Stoudt addressed issues for proposed county coliseum
By KATHRYN MARTINEZ News1@kilgorenewsherald.com

Bill Stoudt, Gregg County judge, addressed three issues last night for city council, as it pertains to the proposed 7,000-seat county coliseum and events venue.

Stoudt said his first goal is to convey a message that he and county commissioners are open for all types of input in the planning process.

"We want input from everyone," Stoudt said.

The judge told council about project roots, back to February of last year, which included a resolution signed by the mayors of each incorporated city in the county, in support of a feasibility study across the East Texas region.

Stoudt also gave council a timeline of expected events and milestones to occur over the next seven months. The first of many public meetings is scheduled for June 9. Stoudt said the kick-off meeting will allow the county to collect more information and public input. On Aug. 11 engineers and architects will update county officials on facility design. At a meeting scheduled for Oct. 13 is slated as the half-way point in design, at which Stoudt estimates cost factors should be lined out. On Dec. 8 the county should receive hard-cost financial options to proceed, followed by a final follow-up meeting on Dec. 30.

"The most impressive part of this undertaking is the fact that it is a county-wide initiative," Stoudt said. "The county is fully committed to proceed with this project."

Stoudt said while he is committed to the project he would never jeopardize the financial structure of the county to complete the project.

"We are going to be very deliberate in planning," Stoudt said. "We have a long way to go."

All meetings are scheduled for 10 a.m. in Gregg County Commissioners' Court on the third floor of Gregg County Courthouse, located at 101 East Methvin Street, Longview.

In other business, council approved Ordinance 1374 approving a change in zoning from "A" Apartment District to "R-3" Single-Family Residential District on Lots 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, and 11 of Block 2 of Meadowgreen Village Unit 1, Lots 11 and 12 of Block 1 of the Meadowgreen Village Unit 1, and Tract 11 of the Henry Wells Survey A-222 and change the zoning from "LR-4" Local Retail 4 to "R-3" Single-Family Residential District on Tract 11-01 in the Henry Wells Survey A-222 and Lot 3 of Block 1 of the Meadowgreen Village Unit 1 to allow the development of single family homes.

Carol Windham, director of planning and zoning, said the zoning change would require plat work and allow for development of 15 additional lots for building. Windham also said the property would not be accessible from Dudley Road, per Texas Department of Transportation.

Council also approved a Sheriff 's Sale deed on property located at 1807 Walnut to a Harold Johnson in the amount of $2,000.

Council also heard a presentation of the downtown streetscape concept by Mike Burns, of KSA Engineers and Shelley Potter, of Shelly Potter's Designs and authorize to proceed with the streetscape project.

Council approved a work order for an engineering agreement with KSA for a study to determine appropriate erosion control improvements to the Crescent Street drainage channel, in the amount of $5,000.

Council approved proceeding with bid process for the Fire Station 2 apparatus building.

Council also approved of Kilgore Historic Preservation Foundation's request for additional funding in the amount of $15,000 for additional routine and recent storm damage repairs to 52 derricks under their care.

Council rescinded action taken in February, approving forgiveness of a Promissory Note from Laird Memorial Hospital to the City dated March 1, 2003 in the original principal amount of $563,106.17; reconciled and amended March 1, 2004 adding $211,221.72 for a total of $774,327.89; and possibly approve forgiveness of a portion of the Promissory Note identified above in the amount of $374,327.89.