Cleburne City Council members approved BBC Construction Group’s $767,160 bid on Tuesday to construct a new Cleburne Chamber of Commerce building. The new building will house the chamber and the Cleburne Economic Development offices.
The new building will be located at the same site as the current building on West Henderson Street. Chamber President Cathy Marchel said she does not know when demolition of the current building and construction of the new one will begin, but added she expects it will be in the next couple of months. Marchel said she has not yet determined where chamber employees will office during construction.
City gas royalty revenues will fund most of the project along with contributions from the chamber and economic development offices.
Gas royalty funds will also pay for two street projects council members approved on Tuesday.
Council members approved JPJ Paving’s $439,257.97 bid to carry out paving and drainage improvements to Elmo Street. Also approved was AMS Company’s $282,603.83 bid for paving improvements on Sparks Drive.
Lake Pat closing
Council members approved Cleburne attorney Scott Cain’s request to close portions of Lake Pat Cleburne on May 22.
Cain, working with local churches and youth organizations, plans to hold an event named Walk On Water that day. The event is designed to provide local children who might not otherwise have access the opportunity to participate in water sports such as wakeboarding.
The main boat ramp, by the golf course, will have to be closed to the public that day, Cain said, but added that portions of the lake could remain open for residents wanting to fish that day.
“The main thing is having enough room for our event and the safety of the kids,” Cain said. “Either way, we want to cause the least amount of inconvenience to fishers and residents possible. The southern part of the lake is going to be our focus area, so that could leave some of the other areas free.”
Cain said his group plans to work to get word of the event out to residents well ahead of the scheduled date to minimize any inconvenience.
Drinking fountains
Council members voted to amend the local building regulations in regard to drinking fountains. Businesses with less than 50 employees may now use a bottled water cooler instead of installing a drinking fountain.
Owners of several small businesses had requested the regulation change, Mayor Ted Reynolds said during the workshop portion of the meeting.
Sports Complex
Council members approved a resolution to institute fees to use the Cleburne Youth Sports Complex. Those fees do not apply to local sports associations who already have contracts with the city to use the facility.
Other groups wishing to use the facility will now have to pay a fee of $20 per team and $20 per use of a lighted field. The fee includes a per-event minimum charge of $200.
Word of Cleburne’s sports complex has spread, which has caused several groups to request use of the facility, said Max Robertson, Cleburne Parks and Recreation director.
The fees proposed will sometimes, but not always, cover the city’s costs for allowing use, Robertson said.
“But also, if you have a big group coming into town, for say a soccer tournament, that’s going to have an economic impact for the city,” Robertson said.
In other news, council members:
• Appointed Derek Schmidt to the Cleburne 4B Cleburne Economic Development Corporation. Schmidt will replace Don Wilson whose second term on the board ends this month.
• Mayor Pro Tem John Warren, standing in for Reynolds who was unable to attend the regular meeting, declared March as American Red Cross Month and as March for Meals Awareness Month. Warren also declared March 8 as International Women’s Day and Zonta Rose Day.
