Lantrip ditch repairs planned

Residents with property adjacent to Lantrip Street drainage channel should see the resolution of erosion problems and improved drainage within the next 120 days.

City council awarded a bid for improvements last night to Texarkana-based J.R. Pope Company, Inc. The project will cost no more than $350,495.

Research by KSA Engineering indicated that Pope handles approximately 90 percent of the drainage issues in Texarkana and has a reputation for getting the job done right.

Mike Burns, of KSA, said Pope bid the project to win it. Other bids received on the project ranged from $537,700 to $673,616.

In other business council approved ordinance 1384 to close Neal Street - a street which was dedicated, but never actually built, in the Pentecost Addition - at the request of Rev. Garrett Warren, of Church of God In Christ. Carol Windham, director of planning and zoning, said the road has no utilities in the right of way and the never-completed street would be better used as additional parking for the church.

Council approved the issuance of Industrial Revenue Bonds by Kilgore Economic Development Corporation for Bucyrus Field Services Project, in the amount of $7.5 million. No liability falls on KEDC or the city in the issuance.

Council also voted to approve an agreement for professional services with KSA, for downtown sidewalk improvements, not to exceed $304,600.

The next meeting of Kilgore City Council is 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 12 at Kilgore City Hall in Council Chambers.