NEWS
Nelson Street repair a go; first sewer line project bid approved
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
Bowie City Councilors Monday night accepted the first bid in a multi-phase project to replace 10 miles of sewer line and took the bid to repair drainage in the Nelson/Mill Street area.
The sewer line project has been in the works for more than two years and dirt will finally fly come possibly starting in November. Kevin Vanhoosier of Hayter Engineering reviewed the sole bid for the project that will focus on six problem areas including lines, a lift station and manholes.
This sewer line program is funded by a low-interest loan for $9.7 million from the Texas Water Development Board. While only one bid was received from BCAC Underground for $832,802.75, it came in under the engineer’s estimate of $1.4 million. Councilors accepted the bid.
Vanhoosier said they have checked the firm’s references, its bonding company and did the related due diligence, so they feel positive about accepting the bid. The program will be spread out in about 44 total projects based on a priority list developed in 2020 when the loan was applied for by the city; however, it is not expected the funds will hold out due to rising costs.
The council accepted the low bid for the Nelson Street project at $2,004,369 and approved a notice of intent to offer certificates of obligation to fund the project.
Read the full story in the mid-week Bowie News.
Concrete was poured on Nelson Street this week as the massive drainage project underway for almost nine months is getting near its end. Traffic will see a big relief once Nelson reopens, it was closed on Aug. 21, 2022 once a large section of the street on the north side collapsed following years of flooding and lack of drainage. (Courtesy photos Brent Shaw)
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
Bowie City Councilors reluctantly approved an increase of .0111 cents in the city’s electric rates in an effort to recover the ongoing increases in wholesale power costs.
The increase will go into effect in the July 15 billing cycle and residential customers can expect an increase of just under $9 a month. The average residential use is 800 kilowatt hours a month and this new rate would add $8.88 to the monthly bill.
The power cost recovery factory has been in debate by the council since earlier in February when City Manager Bert Cunningham recommended the increase, but then council said no.
Bowie’s power rates are set up in two categories: Base rates and power cost recovery. Base rates, customer charges and energy charges are intended to recover costs to the utility related to operating an maintaining the system (profit).
The PCRF is the variable portion of wholesale power costs and changes as needed based on factors in the wholesale market, including, but not limited to increases or decreases in the cost of natural gas, the fuel that generates most of the electricity in Texas. The PCRF is intended to recover wholesale costs of resale power.
Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.
City of Bowie crews were busy earlier this week making a repair on a 12-inch water line on Pecan and Cooper where a valve was not holding. (Bottom) This was the rusty metal section of pipe cut out and replaced to repair the line. (Courtesy photos)
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