NEWS

County pushing for FEMA fund extension

Published

5 years ago

02/22/2020

By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
With a little more than 70 percent of its 2015 disaster-related road projects completed, Montague County Commissioners are trying to obtain at least one more extension from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The commissioner’s court met with officials from FEMA, Texas Department of Emergency Management and Cohn Reznick Tuesday to discuss the extension and give a status update.
While the commissioners have made progress, the upfront costs of the larger projects have delayed them to the point they are pushing up against a possible funding stoppage. County Judge Rick Lewis says FEMA has not given a “deadline,” but with so many other storms across the country, county officials anticipate it may set soon.
In the spring of 2015, Bowie received more than 20 inches of rainfall and Nocona almost 17 inches, causing massive damage. The flood came on the heels of a two-year drought.
Through FEMA disaster relief the county was allocated $13,137,353.79 for a total of 138 road projects. Of that amount, 117 were classified as small projects and 21 were large. It is a 75 percent FEMA/25 percent county match for the funds.

Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.

NEWS

Early deadline for New Year’s week paper

Published

23 hours ago

12/24/2024

bowienews

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.

NEWS

Published

1 day ago

12/24/2024

bowienews

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.

NEWS

County obligates ARPA funds for sewer plant project

Published

1 day ago

12/24/2024

bowienews

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.