A new multi-purpose event center, a youth athletic complex, an industrial park, a recreation center and a new animal shelter are all in the works for the city of Bridgeport over the next five years.
A new multi-purpose event center, a youth athletic complex, an industrial park, a recreation center and a new animal shelter are all in the works for the city of Bridgeport over the next five years.
The cityís goal is to do all the projects without increasing the current tax and utility rates.
Those projects are part of the cityís five-year capital improvement plan. The plan is designed to provide adequate public infrastructure and facilities to improve the communityís quality of life, character and economic development to support growth.
Total cost of the plan from 2007-2012 is estimated to be slightly more than $54 million. Of that estimate, $29.5 million is projected to come from the general fund, $9.1 million from the water fund, $6.7 million from the wastewater fund, $1.4 million from the electric fund and $7.2 million from the airport fund.
Costs for the 2007-2008 year will be around $9.1 million.
Funding will come from decision packages, $441,130; existing debt, $1.2 million; new debt, $1.9 million; economic development funds, $1 million; hotel occupancy tax dollars, $110,000; projects savings, $100,000; loans, $1.2 million; grants, $1.3 million; developers, $1.5 million; and Wise County, $143,000.
The capital improvement plan is included as part of the cityís annual budget. Projects within the plan are voted on a yearly basis.
The council will vote on its budget Sept. 18.
2007-2008
The Bridgeport council met with city officials Tuesday to discuss projects for the upcoming fiscal year. Projects include streets, signals, facilities and equipment, parks, the airport, and water, wastewater and electric systems.
The city plans to construct an indoor/outdoor arena and multi-purpose event center that includes a show barn, stalls, meeting and retail space, a restaurant and parking facilities.
A feasibility study will be conducted in the upcoming year at a cost of $55,000, which will be paid for by the EDC and hotel occupancy tax revenue.
Almost $2 million is being allocated for the construction of a new fire station. In the upcoming year the city would acquire land and begin design on the building. Construction is planned for 2008-09.
With the new police department built, the city also plans to renovate the old building. It will be used as a visitor center, museum, offices for the Main Street manager and the Chamber of Commerce, and display and storage of the Bridgeport Stagecoach. The project will cost $200,000.
The city will also begin site preparation for its planned industrial park beginning on the south portion of the property, including removing debris.
The year will also carry on the preliminary design process of a youth athletic complex for baseball, softball, soccer, football, outdoor basketball and sand volleyball. The following two years are set aside for construction.
Continuing with its revitalization of Main Street, the city plans to redevelop Halsell Street from 9th to 12th streets, including parking, reconstructing sidewalks, designing and installing plants and other landscaping elements, placing signs and lighting. It is expected to take until 2012 for the process to be complete and the upcoming year is allocated for planning and phasing.
Over the coming years, the city plans to install several traffic signals along U.S. 380 with the first being placed in the coming year at the County Road 1304 intersection near the Devon Energy office.
2008-2012
In 2008-09, the city plans to build a 10-space recreational vehicle park to accommodate short-term and out-of-town travelers. The cost will be around $5,500 per space plus design costs. The total project will be around $70,000.
From 2009-11, the city plans to build a new animal shelter. The first year will be designated to land acquisition and the following year to the design and construction of the building. Preliminary numbers estimate the project to be around $200,000.
During the same years, the library will also be expanded by 6,000 square feet at a cost of slightly more than $1 million.
A recreation center will also be built. It will contain basketball and racquetball courts, a weight room, shower and locker rooms, storage, offices, meeting and activity rooms, a walking track, dance and aerobics area, a youth activity room and a childcare facility. Preliminary projections have the cost estimated at a little more than $4 million.
Between 2008-10, the city plans to expand its wastewater treatment plant to accommodate growth. It will cost around $2.3 million.
The city will continue installing signals along U.S. 380 at the intersections of 13th and 16th streets and W.W. Ray.
