If all goes to plan, skateboard aficionados will have a place to drop in, grind a curb and ride the rails this year.
The Texarkana, Texas City Council unanimously approved a resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into a contract with American Ramp Company of Joplin, Missouri for the design, equipment and construction of a skateboard park at its meeting Monday.
According to Parks & Recreation Director Robby Robertson, extensive research has been completed, as well as public meetings and webinars with local kids and parents in order to arrive at a design for the park.
After careful consideration, the designs of the skatepark has been decided and now the project will go into its building phase, according to Robertson, who says this project will take 4-6 weeks to complete once construction has started.
City Council reiterated this to be an excellent project for the community of Texarkana. Ward 6 Council Member Josh Davis went on to say, “I think this is a fantastic idea. I can’t wait to see it.” This statement was followed by Major Bruggeman who expressed this project to be another enhancement to Downtown Texarkana.
According to Director Robertson this new skateboard park will be located on the same property as Kidtopia. “This is going to be on the same property as Kidtopia Park, it will be on the west side, right across the street from the library.”
Also voted during Monday’s meeting was a lien to be put in place at Forest Point Apartment Homes. The unanimous vote by the council to place a lien on the property for unpaid utility charges put an end to the ongoing dispute between the city and Forest Point Apartment Homes’ owner Claire Jaynes.
According to agenda materials, the disagreement began when Forest Point Apartment Homes manager, Claire Jaynes, made claims of being overcharged for water and sewer services, and further claimed that TWU owed her $300,000 for over-billing.
Consequently, the claims required city council to look at evidence in order to come to a conclusion on wether Forest Point Apartment Homes would be required to make full payment, or TWU would refund Jaynes’ money.
After months of careful consideration, city council arrived at the conclusion that Jaynes in fact owes money for failure to pay water bills and voted to place a lien on the property.
City Attorney Jeff Lewis said the lien will stay with the property, though it will not attach to the purchaser but the property itself. The lien placed on the property ensures the city will be paid the amount owed of $33,000 which TWU claims the complex owes in unpaid water bills.