City council to discuss city’s annual debt issuance

By LYNETTE SOWELL 
Cove Leader-Press 

The Copperas Cove city council will hear a presentation from Interim City Manager Ryan Haverlah during today’s city council workshop, set to begin at 5 p.m. in the city council chambers, located at the city’s technology building, at 508 S. 2nd St. 
The presentation includes an overview of what the 2019 certificate of obligation bonds will be used for, how much of the bonds are tax funded, with others being funded by the city’s water and sewer funds, along with a picture of the city’s present debt repayment schedule. 
The city is bringing a list of $8.32 million in projects to the council for discussion and direction, with more than half, or $5.268,781, of that funding to be repaid in the form of a tax-funded 20-year note. Those projects include a little more than $1.2 million for the city’s capital outlay plan, more than $800,000 for the continued parks improvement plan, $1,477,156 for the reconstruction of Pecan Cove Drive, and $1.7 million for the radio communication system infrastructure. 
The remainder of the funding will go for water and sewer projects, such as the 20-inch Killeen/Cove water transmission line relocation, and continued improvements of $170,000 for the Hills of Cove golf cart path renovations. 
During the 6 p.m. meeting that follows, the council will have the opportunity to vote on the proposed annual bond issuance. 
Also during the meeting, the second hearing for a budget amendment for the current fiscal year will take place, for allocating hotel occupancy tax funds to the Copperas Cove Chamber of Commerce for Rabbit Fest. The council will also take a vote on the amendment tonight. 
The council will hear a quarterly report from Keith Sledd, executive director of the Heart of Texas Defense Alliance, with a vote to release up to $4,250 to the organization for its professional services. 
The Five Hills Art Guild will also be making a report this evening on the remainder of its activities and expenses associated with the Five Hills Art Festival in March. The guild is seeking the remainder of its allocated hotel occupancy tax funding in the amount of $5,232.93.
Appointments will be made to the newly created Sign Regulations Workgroup Ad Hoc Committee, which will be one representative from the council and one representative from the Planning and Zoning Commission. The city has recently put out the call for a “locally recognized member of the business community position to complete the committee.” 
The Copperas Cove Police Department is seeking authorization for the chief of police to apply for a grant for a U.S. Department of Justice for body cameras. The estimated cost of the cameras is $48,360, with the department being required to provide a 50 percent match of that cost, should it be approved for the grant. 
The Copperas Cove Fire Department is seeking to have some mobile and portable radios to be declared surplus property and disposed of at the direction of the council, to be used as trade-ins toward the purchase of new equipment totaling $73,342.
During the 5 p.m. workshop, Paul Cuevas, a sewer assistant supervisor/operator III, will be recognized for 15 years of service to the city. Proclamations will be issued, designating the month of June as City of Copperas Cove Wellness Month. The council will also hear a presentation and update on the 2019 Texas legislative session from interim city manager Ryan Haverlah.