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Columbus City Council approved grants for new lighting at the baseball complex for Columbus Little League and for golf cart storage sheds during its meeting, Monday, March 23.
City Council approved the expenditure of $191,340 as a community development grant to the Columbus Little Leage to replace the lights at its field. The funding will also support continued maintenance and operations of the Columbus Little League Complex.
“The Columbus Community and Industrial Development Corporation…believes the availability of facilities for amateur sport and youth athletics is vital in promoting economic development within the city,” Mayor Lori An Gobert read from the resolution.
The council awarded the second community development grant of $196,968 to the Columbus Municipal Golf Association for the replacement of 72 golf cart storage sheds at the Columbus Municipal Golf Course. Since both grants exceeded an expenditure of $10,000 each, the council held two readings for each before approving the funding.
City Manager’s Report
City Manager Donald Warschak provided traffic and infrastructure updates in his council report, starting with the Interstate 10 project. I-10 East between Business Highway 71 and Farm to Market 2434 was scheduled for a major traffic switch the evening of March 23 or the morning of March 24. The section follows the recent shift of eastbound traffic between Alleyton Road and Union Pacific Railroad to the westbound lanes. Concrete traffic barriers will be installed to convert the section into two lanes in each direction. The traffic pattern is estimated to last for one year.
“To progress, this week, starting tomorrow night at 7 p.m., the eastbound exit to Highway 71 is going to be closed…to 7 p.m. Wednesday evening as they work for that exit ramp there to construct it,” Warschak.
For the wastewater treatment plant project, Warschak said the landowner approved the proposed easement with a few minor changes. The contract will be officially signed following final reviews. Stand Associates, the engineer for the project, estimated that 60% of the plant’s overall design will be completed by the end of the month.
City personnel will be meeting with an experienced splashpad vendor soon to review design features and options for a splashpad at Midtown Park. Also, for Midtown Park, the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) will provide limited funding and staff for a park improvement event on April 10.
A contractor will start installing fencing at the new pickleball courts at Montezuma Park Pavilion next week. Warschak’s report said the project must be completed by early May to satisfy LCRA’s grant requirements.
The city is collecting request for quotes for architectural services for renovations to the Columbus Fire Station through Thursday, March 26. The Columbus Volunteer Fire Department (CVFD) will manage the project, supported by a $1 million grant from the Texas A&M Forest Service.
