NEWS
Bowie City Council declines action on water rate proposals
By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
Proposed water rate hikes in the City of Bowie died from a lack of council action as there were questions on the need for such large hikes.
There was lengthy debate at last week’s city council session as City Manager Bert Cunningham once more presented two sets of rate hike proposals which he said are needed to help make the water department self-sustaining and to plan for the mandated purchase of a new raw water pump.
The rate proposals were first offered to the council back in early December, but they returned for consideration at the Jan. 27 meeting. Cunningham explained just like citizen’s costs have increased in the past year, the city’s costs have risen substantially causing the water department to consistently lose money. Back in 2018 the water rates were inadequate to rising costs so the city increased them by 4% to pay for inflated costs of treating water, maintenance of the plant and replacing old lines throughout the city.
In addition to those costs, no new funds have been added to the infrastructure fund, which is used to help fund larger projects in the city. In his presentation back in December the manager said in fiscal 2021-22 the average revenue was $179,769.04 and expenses were $115,107.29 resulting in an average profit of $64,661.75.
In 2022-23 revenue dropped to $173,977.46 with expenses at $150,370.78. Average profit came in at $23,606.68. And in 2023-24 revenue is at $165,176.61 with expenses at $174,391.75 giving up an average loss of $1,307.94 a month, losing money in each of the last five months. In a new update Cunningham told the council in the first two months of this year the water department has lost $102,000.
Read the full story in the Thursday Bowie News.
A crew from Scarborough Engineering was working on control termination wiring in the control room of the Bowie Substation last week. They were integrating additional equipment including the new transformer. Once everything is connected it will go through a testing phase. The transformer project has been stalled during the past year awaiting the arrival of various parts. (News photo by Barbara Green
By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
After more than a year of turmoil and upheaval it appears the Amon Carter Lake Water Supply Corporation is back on its feet with a slate of new board members and plans to review by-laws and operations.
Last August all the board members resigned in the wake of a lawsuit by a resident who could not obtain water for a small housing development despite being in the district. The property owner also accused the board of not following open meetings or open records laws, or its own by-laws.
After the board resigned a receivership was requested from the court and was named in December 2025. The receiver or temporary manager was Nocona attorney Zach Renfro, who was directed by the court to seek out possible directors to rehabilitate the association and assure it meets the obligation of continuing to provide water to more than 300 members.
The corporation board conducted its first general membership meeting on March 27 where a state of the corporation was given and new directors
named. They are Kevin McShan, president; Josh Swint, vice president; Carla Swofford, secretary; Wesley Kelly, treasurer; Zach Gunter, Rob Hankins and Chase Thomas, all directors.
Read the full story in your Thursday Bowie News.
The Bowie City Council meeting scheduled for April 28 was canceled due to the lack of a quorum.
Councilors Boyd Hulstine, Stephanie Post and Brent Shaw were present along with Mayor Gaylynn Burris, Four council members are required. Laramie Truax, Laura Sproles and TJay McEwen were absent. The agenda items were expected to be placed on the next agenda of business for the council.
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