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Weimar City Council approved a partnership and plans for a new sports complex, provided dirty water updates and introduced new staff during its meeting, Thursday, Oct. 9.
Sports complex
The council approved a contractual partnership with the Greater Fayette Community Foundation (GFCF) to construct a new $4 million sports complex. The complex will include the current soccer fields, three new baseball/softball fields, two pickleball courts, walking trails, a central parking lot, and a pavilion with basketball goals. The complex will sit on the 20acre lot donated by Dr. Jorge Duchicela almost a decade ago for the Weimar Soccer League.
“Based on all the history that has been put into this…we have a great opportunity now to move forward on something that has taken 10 years to get to, and I’m hoping the city will give their contributions and efforts to making this happen as well,” former Weimar mayor Milton Koeller said as part of the presentation.
The city approved the allocation of $35,000 from the Economic Development Committee for the complex. As for the rest of the cost, Koeller reported that an anonymous donor contributed “a substantial amount” towards the cost, but that the donation does not cover it completely. GFCF CEO Susannah Mikulin explained GFCF’s involvement and mission to assist community organizations and nonprofits with managing charitable assets.
“Everything in and everything out would be administered through the Foundation so that anyone can donate to this project, individuals, corporations, and still have the ability to apply to grants for this [project],” Mikulin said.
In August, the city approved the application for a $1.5 million grant from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. During this meeting, the council also approved BEFCO Engineering’s drawings for the complex. Koeller said that BEFCO Engineering is ready to start with the approvals.
“It’s been 25 years in the making…We didn’t want to see another 25 years pass,” Weimar Mayor Carlton Tucker said.
Water update
In his report, City Manager Don Dixson announced that work on closing the water loops throughout the city has been postponed due to excessive leaks.
“There’s been a lot of water leaks, sewer leaks and leaky valves in the city. It’s just been so hot, so dry, and this black earth moves up to four inches either way,” Dixson said. “They’ve been out there working furiously on that.”
Dixson said workers have fixed about two leaks a day in the past two weeks, which is efficient when the exact location of the leak is unknown. He reported trying to negotiate with contractors for the bulk of the water line work, but that three companies have ceased communication with the city without explanation. Dixson did not say when working on the water loops would resume.
Later, Dixson reviewed a report from BEFCO Engineering on the old water filtration system for the city. The filtration system was built in the late 1950s and is currently not in use.
“At this time, there are too many variables to determine cost associated with utilizing these existing concrete basins for filters due to the unknown structural conditions of concrete walls and floors, unknown condition of existing piping under the media and unknown ability of these filter basins to contain liquids,” Dixson read from the report.
The report recommends six action items with an estimated cost of no less than $50,000. A new filtration system for the city could cost anywhere between $2.5–3 million. Dixson said that the report was not actionable at that time, just informational.
“We should continue on at this point based on some of these numbers with the looping of the dead ends. Continue the flushing and add metered f lush valves,” Dixson said. “…I think that [the metered, automatic flush valves] in addition to the looping of the dead ends is going to wipe out a lot of the water problems in Weimar as far as discolored water.”
Dixson reported that the city has not received any complaints from the areas with completed work. He advised the city to continue with the current plan and review other options as the need arises.
Other business
The council welcomed four new employees: Billy Nunn as regional building inspector, Chris Wilson as the heavy equipment operator, Larry Delgado and David Socha as police chief. Read more about Socha in this week’s issue.
“I’m the one that’s digging holes in y’all’s yards,” Wilson said. “We’re trying to get everything fixed for everybody, so bear with us.”
The council approved street closures for Park Drive at Huvar Street on Friday, Oct. 31 from 6-10 p.m. and for the 100th block of E. Post Office Street and the 100th block of N. Mechanic Street to Main Street for the Sip N’ Shop scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 8 from 4-8 p.m.
The council discussed and ultimately approved the stop signs on North West Street to become permanent. The city will officially light the Christmas tree and lights the day after Thanksgiving, Friday, Nov. 28. The city also made several proclamations: Catholic Daughters Day of America on Sunday, Oct. 19; Friends of the Library Week from Oct. 19-25; National School Bus Safety Week from Oct. 20-24; Bullying Prevention Month for October; and National Parents as Teachers Day on Nov. 8.
