V. Hugh Lewis II
Jefferson Jimplecute
Development, construction, and thinking ahead were top of the Jefferson City Council agenda Tuesday night.
Jefferson Mayor Rob Baker provided updates on the two TxDOT, and TPWD grants the City recently submitted stating that the city had already received a call back on the TxDOT grants for more information. The TPWD grants the city submitted as a three-year phased plan, which, according to Baker, TPWD encourages and improves the chances of being successful in the request. The phases focus first on the crushed granite trails along the waterfront park, followed by the trestle restoration and conversion, and ending with the raised boardwalks.
Funding for the grants is not announced until later in the year.
Baker also said the City is waiting on the third engineers report on the status of what’s needed at city hall before opening discussions.
Tracy and Tommy Engle received a variance on the setback rules on a new two-story building on the back corner of their lots on Lafayette Street. Tracy said the current structure sits on city property and will be removed and replaced with a new building which will only be on their property.
Cliff and Anna Bode, along with others suffering sewer problems on properties along Polk Street will have to continue to wait for a solution as the City consults with engineers on costs and then determine where to find the funding.
Ward 3/1 Alderman Richard Turner said he had spoken with Public Works Director Allen Whatley on Tuesday, and the only short-term solution was an above ground bypass. Turner went on to say the issue was that part of the sewer line had been replaced and was a 12-inch line, while the old, probably clay pipe, was only a 6-inch line. Thus, a bottleneck was occurring and when it rains, the lines fill up with groundwater and create a problem.
Similarly, the Aldermen chose to table a decision on the 2023 street campaign until additional information could be obtained from Whatley. Currently the 2022 campaign is pending starting and the City has additional budgeted funds for more work.
Baker said the City would be spending close to $500,000 in street repairs this year with $265,000 on the 2022 campaign and another $240,000 on the 2023 campaign.
A new development is being considered and Council voiced no objections to future street and alleyway closures once the property has been acquired.
Livewell Enterprises LLC, a White Oak, Texas, corporation submitted a proposed development in the Blocks 12, 13,23, 24, and 27 of the Alley Addition. Currently the land is undeveloped and lies south of the paved portion of Friou, Owens, and Speake Streets.
Livewell plans on closing the streets and creating new driveways to a series of raised cabins they plan to build. The cabins will be used for vacation rentals and for kayak and canoe launching spots along the Big Cypress Bayou.
A proposed Railroad Quiet Zone made a hesitant step forward on Tuesday as council approved accepting single-page applications from those interested in serving on a committee to gather the information to help Council make an informed decision on whether or not to start the process of creating a Quiet Zone.
“I don’t want the meeting we consider a proposal from [Quiet Zone Committee] to be a shit show like we normally do. We can screw up a ham sandwich,” said Baker.
The public has 30 days to turn in an application at City Hall to be on the committee. The application must include name, address, current stance on the project (for, against, and undecided), and why one wishes to serve on the committee. Council will then review the applications and each Alderman will select someone to serve from the applications.
Doug Thompson, JEDCO treasurer, reminded Council that JEDCO had approved, and budgeted for a proposed study which was submitted back in 2021 but Council had yet to approve.
“We owe it to both parties to do the research,” said Ward 3 Alderman April Taylor-Johnson. “Then we can determine whether or not to move forward.”
New visitor maps will be going up in parts of downtown following partial approval by Council. The Marion County Chamber of Commerce and the Tourism Board proposed placing the maps across from the entrance to the public restrooms, and on the sidewalk at the corner of Polk and Lafayette Streets. Other location requests were tabled as private property owners would be involved and the written approvals had not be obtained yet.
Upcoming events saw discussion on the use of water barricades as street closure devices instead of the ones supplied by the City.
Ward 1 Alderman Hollis Shadden raised the objection to the water barricades citing public safety concerns on needing to move them in the event of an emergency. Shadden requested a condition be placed on the East Texas Burn Run, Outlaw Nationals, and Jefferson Historic Pilgrimage events that they not use the water barricades.
Only the East Texas Burn Benefit in October, formerly known as the Boo Benefit, uses the water barricades.
Event organizer Stan and Michelle Davis explained that they changed to them because of the continual movement of the city’s barricades and cars driving into the closed off areas. Mardi Gras also experienced this same situation last weekend.
Ultimately, Council approved the applications as submitted, but requested a demonstration of how the barricades are moved once partially filled. Davis said they would arrange whatever Council wanted and that his main concern was safety of individuals walking in the closed areas during the event.