City awards bids for sewer, drainage, parking lot

The Navasota City Council held a Regular Meeting Monday, Sept. 23, and finalized the 2019-2020 $24.5 million budget, the tax rate of $0.5693 per $100 valuation and approved bid awards for major projects in downtown Navasota.

Brazos Paving, Inc., was awarded the bid for the 2019 Railroad Street Parking Lot and Drainage Improvement Project in the amount of $1,009,541.90. Of five bids received, BPI was low bidder and has a satisfactory work history with the City.

The 32-space parking lot will be constructed adjacent to Circle P Antiques at 101 E. Washington Avenue. The drainage portion of the project will address flooding on Railroad Street from Washington Avenue to Manley Street.

Mayor Bert Miller said, “This is more than a parking lot. This is a huge project.”

City Manager Brad Stafford said, “The biggest part of this whole project is the fact that it includes a 7x7 box culvert that goes underneath the street that will transfer water from downtown into Cedar Creek. That will actually connect to a much larger project that was funded through disaster recovery funds that goes south on Railroad Street to Manley Street.”

He continued, “This will make a much better conduit to get water out of downtown and some of the residential sections to help alleviate some flooding in this area of the city.”

Stafford added that some electrical and telephone utilities will be placed underground on Railroad Street.

D&S Contracting, Inc. was low bidder of seven for the 2018 Texas Community Development Block Grant (TxCDBG) Sewer Improvement Project. The amount of the contract for the project on Foster Street is $256,698.

The Total Base Bid plus administrative and engineering was $341,698. The TxCDBG grant plus matching city funds covers $330,000 with $11,698 needed to complete the project.

Stafford said, “Talking to the engineer, there is a possibility that one of the items included in the construction may not occur, so we haven’t asked for a budget amendment yet in the event they don’t have to do that.”

Councilman Bernie Gessner added, “This project is essentially installing or replacing about 900 feet of 8-inch pipe and 1,450 feet of 6-inch plus about 10 manholes. It’s pretty significant.”

“Home occupation” signage

Council approved the first reading of Ordinance 905-19, amending Chapter 3, Article 3.06 Signs, Section 3.06.010 regarding Home Occupation sign placement to read “accessory building where the work is performed.”

According to Community Development Director Lupe Diosdado, the agenda item was prompted by an inquiry regarding the placement of a sign for an in-home day care.

Navasota’s Zoning Ordinance states, “Examples of a normal home occupation include but are not limited to crafts, woodworking, dressmaking, custom cakes or other small scale catering that use no commercial type or size equipment, professional services such as bookkeeping or handling of telephone orders, traditional Bed and Breakfasts, and day care for six or fewer persons.”

Navasota building

permits increase

According to Diosdado, 71 new home permits have been issued to-date, “a dozen ahead of 2018.” Residential development and construction investment totals $1.4 million. Non-residential totals $11.8 million with the bulk generated by the Navasota ISD bond project.

Other council action:

•After a public hearing with no comments against, council members approved a motion to abandon a 20-foot alleyway located in the McNair Addition abutting N. Jones Street. Councilman Geoff Horn, an abutting property owner, recused himself from voting.

•Ratified the tax increase reflected in the budget for 2019-2020.

•Conducted a public hearing with no comments for or against and approved second reading of Ordinance 899-19 adopting the $24.5 million budget for 2019-2020.

•Approved second reading of Ordinance 900-19 adopting a tax rate of $0.5693 per $100 valuation.

•Approved second reading of Ordinance 901-19 Chapter 13 Utilities adding Article 13.07 Cross-Connection Control Program.

•Approved second reading of Ordinance 903-19 amending fee schedules for Appendix A, Article A5.000, Public Works.

•Approved second reading of Ordinance 902-19 amending the budget for fiscal year 2018-2019.

•Approved the nomination of Kathleen Terrell to the board of directors of the Grimes County Appraisal District.

Staff, board &

commission reports:

•Received introduction of newest Artists in Residence, Caroline Radell and Hayley Labrum Morrison.

•Received introduction of new NPD Dispatch Communications Operator, Sherry Robinson.

•Mayor Bert Miller issued proclamations for National Night Out and Fire Prevention Week.

•Received a report from council liaison Grant Holt about the quarterly Library Advisory Board meeting.

•Miller announced Navasota was featured in “Heritage Magazine” for its music and title as Blues Capital of Texas. “The Gallery Downtown” owner Pattie Pederson was featured in “Texas Highways Magazine” for her art and music venue.

•Amy Salvaggio, Interim Director for the Arts Council of the Brazos Valley, announced, “Ground Zero 360: A 9/11 Retrospective Exhibit,” Sept. 6 – Nov. 11, 2019, free to the public.

Mayor’s calendar

of events:

•Sept. 26, Thursday - ErgoGenesis hosts Chamber Mix, 5:30-7 p.m.

•Sept. 27, Friday – Oct. 13, Sunday, NTA “Smoke on the Mountain.”

•Oct. 12, Saturday – Lamborghini Festival, downtown Navasota, noonish!

•Oct. 15, Tuesday – Blood Drive, First Methodist Church, noon-5:30 p.m.

•Oct. 18, Friday – Bob Whitten Golf Tournament, Pecan Lakes Golf Course

•Oct. 24 -26, Friday-Sunday – NTA Lanterns and Legends