After an hour-long hearing before the Bowman City Council June meeting in which over 40 Bowman residents were in attendance to show a strong opposition to the City of Bowman selling its’ gas department to the City of Elberton, Mayor Pete Gibbons decided to table the topic until next month’s council meeting.
“I think it’s best to table the sell of the gas department until next month and kind of get some bearings underneath us and make sure we’ve got everyone heard and give it the proper attention it needs,” said Gibbons.
The City of Elberton offered to buy the City of Bowman gas department’s franchise in exchange to offer broadband and internet service to Bowman residents.
According to Elberton City Manager Lanier Dunn, Elberton’s gas departments rates are almost the same as Bowman’s current rates.
Bowman council member Carla Patten told Bowman citizens the only reason the council is considering it is because the city cannot afford to hire qualified people to run the gas department.
“We have one employee who is qualified,” she said.
According to Patten, the gas department generated around $25,000 in funds in the last fiscal year and the general fund lost around $20,000 and the water department breaks even.
“So the gas department is the one making the money,” she admitted.
Bowman citizens expressed concerned in the future for Bowman if Bowman should sell their gas department to Elberton.
Many citizens were also in favor of looking into implementing city property taxes to help the city with revenue.
“Everybody I’ve talked to is against us selling,” said former Bowman Mayor Betty Jo Maxwell. “Gas makes money.”
“This little town has got to grow and we’ve got to bring people and business here [to sell gas services to],” Betty Yezina, one of many citizens who stood before the council to voice their concerns, told Gibbons and the council.
“You can’t grow if you’re selling the best you have,” said attorney and Bowman resident John Clark. “We don’t have to end up like Fortsonia. We’ve got to look at a plan of growth and work together.”
“If you are going to do that then let’s just hand in our charter and call it a day,” said former mayor Pam Johnson.
“It seems to me as a newcomer that this town [council] just wants to sit on their tail and not do anything,” Ray Brown told the council.
After such strong opposition from the citizens, Gibbons decided to table a vote until the July meeting.