The Levelland City Council held a regular meeting Monday which saw the approval of mulitple projects in different phases for Main Street and the Levelland Municipal Airport.
Levelland City Manager James Fisher presented the next item regarding the consideration for selection of an engineering firm from the RFQ process, to utilize for the 2024 Main Street Project Grant Application through the Community Development Block Grant Fund with TDA.
Fisher explained to the group that the City of Levelland has submitted a grant application with the Texas Department of Agriculture to replace and construct new sidewalks and concrete bulb-outs in the downtown area.
The project will consist of necessary activities including removing and replacing existing dilapidated concrete sidewalks, concrete risers, sidewalk rams and curb rams. These improvements will benefit the entire city by providing safer and greater access to residents in the walkways of the downtown area, specifically along 5th Street between Avenue H and Avenue F, and the intersection of Austin Avenue and Avenue G.
Additionally, the concrete bulb-outs will be installed as a traffic calming measure to reduce vehicle speeds by physically and visually narrowing the roadway, reducing illegal parking at corners and crosswalks, increasing pedestrian waiting space and visibility at intersections through improved sight lines and decreasing pedestrian exposure to vehicles by reducing the required crossing distance.
The proposed improvements will also provide a direct benefit to businesses and organizations located in the downtown area by encouraging increased pedestrian activity.
It was explained that the city was notified early in the summer that they were awarded funding for the project in the amount of $500,000. The first step in the process is to select an engineering firm to help with the design and the scope of the downtown revitalization project.
The city was required to select an engineering firm to be their engineer for record for the grant process. The city received three Request for Proposals for local engineering firms, Freese and Nichols, Manhard Consulting and Parkhill.
Following a brief breakdown of the score sheets for each option, the recommendation to move forward with Parkhill was approved by the council.
Moving forward, the council considered authorizing the city manager to submit a letter to TxDOT Aviation for an airport layout plan utilizing funds from the airport royalties fund.
The city’s airport is jointly owned by the city and Hockley County. Fisher explained that the airport is very underutilized and could be a strong tool in the economic development efforts and a stronger asset to the community.
TxDOT Aviation has informed city staff that they are eligible for a grant, 90-10 match, for an Airport Layout Plan with Narrative. Fisher explained to the council that the last plan was conducted over 20 years ago.
The intent of the new plan will provide valuable information for the future development of the airport, demand, capacity, and facility requirements, a capital improvement plan, recommendations and an evaluation.
The grant match funds would come from the Oil Royalties Fund-Leveland Municipal Airport. There is roughly $324,987 in this account. However, approximately $220,000 has been allocated to the Airport Lighting Project which is also a TxDOT Aviation Project that is a 90-10 grant.
After a brief discussion and reassurance of the funding through the Oil Royalties Fund, Mayor Buxkemper and Mayor Pro-Tem Michael Stueart both shared that utilizing the funds to increase the capability of the airport would be a positve way to help the future economic growth of the city. The council would approve the item.
Fisher presented a second item regarding the airport as city staff was recommending the council approve a crack seal project at the airport.
The city had received a proposal from CALCO Services, LLC to crack seal several areas along the apron, tarmac and runway at the airport for approximately $49,000. The project would qualify for the Routine Airport Maintenance Program which allows for partial reimbursement. The approval of the project would also require a budget amendment. Stueart shared his thoughts on the project being necessary as he emphasized how bad the cracks were when walking the airport.
The group would eventually approve the project following their discussion concerning the item.