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No release gates available for Lake Amon G. Carter

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A photo of the spillway from the lake overflow this week at Lake Amon G. Carter. (Courtesy photo)

By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
Each time Lake Amon G. Carter closes due to heavy rainfall many residents demand to know why the city won’t “open the gates” to release water from the lake to alleviate flooding.
The answer is simple, the lake does not operate with gates like some of the much larger bodies of water, such as Lake Bridgeport. Public Works Director Dean Grant said there is a small valve to allow water to be transferred to Eagle Mountain Lake if the Tarrant Regional Water District calls for their allotment of water.
Recent years have brought heavy spring rains which have caused flooding across the county.
The lake was closed on May 2 due to heavy rains. One week ago the lake was at 924.04 mean sea level and as of noon on Friday it was at 922.94. It is considered full at 920. City officials have said it will not reopen until it drops back to at least 920.

The lake and its mechanism are doing what they were designed to do in regard to overflow and discharge. The dam specifications state the maximum discharge from overflow is 149,600 gallons per minute.
Built in 1956 by the City of Bowie, Lake Amon G. Carter was modified in 1983 when the Bowie Reservoir side was constructed by the city and the two lakes connected with the boat pass/balancing conduit (tunnel).
The principal spillway drop outlet is located in what is called the lower dam on the newer side of the lake. This outlet tower rises out of the lake and has two concrete sides and two open sides with grizzly bars.

Read the full story about how the lake mechanisms operate in your weekend Bowie News.

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Amon Carter Lake Board to meet

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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.

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Saint Jo City Council hires fire marshal

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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.

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City of Nocona buys water storage tank, review dam repair

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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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