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.