Hawgs, Dogs and Bad Roads

SAN ANGELO, TX -- No, it’s not an episode of the TV show “Sons of Anarchy;” it’s the San Angelo City Council on Tuesday taking a walk on the wild side including acting on issues involving Harley-Davidson police motorcycles, stray dogs and street infrastructure.  

Council members will consider purchasing two Harley-Davidson motorcycles for the San Angelo Police Department Traffic Division to replace two aging motorcycles.  Most of the motorcycles in the fleet are not Harley-Davidsons. The council will consider awarding a bid of $49,828.14 for the two Harley-Davidson FLHTP Electra Glides to Longhorn Harley-Davidson of Grand Prairie, TX.  

On a related note, the council will proclaim the month of May as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.  

Council members will also consider leasing 3.6 acres of land next to the Animal Shelter on U.S. 67 north for use as an animal resource center.  According to the agenda for Tuesday’s meeting, the city and the Humane Society of Tom Green County DBA Concho Valley PAWS entered into an agreement in January expanding its services.  PAWS will use the extra space for a new facility for its animal rescue, shelter, veterinarian and adoption services.

In other business, council members will consider a funding agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation for improvements to the intersection of West Concho Ave. and U.S. 87 northbound (S. Koenigheim St.) including installing a new traffic signal, sidewalk, drainage, pavement marking and curb and guttering.  The intersection is part of a larger project to widen West Concho Ave. from S. Randolph to S. Koenigheim.

Funding for the $1.347 million project includes $397,700 in TxDOT and federal funds; $897,436 from the City Street Bond; and $81,864 from the water utility fund.  

The council will also consider approving a $1.25 million grant from the Economic Development Administration to the City of San Angelo Development Corporation for Phase 2 infrastructure improvements in the San Angelo Business and Industrial Park.  According to the agenda, recent land sales in the Industrial Park make the infrastructure improvements a high priority.

And council members will consider approving an amended funding plan for the Chadbourne Street Pedestrian Corridor Project.  The city originally applied for TxDOT funding for the project which would have included improvements to Chadbourne St. from 6th Street to the Concho River.  That funding was not authorized, so city staff are presenting an alternative method of funding. The project will include new sidewalks, ADA accessibility, adding a bicycle lane and installing landscaping and lighting. 

The San Angelo City Council meets Tuesday morning at 8:30 a.m. in Council Chambers at the McNease Convention Center.