Support journalism that digs deeper into topics that matter most to ArkLaTex. Donate today to preserve the quality and integrity of local journalism.
TEXARKANA, Texas -- During a regular meeting Monday, the City Council took the first step in borrowing $20.4 million by way of a bond issue.
The Council voted unanimously to approve publishing a legally required Notice of Intent to issue the bonds, which will be earmarked for firefighting, street and bridge improvements, according to a brief published with the meeting's agenda.
Servicing the debt will cost the city approximately $1.5 million a year over 20 years, with anticipated ad valorem revenue funding the annual payments.
Ward 5 Member Bill Harp praised the plan for providing funding to repair 15 of the city's most heavily used streets without raising property or sales tax rates.
A vote on approving the bond issue is expected Sept. 12.
The Council also voted to allow Bird Rides Inc. to start a one-year pilot program of providing shareable electric scooters in the city, which would charge the company a 10-cent per ride franchise fee.
With Ward 2 Member Mary Hart absent, the Council and Mayor Bob Bruggeman voted four to two to approve the plan. Ward 4 Member Christie Page voted no, and Ward 1 Member Jean Matlock abstained.
City Manager David Orr said Texarkana College, Texas A&M University-Texarkana and downtown will be locations where the scooters will operate.
The Texarkana, Arkansas, Board of Directors took up a similar measure during its last meeting but has not yet voted on it.
Bird scooters are available for rental through a smartphone app and tracked via GPS. The user scans a QR code on a scooter to unlock it and must take a photo of the parked scooter to end the ride.
The scooters are "dockless," meaning they do not need to be parked at a charging station. Instead, contractors collect and recharge them each night. They are usable within a defined operating area, and an extra fee is charged if a user leaves that area.
The app shows a map with red zones where users are prohibited from parking the scooters. Bird charges a fine for parking in prohibited places.
The Council voted unanimously to join an interlocal mutual aid agreement aimed at supporting government information technology departments in times of crisis.
Texarkana will join 13 other Texas cities in a group hosted by the city of Allen, Texas.
The plan "allows IT directors to put out a call for help" in situations such as Texarkana's recent cyberattack, which crippled multiple local government computer systems, said Brandon Uselton, director of internet technology for Texarkana Water Utilities, which provides IT support for the city.
The agreement is especially necessary because government computer systems are somewhat different from those in other settings, Uselton said.
After some debate about safety during a public hearing, the Council approved a site plan and specific use permit to allow a telecommunication tower at 3118 Norton St. Matlock voted no on both measures.
In other business, the Council approved the purchase of a new front-end loader for Texarkana Water Utilities. Total cost is $274,892, with Texarkana, Texas, paying a little more than $168,400 and Texarkana, Arkansas, paying the remainder.
The Council also approved spending more than $131,000 for a sewer extension project at St. Michael drive and Kings Highway.
The Council's next meeting is scheduled for Aug. 8.