NEWS
Commissioners say budget is too tight this year to help
By BARBARA GREEN
It has been 20 years since the subsidy paid to the three Montague County ambulance services was increased and things don’t look promising for any change this year due to budget constraints.
However, the commissioner’s court on Monday told Bowie Mayor Larry Slack they will see if any increase is possible this year and then begin work on further remedies.
Slack returned to the court to provide additional details requested after his June 27 presentation to the court on the Bowie Emergency Medical Service. In June the mayor reviewed the financial status and operational data of the EMS that serves almost all of the southern portion of the county about 400 square miles.
Montague County pays a stipend of $18,000 a year to Bowie EMS, plus $15,000 to Nocona General Hospital EMS and $12,504 to Saint Jo Volunteer Fire Department Ambulance. This figure was first paid in fiscal year 1995-96 and has not been changed since that time.
Commissioner Mark Murphey questioned the mayor’s figures asking why the city sent a rescue truck on an ambulance call instead of calling on Bowie Rural VFD to make the run. He questioned the duplication of service and asked for a breakdown on those calls.
Read the full story in the mid-week News.
Pictured, Bowie Mayor Larry Slack discusses ambulance operations with the Montague County Commissioners on Monday. (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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