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Saint Jo City Council hears land requests, discusses speeding issue

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Members of the Saint Jo City Council handled a slate of regular business of land requests and citizen questions when they met on Feb. 8.
Kelly Williamson asked the council if it would be possible to push the 45 mph speed limit further out along U.S. 82 possibly to reduce the noise from large trucks. City Secretary Teresa Fangman said no action was taken, but city staff had contacted the Texas Department of Transportation about the question. There was consensus from TxDOT and the council the noise from the highway is just part of living in that location.
Don Thomas, who requested a discussion about speeding on FM 2382 did not appear.
Two requests for placement of new manufactured homes were approved. Kyle and Krystal Ogden want to place a unit next to 503 E. Meadows after the property is replatted. It was approved pending the replat.
The second request was made by Daniel Hill and Donna Williams to place a home at 501 N. Herndon.
The council also reviewed two requests for certificates of appropriateness from the Saint Jo Historical Advisory Board. The first request for 105 E. Howell, the old Valley Creek Arts building was approved, while the second for 112 S. Broad, Real Estate Station, was tabled as they await more information.
In other topics program goals related to a Texas Community Development Board grant were adopted. This is part of an ongoing process for a grant the city has received to rehab its water tower and for electronic meters, which has been in the works the past two years.
The Texas Municipal Retirement System renewal rate was accepted, along with the police racial profiling report.
Quarterly financial reports from the 4A and 4B economic development corporations were accepted. Eli Casey got approval to host a May chili cook-off on the square.

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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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