications are a good indicator of growth especially in rural areas where there are no water systems. Who knows what is going to happen with the economy and rates are going up? With all that you would assume the number building houses would decline, we are not seeing that right now, it is just blowing and going. One of the developers up here has done projects elsewhere in the district, they don’t seem to be slowing down. We are a lot busier in Montague County than we have been,” explained Shaw.
The well applications for 2022 are spread out across the county and there has not been a lot done in those subdivision projects with the exception of a few test wells.
He anticipates once that building starts those number will go up. In reviewing recent domestic well statistics show 179 well applications in 2021, the highest point since 150 in 2011.

Read the full story in your mid-week Bowie News.

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Amon Carter Lake Board to meet

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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.

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Saint Jo City Council hires fire marshal

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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.

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City of Nocona buys water storage tank, review dam repair

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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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