NEWS
TxDOT crews prepare roads for winter weather
WICHITA FALLS DISTRICT (Archer, Baylor, Clay, Montague, Throckmorton, Wichita, Wilbarger, and Young Counties) – TxDOT crews spent yesterday, Dec. 6th, pre-treating bridges and overpasses with Brine. However, if rain continues much of the anti-icing agent will be washed off the roadways today.
Maintenance forces will start 12 hour shifts at 4PM this afternoon and work throughout the night. These shifts will continue until the storm passes and cleanup is complete.
Crews will be putting down deicing liquids like Brine as well as traction materials on bridges and trouble spots when frozen precipitation begins to fall.
TxDOT is extremely concerned with the potential for icy conditions Saturday morning. Drivers are reminded that the highways could be slick as if pre-treating had NEVER happened. Travel in the morning is discouraged if your area gets hit with freezing rain.
Drivers are urged to follow these precautions:
• Reduce speed. Speed limits are based on normal dry road and weather conditions, not winter road conditions. Do not use cruise control.
• Maintain at least three times the normal following distance on snow or ice.
• Watch carefully for personnel and equipment treating roadways, and stay at least 200 feet back from road crews.
• Use extra caution on bridges, ramps, overpasses and shaded areas as they tend to freeze first and thaw last.
• Carry warm coats, gloves and boots in case you get stranded.
• If you start to slide, ease off the gas pedal or brakes. Steer into the direction that you want to go until you feel you have regained traction, and then straighten your vehicle.
Motorists can obtain travel information by visiting DriveTexas.Org or calling (800) 452-9292. The Wichita Falls District’s traffic cameras can be viewed at DriveTexas.Org, TxDOT.Gov or on the WeatherBug app. We also invite you to follow us on Twitter. @ TxDOTWF.
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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