NEWS
Lake Amon Carter Water Supply Corporation challenged for its service denial and not following open meeting laws
By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
It was a contentious meeting for the Amon Carter Lake Water Supply District on April 17 as a developer asked why he could not obtain water for his property and why he was not allowed to attend board meetings to make his request.
This was called the annual shareholders meeting and the posting noted they would be discussing rates, new developments, state of the company and any other topics. About 22 people were in attendance including all the board members and two secretaries.
Chairman John Halbrook welcomed the group and invited all the board members to introduce themselves. Ross Hamilton, who maintains the system for the corporation, gave a brief history of the group that began in 1995 as it purchases treated water from the City of Bowie. The system has 10.5 to 11 miles of line ranging from two, four and six inch lines. A concrete cylinder pipe sends treated water to the corporation system on a gravity feed system.
“It has run pretty good 30 years despite a few problems during those years. Most of our problems come when a customer hits a line,” Hamilton.
It was noted by Halbrook service disruptions usually come from the city-side and every time there is a break the system has to pay for up to 20,000 gallons of water to flush the system, which is costly.
An audience member said he understood the corporation had to spread out its last payments for water to flush a line over several months. No response was made.
While this was meeting on many topics, the opening question came from Daniel Deweber who has been battling to get water service to a 28-home development that is within the corporation service area. Deweber said he has been denied multiple times and has been unable to set up a meeting with the board or attend one their meetings.
Read the full story in the Thursday Bowie News.
Top photo – John Halbrook, chairman of the Lake Amon Carter Water Supply Corporation, opened the meeting. (Photo by Barbara Green)
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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