The Wichita Falls City Council on Tuesday allocated more money for the Memorial Auditorium overhaul, authorized demolition of some dangerous structures and began consideration of raising bus rates.
The meeting was the first for new city manager, Jeffrey Jenkins.
Councilors tacked another $388,654 onto the $19.1 million allocated for renovation of city offices at the auditorium.
Assistant City Manager Blake Jurecek said contingency funds for the renovation have been consumed by unknowns and corrections to the original project. The work will apply to the performance hall of the building.
It includes increasing the fire sprinkler pump size, adding fire alarm devices in the performance hall and increasing the electrical capacity for lighting the stage.
Jurecek said the work is needed prior to a planned remodel of the auditorium.
He said the additional money would come from interest earned on the city’s American Rescue Plan Act funds and from venue tax funds.
The offices’ renovation received the largest share of the city’s ARPA $29 million federal grant intended for recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The council approved demolition for 14 structures considered dangerous. The 133-year-old Berry Brown House at 1400 Travis Avenue was among them. The historic house had fallen into disrepair over the years and was severely damaged in a fire on March 29.
Also on the demolition list is former Freedom Baptist Church, which was badly damaged in an arsonist’s fire in September 2023.
The former church was among several properties whose owners told councilors they are working to improve them before the demolition deadlines.
Councilors will also held a hearing on adjusting city bus rates to include substituting a $3.50 day pass for single ride tokens. Other rates would see increases ranging from $3 to $5. Some public hearings on the increase have been scheduled.
In other buisness, councilors:
This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Wichita Falls City Council antes up more money for City Hall renovation
Reporting by Lynn Walker, Wichita Falls Times Record News / Wichita Falls Times Record News
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