NEWS
Engineers hired for Nelson Street repairs
By BARBARA GREEN editor@bowienewsonline.com
Hayter Engineering was retained by the City of Bowie for services on the Nelson Street culvert replacement, but not before several councilors questioned if there were any less expensive options or if the services are negotiable.
The engineering firm has done several projects for the city and began looking at the repairs when the street was closed back on Aug. 21. After several days of heavy rain, a section of Nelson Street caved in prompting the street’s closure for safety concerns. Engineers have examined the site, and a couple of contractors looked to provide an estimate for repairs close to $2 million.
City Manager Bert Cunnigham reviewed the agreement that outlined the scope of services by Hayter on the project.
Engineering will be completed for the installation of double 11 ft. X 6 ft. reinforced box culverts in a drainage ditch crossing Nelson just east of Mill, east to the intersection with Lamb Street, then north along Lamb to tie into the existing drainage ditch. The boxes replace the rusted-out culverts that run under Nelson from the park.
A 4 ft. X 2 ft. concrete culvert will be placed from the intersection of Mill and Nelson east to the drainage ditch plus the installation of a new larger inlet box drain at the intersection of Mill and Nelson including any required street repair.
Headwalls will be created for the new culverts at Nelson, plus a new curb and gutter along Nelson and full-width street reconstruction. A water line on Nelson will be replaced. Hayter also will handle the bid process and construction review.
The proposed fee schedule totals $183,902 for engineering services.
Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.
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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