TEXARKANA, Ark. - During a regular meeting Monday, the city Board of Directors approved the purchase of a new pumper truck for the Fire Department at a cost of more than $378,000.
The price includes the truck and related equipment, and Goldy's Fire Apparatus of Tupelo, Mississippi, was the low bidder. The current city budget includes up to $400,000 for the purchase.
The industry standard is to custom build each new fire truck when it is ordered. Goldy's will have up to 395 days to deliver the pumper once a purchasing contract is signed.
The Board also fast-tracked and approved a pair of rezoning requests that will allow new housing construction in the city. Each proposed rezoning ordinance was read the required three times during the meeting, and the Board passed both unanimously.
The first changes 3211 Preston St. from general manufacturing to medium-density residential zoning. City Planner Mary Beck said the property's owners plan to build duplexes and/or apartments on the lot.
Beck said either two duplexes or four single-family homes are planned for 1619 Lincoln St., which the Board agreed to rezone from retail commercial to medium-density residential.
The Board also approved an amendment to the Texarkana Arkansas Public Employee Retirement System plan document in accordance with legal advice. The change will allow an employee changing jobs to transfer to a different retirement plan, Finance Director TyRhonda Henderson said.
The Board voted by consent to approve a Texarkana Water Utilities contract and the city's 2021 Bi-state Justice Building budget.
The contract is for a valve replacement project at the Millwood Water Treatment Plant. MVA Services of Quinlan, Texas, was the low bidder for the contract at $462,628. Texarkana, Arkansas, will pay more than $170,500 and Texarkana, Texas, the remainder.
The city will contribute more than $314,000 to the Bi-state Justice Building's operations and maintenance this year.