Local aldermen awarded contracts tied to a roughly $3.5 million state-funded local infrastructure improvement project last week as part of their regularly scheduled council meeting held June 18.
The project makes use of a revolving fund provided by the Texas Water Development Board, addressing city infrastructure needs, like aging water and sewer line replacement.
Thursday’s council action named Traylor & Associates of Tyler the official grant administrator over the proposed project, and Civil Corp of Victoria as the city’s primary construction agent in charge of the work.
Both firms have established relationships with city already, Edna city manager Gary Broz said. Both are involved with street, drainage and utility improvement projects as part of Edna’s federal disaster aid dollars made available through the Texas General Land Office in Hurricane Harvey’s wake.
Civil Corp is also overseeing work on improvement projects along Division, Brackenridge and Miracle streets that are part of the city’s bond projects, paid for with certificates of obligation.
Recent rains idled work on the street projects, Broz said in his project update to council in his city manager’s report, though he suspected work would pick up when things dried out. At least a mile of that project is due for an Aug. 1 completion date to accommodate the start of the new school year, he added.
In another though unrelated civic improvement project Thursday, council members extended their blessing to the Edna Business Association to install some 34 curb grab bars in the downtown area.
Council also greenlighted two demolition projects—one at 702 W. Cedar and the other at 705 Third—both removing condemned structures within the city.
In other business:
• The city received its annual financial audit report from Harrison, Waldrop & Uherek, the firm presenting an unqualified opinion—its top mark—on the city’s bookkeeping over the last year.
• Council approved a measure to clean up some old deed paperwork for a property located along Guadalupe Street.
• The council approved a vehicle lease agreement with Enterprise Fleet Management for a new pickup to be used by Edna’s animal control officer.
• The city renewed its agreement Texas Health Benefits Pool to provide health insurance for all city employees, with no increase in premiums anticipated in the year ahead.
