Special city council workshop set for Monday on Business 190 project

By LYNETTE SOWELL
Cove Leader-Press 

The Copperas Cove city council is holding a special workshop meeting on Monday, May 14 at 1 p.m. in the city council chambers located in the city’s Technology Cuilding, located at 508 S. 2nd St. 
Originally, the city had scheduled information meetings for Wednesday, May 2, during which council members, two at a time, could meet with city staff, TXDOT and BSP Engineers to review, ask questions and educate themselves on the upcoming project prior to the future public meeting scheduled for May 31. 
“As scheduled, the meetings did not require public notice, were not open to the public to attend and did not violate the Open Meetings Act,” stated Kevin Keller, the city’s public information officer, in a May 2 press release. “A local newspaper inaccurately reported today that these meetings were open to the public to attend. As a result, in effort to ensure there is no violation of the Open Meetings Act and/or a walking quorum due to this false information, the meetings have been cancelled and a future special workshop will be coordinated so the plans can be reviewed by the Council as a whole.”
Monday’s meeting will allow council members, business owners and the public to view and discuss planned $10 million in renovations to East Business 190, with TXDOT and BSP Engineers representatives present. 
Keller noted that the in-progress design work for the project will be available for viewing 30 minutes prior to the meeting that will start at 1 p.m. 
Additionally, the TXDOT Waco District has created a project web page which can be found at https://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/projects/studies/waco/business-us-190....
The page includes project history and schedule, map, research/studies, frequently asked questions page, and more. 
“We encourage the public to view this site to educate themselves on the project and dispel inaccurate rumors which have circulated,” Keller stated. 
Keller also confirmed that a public forum is still scheduled for Thursday, May 31 at 5:30 p.m., at the Copperas Cove Civic Center. 
Questions or concerns should be directed to Kevin Keller at kkeller@copperascovetx.gov or (254)547-4221.