During the November 2, Levelland City Council meeting, the group deliberated over several agenda items including park projects and a seal coat program.
The upcoming parks projects proposed by the Levelland Community Development Corporation (LCDC) during budget discussions were presented by Levelland Parks Director Dustin Reichelt.
On their list were several planned constructions, and some studies to determine the future of the Oxy Sports Complex. Funding for the Farmer’s Market Park, a project of the Mainstreet Program was proposed in the amount of $45,000, a new ADA fishing dock for Brashear Lake in the amount of $86,000, a study to be conducted to determine what is in store for a potential second phase of the Oxy Sports Complex around $35,000, a lean-to at the Oxy Sports Complex maintenance shop for $16,000 and new LED scoreboard lights for $5,000 were all on this list.
The LCDC stated they were not prepared to commit to an expansion of the Oxy, but that a study could help to see what kind of fields or courts would need to be added. These funds were from the LCDC coffers which are funded through portions of sales tax collected, and not directly from the city’s accounts. In the past, such things as City Park renovations and the like have been performed through these funds.
Since the funds are Type B sales tax, there are several steps involved that will need to be taken before the project can proceed. The first step which is the LCDC recommending projects to the council is the first, but next is to hold a public hearing then the council approves the project.
As a Type B project, no work can occur for 60 days after the public hearing. However, the necessary behind-the-scenes work can be done in order to proceed with the projects once the 60-day waiting period is complete. Moving forward, the council approved of this proposed list and the start of the 60-day waiting period for the 2024 LCDC projects in the amount of $187,612.65.
City Manager James Fisher moved forward with the next item which was the consideration to authorize participation in the 2024 Regional Group Seal Coat Program. Fisher explained that the city had participated in the regional seal coat program with several other cities for many years.
“By combining our individual seal coat projects into a single large project, we feel we have been receiving a better price due to the larger volume,” explained Fisher.
A program that ensures the sealing of our roads to increase durability and longevity, this program was exited last year following budgetary disputes between the council, during which that item was cut from expenditures to make up for a change in tax rate. The area around SPC’s campus as well as portions of College Ave. will be addressed in the coming year through this process.
A plan for a new landfill pit to be dug to accommodate the influx of construction waste from demolitions of dilapidated structures and home renovations was brought forward and approved by the council.
The City of Levelland opened the Levelland Landfill in August of 2015. At the time there were two pits constructed. A Type I Cell is used for household garbage while the Type IV Cell is used for construction type debris. Depending on compaction rates and waste volume, these pits are expected to last between five and seven years. After conducting the last volume survey for the Type IV Cell, the cell is expected to reach capacity in the middle of the next fiscal year.
Moving forward, the construction of the cell is listed in the Sanitation Department’s Capital Improvement Plan for the fiscal year 2023-2024. The recommendation that was approved by Fisher and staff is to move forward with engineering design of the cell and move forward with bidding the project once the plans and specifications are completed. The capital expense was approved to be funded from the internal financing fund in the amount of $536,000 during the budget process.