NEWS
Electric rate ordinance back on agenda for second reading
The Bowie City Council will meet at 6 p.m. on March 25 in the council chambers, 307 N. Mason.
Council members are expected to debate once more an electric rate ordinance, which is up for its second reading. The electric rate plan was approved last fall, but it was implemented without a new ordinance. This new ordinance corrects that issue. Previously the city’s engineer had submitted an ordinance to be considered back in 2016 when the last rate hike was implemented, however, it was not put up for council action.
When the most recent rate plan was submitted the engineers reportedly thought the other ordinance had been approved and a new one was not needed. The electric rate reduction was effective Dec. 1, 2018 and was a 90-10 split with 90 percent of the reduction going to residential and 10 percent to industrial.
Two councilors, who were not on the panel when that rate plan was adopted, debated a change to the overall rate plan to spread the reduction out among all rate classes. Council Chuck Malone said it was the council thought giving the reduction to residential would impact the most people and if another reduction was possible it would go to the commercial classes. The ordinance passed with no changes and will face its second reading Tuesday.
An ordinance prohibiting the use of jake brakes by large trucks within the city limits also faces a second reading.
In new business, the 2017-18 outside audit will be presented by officials from Mathis, West and Huffines. A policy for internal controls and cash handling will be considered.
The Bowie News office will be closed Dec. 24-25 for the Christmas holiday, and Dec. 30 and Jan. 1.
There is an early deadline of 4 p.m. on Dec. 27 for the Jan. 1 Bowie News for all news and ad items.
Your Jan. 1 edition will be delivered to the mail and racks one day earlier due to the New Year’s holiday. We hope you have a great Christmas week.
Your Bowie News staff wishes you the blessings of a wonderful Christmas as you enjoy time with family and friends. Our offices will be closed Dec. 24-25 for the holiday.
Montague County Commissioners wrapped up a few items before the end of the year as they met on Dec. 23.
Grant Coordinator Charley Lanier asked the court to go ahead and obligate $276,961.84 from the American Rescue Funds to complete the new wastewater treatment plant that will serve the courthouse complex.
He explained Dec. 30 is the last date where grant funds can be obligated, and he did not expect any issues since this project had already been approved in court using ARPA funds, he called it a “safety net,” to avoid any problem and possible return of the funds to the federal government.
Montague County has about $276,961.84 in grant funds which has not been allocated.
The court gave approval on the request.
Lanier also asked the court to apply for a grant for a tire cutter. Funded through the Nortex Regional Planning Commission and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the application will ask for $26,865 to purchase a larger gas-powered cutter on a trailer, which can be moved around for use. It would cut the larger tires into four pieces, which would be allowed into a landfill. Lanier said if the cutter comes through the county would need to obtain a permit for its use from TCEQ, which he added should not be an issue.
Commissioner Mark Murphey said he picks up more tires abandoned on the county roads than he disposes of at his own yard, adding he probably has 500 at his yard. The court gave approval to apply for this competitive grant.
The remainder of Monday’s brief meeting were year-end items. Bonds for the justice of the peace one, county clerk, county attorney, district attorney, sheriff, commissioner three and constable two were accepted.
A cooperative agreement with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the county was approved, along with a license and services agreement with Local Government Solutions to provide software for both justice of the peace officers. The county attorney’s Chapter 59 Asset Forfeiture report was presented with no new seizures or forfeiture.
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