Council to vote on utility building renovation funding, issuance of annual bonds
By LYNETTE SOWELL
Cove Leader-Press
Funding for renovations of Copperas Cove's former Utility Administration building at 305 S. Main St. is on Tuesday’s agenda for the Copperas Cove city council.
The total projected cost for the project is $222,567, which includes design, as well as project construction that includes demolition work, temporary site services, slab leveling, masonry, framing, roofing, drywall, doors and trim, plumbing, heating and air duct and ventilation, electrical, insulation, drop ceiling, appliances, cabinets and vanities, counter tops, laminate flooring, painting, paving repairs, seal coat and striping, sidewalk, ramps and curbing, security and fire alarm system and engineering. The city received the project cost estimate from Coyote Design and Build, LLC, which also conducted plans and engineering drawings, along with an asbestos survey report.
The subject of the city’s annual certificate of obligation bonds is on the agenda, with the council being presented with a resolution to give notice of intent to issue the city’s annual CO bonds.
This year’s issuance would include a little more than $8.8 million in CO bonds, which funds a little more than $2.4 million in tax-supported projects, to include $1.6 million in the capital outlay plan, $30,000 toward designing a new animal kennel for Animal Control, Veterans Avenue sidewalk improvements at $461,362, as well as Parks & Recreation improvements at $431,250. The remaining amount of the annual CO bonds will be supported by Water/Sewer, Solid Waste, Golf Course, and Court Technology funds. This year’s notice also includes $8.3 million in re-funding of general obligation bonds.
The council will also be voting on the final plat for The Village at Walker Place, a future duplex residential subdivision. The plat is 33.356 acres, to be divided into four blocks of 68 lots, and will be located east of Dixon Circle, near the corner of F.M. 3046 and the U.S. Highway 190 bypass.
Another final plat is up for a vote by the council on Tuesday, that for Reata Ranch Phase 2, a single family residential subdivision of 24 lots on 23.75 acres, west of F.M. 116 and Coleton Drive.
The Copperas Cove Chamber of Commerce will be making its quarterly presentation on activities and expenses associated with the Visitors Bureau. The chamber is requesting $26,980 of the remaining $66,215 in hotel occupancy tax funding that the council previously approved allocation to the chamber for its visitors bureau services. Of that $26,980, $18,778 would go to the chamber for its operating expenses and the remaining $8,202 is for tourism promotion/advertising expenses.
The city’s sign regulations are up for discussion on Tuesday, as well as the Sign Regulations Workgroup Ad Hoc Committee. Along with the discussion on sign regulations, there will be a public hearing and consideration to repeal the Chapter 16.5 from the city’s code, concerning sign regulations.
The City Council is also holding a workshop at 5 p.m. discuss the preparation of the city’s 2021 fiscal budget. Residents can call in to listen to the conference call, for which there will be a time of citizens’ forum at the beginning of the 6 p.m. meeting. The number is 888-475-4499 with meeting ID: 986 602 9818. Additionally, the city will broadcast the meeting live on the City of Copperas Cove YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIHkZ_Fwq-Y0iRkNU1-fM8w.