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Columbus Youth Soccer will develop better drainage and a new detention pond at the soccer fields after receiving approval from Columbus City Council, Monday, June 8.
In the meeting, Columbus Mayor Lori An Gobert dissuaded further rumors of the future of the Townsend home, outlining demolition as a last resort.
The council also revisited the Highway 90 bridge project involving a detour onto Veterans Drive and appointed two new board members to the Columbus Community Industrial Development Corporation (CCIDC).
Soccer drainage
City council approved a development agreement with the Columbus Youth Soccer League to construct two new drainage ditches and a new retention pond for the fields at 1429 Montezuma Street. League organizer Gary Paricio said the plans are designed to drain the flooded fields during and after rain.
“When we have any kind of large amount of rain, which that seems to be the only time it comes (is) in large amounts, one half of all soccer fields are underwater, and then it takes forever to soak in…so we can’t really utilize the whole fields,” Paricio said. “…We will have four fields to be able to be used at all times if the drainage works the way we expect.”
According to the attached plans, one ditch will run parallel to Montezuma Street in between the two rows of two fields. That ditch will connect with a second ditch running perpendicular to Montezuma Street on the right side of the entire complex. The second ditch will connect to a new retention pond in the back right corner.
Additionally, dirt from excavating the retention pond and extra sand will be spread throughout the fields add elevation.
The $18,487.50 project will be supported by two $5,000 grants from the Columbus Rotary Club. The league has also agreed to dedicate the improvements to the city upon completion. Under the agreement, the project must be completed with 200 days after securing grant funding.
Townsend revisited
Circling rumors about contracts and a letter from the Texas Historical Commission urging Gobert and the city to not pursue demolition for the Townsend home prompted Gobert to address demolition rumors for it and the two neighboring historic houses.
“We didn’t want to buy the property not knowing if we didn’t have every option, because the city cannot spend taxpayer dollars to fix the house, and we didn’t know if anyone wanted to buy it,” Gobert said. “…There are a whole lot of stipulations on the house…but we are going to do every other option.”
Gobert said the city wanted approval from the Stiles, who were still the property owners, and the Texas Historical Commission for possible demolition as a contingency for purchase by the CCIDC. The purchase was made in late April.
“Believe half of what you read,” CCIDC President Bruce Tesch said. “We have nothing in concrete as to what’s going to happen at this point in time. I can assure you of that.”
Tesch and Gobert said no action on the homes will be taken until late August after the Stiles have completed their estate sale and moved out. Gobert said the city has spoken with many interested buys, so demolition is not a consideration at this time.
The future of the neighboring red house is still technically up in the air because of this as well, but Gobert affirmed plans for the Nesbitt Memorial Library Foundation to purchase the home.
Other
The council decided to request for Texas Department of Transportation to push back the Highway 90 bridge improvements project until winter after a delay from TxDOT overlapped the 120-day project with the start of school and football season. The project will divert all traffic onto Veterans Drive, creating what councilmember Paige Sciba called a “potentially dangerous environment” due to a lack of striping and shoulders.
City council also approved Gobert’s appointments of Shone Smallwood, president of Colorado County Habitat for Humanity, and Christy Alonso, a loan officer at Columbus State Bank, to the CCIDC board. The council also approved to reappoint Tesch.
The next Columbus City Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 22, at 5:30 p.m. in the council chambers at Columbus City Hall, 605 Spring Street.
