Sulphur Springs – The Sulphur Springs City Council is scheduled to consider $4.4 million in bonds to fund downtown improvements at its Tuesday meeting.
The bond issue is expected to be approved after the council considers giving the OK to the creation of a special Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone #1. A board of directors established the TIRZ during an organizational meeting last month.
The Sulphur Springs News Telegram reports about $3.9 million would be used to fund downtown improvements. The remainder of the money is needed for various equipment purchases.
The city in 2007 began making moves to revamp the downtown area.
Plans include reconstructing the streets and sidewalks in and around downtown using architectural elements and construction methods employed in rebuilding Main Street, done last fall. Also, replacing all sewer and water mains found to be "economically depleted."
The bonds would ultimately be paid for with property tax money generated by the expected increase in property values as the downtown area undergoes improvement.]
Also Tuesday, discussion/action is slated regarding a change in speed zones to portions of Highway 154 and Highway 11. In what started as a complaint alleging a number of traffic-related accidents near Wal-Mart and Lowes, ended in a study from the Texas Department of Transportation who recommended the speed change. Drivers will now notice, if approved, speeds will drop sooner than where previously posted when traveling north into Sulphur Springs on HW 154.
Tuesday's meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. in the Council Room of the Sulphur Springs Municipal Building at 125 South Davis St.