City Considers $13.65 Million Bond for Emergency Services Upgrades

Tuesday, the San Angelo City Council will vote to issue $13.65 million in debt bonds to build a fire training center, a new fire station, and a new police radio system.

The City has received a $1.2 million grant for the fire training center’s construction, but must begin the project before March 27 to satisfy the grant’s obligation. In order to begin construction, City staff says they need approval of the debt obligation. Of the $13.65 million bond, $2.8 million is proposed for the center.

In addition on the training center, the bond will provide $3.2 million for the construction of a new fire station #4.

The balance of the proceeds of the bond will finance the migration of the City’s emergency communications system to be compatible with Project 25, or P25. According to the agenda packet, $1.5 million will be spent on upgrading the police communications network, and an additional $6 million for Public Safety Radio P25 Migration/Coverage Expansion.

The amount of $150k, the balance of the bond, will pay for issuing the certificates of obligation.

Other Items of Interest

Council will consider hiring a Midland construction company to build a concessions building at The Bosque on the Concho River. According to the agenda packet, City staff is requesting permission to enter into negotiations with Mid-Tex Construction of Midland to construct the $408k building. City staff said that Mid-Tex was the only respondent for the Requests for Proposal for the project and the amount is 20 percent over the budgeted amount. If council approves the hiring of Mid-Tex, the Bosque concessions building could be complete by June 1, staff reported.

In executive session, the council will discuss “an offer of financial or other incentive to a company or companies with whom the City of San Angelo is conducting economic development negotiations and which the City of San Angelo seeks to have, locate, stay or expand in San Angelo.” No organization is mentioned in the agenda packet, but City Public Information Officer Anthony Wilson said that the city is considering a co-marketing agreement with Downtown San Angelo, Inc. in a video announcement previewing this month’s regularly-scheduled council meeting.

On Tuesday’s consent agenda, the council previously approved a $225k annual marketing agreement with the San Angelo Chamber of Commerce for economic development.

The Council will also consider accepting a grant from the San Angelo Area Foundation (SAAF) expenses associated with the installation of a noise reduction system at the city’s Animal Shelter ($20,000.00) and ratifying the professional services agreement between the City of San Angelo Development Corporation and the San Angelo Chamber of Commerce.

Also on the agenda during Tuesday’s meeting will be the purchase of six (6) zero turn-radius mowers.

Matt McDaniel contibuted to this report.