TEXARKANA, Ark. - The city Board of Directors on Wednesday approved a contract for the design and construction of a new recreation center.
During a rescheduled meeting held via internet because of coronavirus concerns, the Board voted six to one, with Ward 2 Director Laney Harris voting present, to award the $113,000-plus contract to Contech Contractors of Texarkana, Texas, and Trull-Hollensworth Architects of Magnolia, Arkansas.
The firms will renovate the former Boys and Girls Club building on Legion Drive into a multi-use recreation and community center. The project aims to provide recreational space, facilitate community programs and events and generate economic development through sports tourism.
Plans for the 12,245-square-foot building include a multipurpose gym and a fitness/activity room. The facility will have a play area for younger children, a computer lab, a tutoring room and meeting areas. Ball fields adjacent to the building will also be rehabilitated.
The city secured financing for the project last year through a low-interest federal loan program, and the cost of the contract is accounted for in this year's budget.
The Board also approved leasing the Wood Street caboose to the owners of nearby new event venue Crossties.
Crossties will have use of the caboose for the purpose of serving food and beverages. The lease is for five years at a cost of $1,200 a year. Crossties would be responsible for related expenses such as maintenance, utilities and insurance.
Harris cast the sole no vote on the measure, citing concerns that the public had not been notified that the caboose was available to lease. City Manager Kenny Haskin responded that the city has the power to lease or sell its property without requesting competitive bids or proposals.
Harris proposed an amendment limiting the hours Crossties could operate in the caboose so that others would have an opportunity to use it at different times of day. No one seconded his motion.
Union Pacific Railroad donated the caboose, built in 1978, to the city in 2015, according to previous Gazette reports. It was permanently installed as a decorative element in Front Street Festival Plaza and volunteers have since painted it and taken other steps to restore it.
The Board voted unanimously to expand the purview of the city Public Facilities Board to include economic development. The move gives the city more flexibility in financing economic development projects such as buying land to attract industry.
Haskin said the PFB would be "extremely aggressive" in pursuing new business and job creation in partnership with organizations such as local economic development champions AR-TX REDI.
Mayor Allen Brown closed the meeting with compliments for the city's cooperation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Most every citizen and business has complied with what they're supposed to do, and they ought to be applauded for that," he said.
The Board's next meeting is scheduled for June 1. It has not yet been determined whether the meeting will be held in person or online.
This story has been corrected. An earlier version misstated the dollar amount of the recreation center contract and the number of votes on the measure. The Gazette regrets the error.