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Bellevue ISD asking voters for $750,000 bond

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By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
Bellevue Independent School District approved a $4.5 million bond in November 2019 just as rumblings of a worldwide virus were beginning in America.
Little did the district know schools would be shut down five months later in March 2020 just as designs had begun on the new construction.
It would lead to a convergence of events that pushed the building project over budget, and forced the district to ask its voters for additional bond funds to wrap up the construction and purchase needed equipment.
Located in far southern Clay County and not far from the Montague County line, Bellevue ISD has an enrollment of about 145 for its Pre-K-12th grades.
In the Nov. 8 election Bellevue voters will be asked to consider a pair of bond propositions that together total $750,000.
Proposition A asks for $655,000 for designing, constructing, improving, upgrading, updating, acquiring and equipping school facilities, plus the removal of any necessary existing facilities.
Proposition B is for $95,000 and would allow for the sale of bonds in an amount not to exceed $95,000 for refunding all or a portion of the State Energy Conservation Office Loan agreement from May 22, 2020.

Superintendent Wade Wesley and members of the school board have been conducting informational meetings on the bond proposals this week to prepare voters for the November election. He said it can be a confusing thing as the district cannot advocate for the vote and can only provide information.
Wesley emphasized that although the ballot must say “this is a property tax increase,” the school will decrease the tax rate by two cents for the debt service portion of the rate next August.

Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.

The original Bellevue School stone sign was removed during the remodeling project at the school, and was recently returned to its place as new brick went up on the building. (Courtesy photo)
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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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