Good economy means Kilgore is spending on capital improvements

With the fiscal year wrapping up and another right around the corner city planners are hard at work putting together a budget that includes a multitude of capital improvement projects.

"Given the good economy over the last couple of years and anticipation of a continuation, the city has been able to spend $5.5 million cash on capital improvements," Jeff Howell, Kilgore city manager, said of the city's accomplishments. "Other cities would be envious to have this kind of cash to do capital improvements with."

In this year alone the city completed a number of projects, including lighting the walking trail at Harris Street Park, completing a recreational vehicle park adjacent to Driller Park, a 500-foot concrete intersection at Maverick Drive and State Highway 42, Firestation 3 remodel and a city records storage building.

Projects underway include repairs to the Lantrip Street drainage channel, parking lot improvements at the city pool and public library, a new parking lot at Meadowbrook Park and a new Emergency Medical Services building.

The city is currently rethinking the entire Firestation 2 remodel after bids came in higher than expected.

In-progress improvements include a city yard makeover, Drainage improvements in the Kirkwood Addition — which are in the final design phase, a grant program to assist homeowners and rebuild six homes that are in poor condition and drainage improvements at Crescent Street and Higginbotham.

Projects slated for the coming year include Improvements to Martin Luther King Park, downtown sidewalk project, Park and neighborhood improvements in the Pentecost Addition, Lantrip Street bridge repairs and modern restrooms at City Park and a road construction project on Chandler Street.

Of the up-coming projects only Chandler Street construction and downtown sidewalks have been debt financed.