Board OKs contract to renovate former Boys and Girls Club

TEXARKANA, Ark. — The city Board of Directors on Monday approved a construction contract to renovate a former Boys and Girls Club building into a new recreation center.

Five Board members and Mayor Allen Brown voted for a resolution authorizing the contract, with Ward 2 Director Laney Harris abstaining. Harris cited his 2017 censure by a previous Board, which in part concerned a walk-through of the building he conducted, as the reason.

The contract with Contech Contractors Inc. is worth more than $1.18 million. Funding for the project has been budgeted, paid for through a loan secured by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as well as federal Community Development block grants and Parks Division allocations.

Responding to questions

from Harris, Public Works Director Tyler Richards said constructing a new building would have cost $7 million to $8 million. He also said construction is under way on trails that will allow residents to walk to the new recreation center safely.

Plans for the 12,245-square-foot building include a multipurpose gym, a fitness/activity room and meeting areas. Baseball diamonds near the building will also be renovated or constructed.

The building has been vacant since 2008 and needs extensive electrical and plumbing work, roof repair and a new gymnasium floor. City Manager Kenny Haskin said Friday he expects construction to begin in mid-December and end in August.

Hazard Pay OK’d

The Board also voted unanimously to authorize pandemic-related hazard pay for all city and Texarkana Water Utilities employees.

City employees will receive $3,750 and TWU employees will receive $500, paid for by federal COVID-19 relief funds. The total expenditure will be more than $985,000.

Another unanimous vote approved the issuance of new bonds to refinance 2012 and 2015 bonds, saving the city $1,237,000 over the life of the bonds, or about $60,000 to $65,000 per year.

The Board voted unanimously to increase the city’s annual contribution to the Texarkana, Arkansas, Public Employee Retirement System from $100,000 plus 10% of payroll to $150,000 plus 10% of payroll. TAPERS plan actuaries reported last month that the city’s current contribution is not enough to sustain the plan.

The Board’s next meeting is scheduled for Dec. 21.