NEWS
Bowie City Council questions cost of Nelson Street repairs
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
The Bowie City Council gave final approval to the 2022-23 budget and passed the first reading of the ordinance setting the 2022 tax rate.
City officials also were updated on projected costs to repair the Nelson Street flooding damage.
In his monthly report, City Manager Bert Cunningham said the flooding in August made the already rusted-out culverts under Nelson Street at Kiwanis Park “hazardous at best and dangerous at worse.”
While a portion of the streets near those culverts collapsed, it also raised concerns the street weakened above those culverts could collapse under a heavy load. The dropbox at the intersection of Nelson and Mill also is collapsing.
“The culverts under Nelson Street need to be replaced with concrete culverts and the drop box culverts need to be replaced before we can let traffic continue to use the street,” explained the CM.
Hayter Engineering has given a plan design to two construction companies to get an estimate of the costs which the firm is estimating in the $2 million vicinity.
“I have asked Hayter to go ahead and design the project and as soon as we have a design, we will bid the project,” said Cunningham. “We currently have the funds to do at least the Nelson and Mill Street portion of the project. As you are probably aware we are required to have at least a 30% reserve of funds and we do not want to go under that amount. Obviously, before we do anything other than the engineering of the project, I will come to the council for permission to use the funds.”
Read the full story from this week’s city council meeting in the weekend Bowie News.
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
Trustees of the Bowie Independent School District welcomed one new member this week following the Nov. 5 election and accepted the 2023-24 outside audit with no exceptions.
Incumbent Trustee Jacky Betts returned to place one and Angie Christmas took the place two seat. After the board officers were dissolved with the new ones taking the oath, officers were elected. Betts will continue as president, Guy Green as vice president and Kent Dosch as secretary.
Paul Fleming of Edgin, Parkman, Fleming & Fleming, PC, presented the audit telling there were no issues and the process went smoothly. He noted the biggest change was the Legislature compressing the district tax rate and additional changes in the tax law. State aid formula grants increased due to the state’s funding formula compensating for lost property tax revenue due to the law change previously mentioned.
Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
The Bowie City Council welcomed three newly-elected members Tuesday night and the panel had its annual council orientation of duties presented by the city attorney.
Brandon Walker and Laramie Truax took the oath of office for their respective seats during the meeting. Laura Sproles was sworn in prior to the meeting as she was enroute to the hospital after a fall at home where she injured her hand and wrist. All the candidates had to take the oath by Tuesday night after the votes were canvassed.
City Attorney Courtney Goodman-Morris made the presentation on council duties and obligations, as well legal requirements. Brent Shaw was elected as mayor pro tem.
Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
Information was the watchword for the second hospital/emergency room community meeting Tuesday night, as the steering committee was announced along with additional financial considerations.
About 50 people attended the meeting. Melody Gillespie, who was named chairperson for the committee, said the goal is to gather information to get it out into the community. This group was formed after the Bowie emergency room was closed by Faith Rural Health System in early October just shy of one year of operating in Bowie.
Kylie Ward, one of the public relations volunteers, said, “This committee is not here to force things on you and there are assumptions already we are proposing a tax. We are not, we don’t have that ability, we are just a research team here to explore all the options.”
Other members of the committee include Tiffany Chandler and Damon Benton handling finance and grant research; Jennifer Tellef, secretary; Valerie Tomerson, grant research; Ann Smith, PR and Margin Latham and Gillespie, legislative research. It was pointed out there are other members of the sub-committees who are helping with research, but they also invite anyone interested to help with the process.
Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.
Top photo – Jack County Judge Keith Umphress spoke at this week’s steering committee meeting. (Photo by Barbara Green)
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