NEWS
Sparks fly in debate over soda pops
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
While the burn ban was a hot topic, sparks flew in the courtroom Monday as commissioners argued about the policy that does not allow the county to buy soda pops for employees.
Commissioner Roy Darden raised the issue after an invoice he submitted was rejected by the auditor who reportedly told him the county is only allowed to purchase Gatorade and water. He asked what about tea, milk, coffee and orange juice, if those were allowed. Auditor Jennifer Essary said that has been the policy for the precincts.
Darden wanted to know where the rule came from whether it was a state mandate, court approved or from the auditor. Commissioner Bob Langford, senior member of the court, said they have always had to watch where they spend money and he had been “called on the carpet himself” for a wrong item.
“It is not a rule that is hers trying to make it hard on you or the county. There are only certain things you can and can’t do. I don’t know what is such a big deal. I understand where you are coming from, but we have to take care of what we spend and justify it,” said Langford.
County Judge Kevin Benton interjected they have to keep in mind, “This is not our money.”
Darden responded the problem is when she rejects a ticket it comes out of his pocket.
Read the full story in the mid-week Bowie News.
The Arctic air is here! Wind chills will plummet tonight, dipping into the single digits to lower teens for all of North and Central Texas. Make sure to check on neighbors & family, dress in warm layers, bring pets indoors and protect outdoor/exposed pipes.
Montague County will be under a COLD WEATHER ADVISORY from midnight tonight until 9:00 a.m. Sunday. Please take precautions.
Hear Audio Alert:https://hrpow.us/YEWQwEP
Monday a team from Brazos Electric arrived from Tolar, TX hauling with it a 22 Mva portable transformer and related unit that will provide power for the city’s substation while the new 20 Mva transformer is connected to the Bowie grid as well as the present pair of 12.5 Mva units.
Thanks to the soggy ground it was an up and down start as they got stuck, but they were finally able to get the trailer leveled. Nearby another trailer holds the series of connectors that will join that unit to the city’s transmission lines.
On Monday afternoon there were multiple brief power outages due to some issues with switches said City Manager Bert Cunningham, but it was all resolved by late afternoon.
Unfortunately the outages caused major problems for Comcell internet service which went off around 4 p.m. and did not resume until after 9 p.m.
The Saint Jo City Council last week accepted a request from its only full-time police patrol officer to leave active duty to be a reserve and named a new council member to fill a vacancy.
Councilors met on Jan. 8 to start the new year. Earlier in December longtime council member Carla Hennessey submitted her resignation after serving seven years. Michael Dennis was named to fill the position until the term ends in October when it will be on the ballot.
Dennis has served on the Saint Jo school board, as well a previous unexpired term on the council several years ago.
The city lost its full-time patrol officer as she asked to go to being a reserve. The Saint Jo Fire Department also got approval to buy a new pumper truck.
Read the full story in the Thursday Bowie New.
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