Thereâs a mess in the City of Bogata.
Luckily, the city has Larry Hinsley at the helm, working through the mess and being as transparent with the public as possible.
Texans need more politicians like him in office.
The City of Bogata has had its fair share of fiascoes since September 2020 when former mayor Vincent Lum up and resigned the position under public scrutiny of his use of a monthly expense account without receipts for expenditures and his perceived micromanaging of the cityâs police department.
The following weeks were a roller coaster for Bogata as other councilors, including then mayor pro tem Jacob Rose resigned their positions. Before Rose left, he joined the council in voting for Hinsleyâs appointment to an already vacant seat. When Rose left, Hinsley rose to the occasion and became mayor pro tem.
BOGATA â Dirt movers have broken ground on a new store in Bogata.
A Dollar Tree/Family Dollar combo store will be opening in early 2022, according to company spokeswoman Kayleigh M. Painter.
âSmall towns have historically had very limited retail options and shoppers often travel long distances to meet all of their shopping needs, but we are changing that,â said Kayleigh M. Painter, Dollar Treeâs Investor and Media Relations Manager.
The companyâs brand new combo store format, which combines both retailers, is expected to offer complementary goods to the area. It is not the only business breaking ground in Bogata. Construction is also expected to start soon on a truckstop at the corner of Highways 37 and 271, which will also feature a Sonic Drive-In, owned by Azam Properties.
BOGATA â Unless Red River County can come up with enough funding, the ambulance service, LifeNet, plans to pull out of the county at the end of the year.
LifeNet is a private company that has had a contract in Red River County for 30 years now. At Mondayâs commissioners meeting, Judge L.D. Williamson said the county had to have an ambulance service.
âThey have been losing money steadily here,â he said. âThey are asking us now for $144,000 in order to stay.â
At Monday nightâs Bogata City Council meeting, Mayor Pro Tem Larry Hinsley broke the news to the crowd, then immediately turned attention to different ways to possibly raise money, from a fee on water bills to contacting state representatives for help. Police Chief David Short said the ambulance service has been subsidized by surrounding counties like Bowie County for years.
BOGATA â When early voting starts April 19, all of the seats on the Bogata City Council will be on the ballot. Only three of the races are contested.
âWe have had a lot of people appointed to this council,â City Councilman Cecil âTexâ Loftin said at a previous meeting. âAt this point, there have been so many people appointed, it is time the citizens had their say.â
Places 1, 3 and 5 are up for one-year terms, while the mayor and Places 2 and 4 are two-year terms, according to a January vote from the council. The schedule will return the city to compliance with the Texas Constitution with only half of the council up for election at any one time. The unchallenged races include Mayor Pro Tem Larry Hinsley running for mayor, Loftin running for Place 1 and LaTausha Morgan running for Place 4. The Place 4 seat will be vacated in May by incumbent Don Roach, who has chosen not to run again.
BOGATA — At Friday’s called meeting, the Bogata City Council hired Jennifer Boyd as the new city court clerk. With this hire, the city court and newly hired City Judge