Copperas Cove city council to address park restroom increased costs

By BRITTANY FHOLER
Cove Leader-Press 

The Copperas Cove City Council will take action on executing the first amendment to the design/build agreement with G. Hyatt Construction for the City Park restroom project during their regular meeting this evening. 
The city first entered into an agreement with G. Hyatt Construction to complete a design/build restroom project in City Park, consisting of three new restrooms and the renovation of two existing restrooms.  City Council received an update on project cost increases during their October 19, 2021, meeting after staff received the 50 percent drawing. 
The cost increase was due to design changes made to the two existing buildings and the inflation on building materials. Staff received the final cost tabulation for the project last month, in the amount of $1,474,091.58.  The contract had been a total of $897,200 back in May 2021, and then $1.196 million in October. The city has $1.09 million available in funds from Certificates of Obligation from 2017-2020 for this project, and with this change,  thecity will need to come up with an additional $380,471.58. 
The city council will also take action on a resolution which will give no more than three recommendations for the renaming of Fort Hood for consideration by the Naming Commission. 
The list of candidates to choose from includes Master Sgt. Roy P. Benavidez, Gen. Richard E. Cavazos, Lt. Col. Harold Cohen, Sgt. 1st Class Eduardo C. Gomez, 1st Lt. Audie Murphy, Staff Sgt. Ruben Rivers, Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith, Gen. Donn A. Starry, Brig. Gen. Charles Young, Fort Central Texas or Fort Courage. 
City Council will also be providing direction on budget initiatives during their workshop meeting this evening. 
The list attached to the agenda packet for Tuesday’s workshop includes a 3 percent Cost of Living Adjustment in the General Fund, as well as Employee Market Adjustments and the Public Safety Step Plan for employees. 
There are also several new positions/reclassifications of positions throughout the city’s departments, including several police officers, a communication operator for the police department, several firefighter IIs for a fourth ambulance, a senior GIS technician, City Planner, an administrative assistant for Code Compliance, and several positions for the Parks and Recreation Department. 
As per the results of the Citizen Engagement Survey, Parks and Recreation was one of the areas that residents want the city to focus on improving. The list of positions includes the addition or reclassification of more recreation aides and more maintenance laborers to take care of the city’s park and green space. 
Capital Assets, as listed in the city’s Capital Outlay Plan, include the purchase of patrol rifles for the Police Department, another ambulance, computers and servers for IT and tablets, computers and mobile data and PPE for the Fire Department. The Capital Improvement Projects include the expansion of Fire Station #3, renovations to the Senior Center, renovations to the Library’s Children’s Room and renovations to the Municipal Court building. 
Under the Water and Sewer Fund, there are also new positions under Water Distribution for operators and SCADA technicians. Within the Solid Waste Fund, the new positions include Residential Driver. 
Within the Drainage Fund, the Capital Improvement projects include the N Main St / Colonial Plaza Culvert Replacement, the Courtney Lane Drainage Channel Improvements, the North Main Street Drainage Improvements, the January Street Drainage Improvements and Avenue B Drainage Improvements. 
The total amount of budget initiatives under the General Fund alone totals more than $5 million, so city council will be providing direction on which initiatives are most important at this time to put funding towards. 
The council will also be discussing their long-range debt schedule for 2022-2027 during this workshop meeting. 
During the workshop meeting, the city will also be recognizing several employees with their Employee Service Awards, including  SCADA technician Stephen Schamberger for five years of service, Patrol Officer/Detective Roger Snow for five years of service, Street/Drainage Superintendent John Field, Sr. for five years of service, Fire Battalion Chief Scott Howard for 15 years of service, Sgt. James Dudden for 20 years of service, Bailiff Alfredo Chavez for 25 years of service, Lt. Martin Ruiz for 25 years of service, and Lt. Joaquin Salazar Jr. for 30 years of service. 
Mayor Dan Yancey will also read aloud proclamations for Animal Care and Control Appreciation Week, Child Abuse Prevention Month and Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. 
The workshop will start at 5 p.m., and the regular meeting will start at 6 p.m. The meetings will take place in the council chambers at the Technology Center at 508 S. 2nd Street.