[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6121774,"mediaKeyId","2700162-4d57d6e5983770812106e3ef349e0bb4","parentId",2700162,"title","Residents raise storm cleanup and sewer‑repair concerns; council hears but takes no immediate policy changes","audioSeconds",188,"startMs",3332000,"endMs",3520000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2700162-4d57d6e5983770812106e3ef349e0bb4&start=3332&end=3520","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2700162-4d57d6e5983770812106e3ef349e0bb4/thumbnail_3332000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6121774/Copperas-Cove/Coryell-County/Texas/Residents-raise-storm-cleanup-and-sewerrepair-concerns-council-hears-but-takes-no-immediate-policy-changes","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6121774-f6730e2f1a1e69902cfd70b847b8e5a5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771190564&Signature=Ve~v1fBWzmzK8b37bMcRnsw6bPPpNsVkqXIK7pLi5GBHX8WgrVkeVv3BlgBy7r0Twvy6OgNH6t4QC9r~soSbypKbU27aLB9K~OfcOhwfGZcYoR4Ne6GYcefJhkw1SBKrWnklGB1EfhGwBJklrXAuSdfsfu~eiTJZEI5Yo2wJ7jzNgkXsz4Ed5Amhkkz2arYlZx8D0gxFxiUZb-rLs0gjGG5pPoBOF8g~bJRnjczbQYx3vZSwpk8q6ubV1KhPIDeBCQ7BxHBTGOJrhd49ip0XPgcQ6TLx8zM1~Z3xzUCAvzqSt8A585F6eSkgJFGNE1k-RdzBQfPTAOuh2alkBhMoww__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Copperas Cove TX","date","2025-03-19T01:07:17Z","article","At the March 18 meeting of the City of Copperas Cove, two residents used Citizens Forum to press officials on municipal services and local ordinances.

Robert Webster, a longtime resident, described wind damage to a property he owns on Janet Lane and said city staff denied his request to place yard debris adjacent to a park curb for pickup. Webster told council he had spoken with the city manager and felt the response lacked compassion; he asked council to consider city procedures for helping residents during weather‑related emergencies.

Leticia Anderson, a resident who has lived in Copperas Cove for about a year, raised a separate concern about a city ordinance (identified in the meeting as article 3, sewers, section 11‑33). Anderson said the ordinance assigns homeowners financial and logistical responsibility for replacing pipes that run under city streets and asked the council to explain the rationale and consider taking responsibility at least to the easement edge as many municipalities do. She framed the issue as both a fairness and a financial-burden question for homeowners.

Council did not debate or adopt changes during Citizens Forum. Staff and councilmembers acknowledged the comments and indicated the matters would be noted and could be returned for follow up. No formal directives or ordinance amendments were made at the meeting.

Ending: Residents seeking relief or ordinance changes were invited to follow up with staff; council did not take immediate action but public comments were recorded and will inform staff follow-up work.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Meeting 03-18-2025","oneSentenceSummary","During Citizens Forum, residents urged the city for more compassionate storm debris help after wind damage and questioned an ordinance that places responsibility for pipes under city streets on homeowners; council heard comments and acknowledged the issues but did not change policy at the meeting.","taxTitle","Copperas Cove, Coryell County, Texas","taxId",52762,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6121778,"Council workshop: staff previews FY2025–26 budget, seeks priorities on assistant city manager, grants consultant and impact fees",1305,10343000,11648000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2700162-4d57d6e5983770812106e3ef349e0bb4&start=10343&end=11648","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2700162-4d57d6e5983770812106e3ef349e0bb4/thumbnail_10343000.jpg","/articles/6121778/Copperas-Cove/Coryell-County/Texas/Council-workshop-staff-previews-FY202526-budget-seeks-priorities-on-assistant-city-manager-grants-consultant-and-impact-fees","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6121778-5319b13f582248e4aaa801a697b0b8e5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771190564&Signature=RFwLqOszwFx-VZiYu4bkvOqyJCTaNlyw3X~YQM1kCqTGt5XV1vTW1WEFrKofeMelbByk6U3DVQIsKFDljzjyyKSDGHWIL9bUgHUh32NRF02~Ng6lI5X1rnP5hQ0uo7stCWK4zsqnaphAmJhr6KGcKQ9QZYg7yABO4f2NMwhHtHUuR55gZo1PdeoldEJIzLPTcXYmCOJmEXheVZiiIL2hFep7J46S44V8U09rbrKpa-j~bDIIyufYtfo8Ha9DvHR-jX07a5oTxkdjvap8Yhh5eelKamhVqQCPBagQ2AZYXuRukt-sLFZexj4NfL61xESCMSsKhCKYFrJlo1hJ27lnVg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City budget staff presented a preview of the FY2025–26 proposed budget and plan of municipal services during a March 18 workshop, asking council for policy direction on personnel and grant-administration priorities ahead of the formal budget presentation in June.

Ariana Beckman, the city’s director of budget, summarized current financials and fund balances. She showed comparisons of budgeted and actual revenue and expenses across the general fund, water and sewer, and solid-waste funds, and noted that some expenses exceeded current-year revenue because the city carried forward uncompleted purchase orders and capital projects from the prior fiscal year.

Beckman showed preliminary taxable assessed-value estimates and a roughly 3 percent increase in the tax base as of the preliminary calculation, while flagging that certified values are not final until the county appraisal districts’ certification in July. She also summarized sales-tax trends, advising staff currently projects a 3 percent sales-tax increase for budget planning.

On policy questions, Havrila sought council direction on four priorities: (1) creation and funding of an assistant city manager position, (2) advancing a development‑impact‑fee study (staff already have funding in the budget for an RFQ/consultant), (3) hiring a grants consultant to support administration of large, complex grants (for example, an EDA allocation, a State Highway 9 ramps grant and a railroad crossing elimination allocation), and (4) monitoring state legislation that could affect revenue or authority (including disabled‑veteran exemption bills and other proposals that may change revenue or annexation/development rules).

Council expressed support for pursuing a grants consultant in collaboration with the economic development corporation; one councilmember said “absolutely” when the manager asked whether staff should continue pursuing the consultant option. On the assistant city manager post, Havrila noted the position had been discussed previously and that the recent voter‑approved tax-rate change and improved revenue position make the position feasible to consider during the budget process. He cautioned, however, that staffing priorities must be balanced across departments and that council should weigh direct-services staffing against an added executive position.

Beckman said the city’s general fund fund balance is projected above the policy target of three months’ operating expenses and that ARPA funds had contributed to the larger balance in prior years; she advised council that council could choose to use fund balance for one‑time projects but must do so deliberately.

Ending: Staff will incorporate council direction into the proposed budget and return the formal FY2025–26 budget document for public hearings and adoption per the statutory calendar; staff will advance an RFQ for an impact-fee study and pursue a grants-consultant arrangement with the EDC as directed.","Budget director Ariana Beckman reviewed the city’s financial position and calendar for adopting the FY2025–26 budget; city manager Ryan Havrila sought direction on creating an assistant city manager role and hiring a grants consultant to manage growing federal and state grant work.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6121784,"Council votes: rezoning, conditional use permits and several procurement and funding approvals — March 18, 2025",3702,2766000,6468000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2700162-4d57d6e5983770812106e3ef349e0bb4&start=2766&end=6468","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2700162-4d57d6e5983770812106e3ef349e0bb4/thumbnail_2766000.jpg","/articles/6121784/Copperas-Cove/Coryell-County/Texas/Council-votes-rezoning-conditional-use-permits-and-several-procurement-and-funding-approvals-March-18-2025","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6121784-85ddd98fd999f914b57f62d035c259aa/orig.mp4?Expires=1771190564&Signature=CaFNFws-xc2Vfb~A~U0aQS~rqBFRMleT7aId6TMJKD0LdEjww96t-zg~tOYAqOVIRCfkG4lnnkziuWivEG7E-wrFpFF7e6JvIhIbiVI3LGaft4CtS1A6N6sNtqf00pKrOhdCZx7pZw3EZrwCDGhh9nyOzOdqE-5cKK1ESb5iNxtr7ybBI7X1LLb3goDdKe62p36lWaCVz2I4CZU2MySJ-EQMz~EW201-aosOCuqu~4AQvZke0UWql8rJvECs31C4fi3NupCLJ1neuw4EbT3pefp9Dsx1tkK8NXDa23Rh9F2Gw683VQxYePT8~oWLGzrqcbYTBr~Yfq~j4WCBtIwKmQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","This is a concise roundup of formal actions taken during the City of Copperas Cove council meeting on March 18, 2025.

Votes at a glance
- Ordinance 2025‑7 (Future Land Use Map amendment for property at 810 N. Third Street and 811/813 N. First Street): Approved. Motion to approve made by Councilmember Christina Strophas and seconded by Councilmember Dale Treadway. Staff and the Planning & Zoning Commission recommended approval to accommodate a proposed daycare use.

- Ordinance 2025‑8 (Rezoning of the same property from LR/MR to RC retail and commercial): Approved. Motion made by Councilmember John Hale and seconded by Councilmember Christina Strophas. Planning & Zoning recommended approval.

- Ordinance 2025‑9 (Rezoning for 1618 Veterans Avenue, proposed liquor store): Denied. Planning & Zoning had recommended denial. Council voted to deny the ordinance; the recorded result was 5 ayes and 1 nay (motion required a three‑fourths affirmative vote to override the commission’s denial). The council noted the proximity to schools and public comment expressing concerns about pedestrian traffic and property values. The planning staff reported the site meets the state 1,000‑foot separation requirement from schools.

- Ordinance 2025‑10 (Conditional Use Permit to allow a short‑term rental at 1316 Concord Drive, in MR): Approved; Planning & Zoning recommended approval subject to four conditions.

- Ordinance 2025‑11 (Conditional Use Permit to allow a short‑term rental at 910 Davie Lee Drive, in LR): Approved; Planning & Zoning recommended approval subject to four conditions.

Other action items
- Contract authorization: Council authorized the city manager to execute a professional services agreement with Kimberly Horn and Associates, Inc., for engineering design of the Ashley Drive connection to North First Street (FM 116 improvement). Motion passed by council.

- Consent agenda: Council approved routine consent items including minutes and authorization of excused absences for two council members.

- Heart of Texas Defense Alliance: Council appropriated up to $4,505 and authorized payment to the Heart of Texas Defense Alliance for professional services; motion carried.

- Lampasas Central Appraisal District budget amendment: Staff presented a requested amendment; council took no action (tacit approval by default unless a taxing unit denies the amendment).

- Telecommunications access line rate adjustment (PUC): Staff recommended taking no action and allowing the state Public Utility Commission adjustment to proceed; council took no formal action.

Ending: Council completed the actions without further hearings; items requiring future votes (for example, budget amendments) will return with required documents.","At its March 18 meeting the City of Copperas Cove council approved two rezonings related to a daycare, denied a liquor-store rezoning, approved two short‑term rental conditional-use permits, authorized an engineering contract and approved a small payment to a defense alliance; the council also approved the consent agenda.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6121787,"Copperas Cove senior center project underfunded by about $1.5M; council directs use of general fund balance and rejects plumbing bids",1079,4609000,5688000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2700162-4d57d6e5983770812106e3ef349e0bb4&start=4609&end=5688","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2700162-4d57d6e5983770812106e3ef349e0bb4/thumbnail_4609000.jpg","/articles/6121787/Copperas-Cove/Coryell-County/Texas/Copperas-Cove-senior-center-project-underfunded-by-about-15M-council-directs-use-of-general-fund-balance-and-rejects-plumbing-bids","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6121787-26a5b0d3ed0c77ed4203b9f3732cb7ae/orig.mp4?Expires=1771190564&Signature=P3aALwtolIyQqyIb6uORkSTkohqenenzRoMfOuGyMoaGR4eSRLrsB1UacxmvW5PImqszbdRVjuxKzjpyhGS2b0lxYc5pjXW-hlnJ6-7heowPOzHyjI~vNBFHUB27hTHp8afzqz4g--X1xpYqpWvPRHhQH1K8ipf2GsYVvzTtD9BOEs5jFbJNt7RLHGGH-jIXoilWSQV0qZan9FbJ-3X-wly~etq7F8PEakX~dqWTuDLu84jV94KWDjTy9iA~8vlP7AP5we9HFlQ-VLdQuPp7HRspqsHwy8gPDj~1y8KEZBnEvczu014BdlKY0HnO2bwaEuFxLdwPK0Az0HtWeVWSMg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City of Copperas Cove leaders told the council March 18 that the proposed new senior center at Walker Place Boulevard is underfunded by roughly $1.5 million, and council members directed staff to cover the shortfall from the city’s general fund balance.

Parks and Recreation director Jeff Stoddard traced the project’s history: the city acquired an adjacent one‑acre lot for $385,000 and purchased a prefabricated building for $313,251. Site grading and pad work was contracted for $1,339,360. Staff said a late legal opinion required sealed general‑contract bids rather than job‑order contracting, increasing cost exposure.

Stoddard and city manager Ryan Havrila presented a revised total project cost near $3.3 million, compared to the $1.7 million council previously allocated. Havrila told council the city reviewed bond savings from completed projects and concluded they did not provide sufficient contingency; he laid out two main options for the funding gap: use general fund balance or add the project to the 2025 certificates of obligation and execute a reimbursement resolution to fund work in advance of the debt issuance.

Several council members voiced support for using the general fund balance. Havrila explained that the general fund is projected to end the fiscal year with an amount above the city’s three‑month reserve target and reminded council that a portion of the fund balance was augmented by ARPA and other grants in prior years.

Separately, staff asked council to reject the two bids received for plumbing installation at the new location and to re‑bid the work as a combined mechanical/electrical/plumbing (MEP) package. Park superintendent James Neely said two plumbing bids were received — about $106,300 and $217,653 — and that no electrical bids were received. Council voted to reject the current plumbing bids so the city can rebid as an integrated package; the motion passed.

Stoddard also told council that temporary fencing, irrigation and some landscape items are potential areas to trim but warned that removing necessary safety or scope elements would carry liability or reduce project quality. He said staff will continue to refine cost estimates and return to council with budget amendment requests and construction recommendations.

Ending: Council gave staff direction to proceed using the general fund to cover the shortfall and to rebid the building’s MEP work; staff said they will present the formal budget amendment and updated procurement documents for council action.","Council reviewed design and cost updates for a proposed new senior center at Walker Place Boulevard, was told the project is about $1.5 million short of the $1.7M budget, directed staff to use general‑fund balance to cover the gap, and voted to reject plumbing bids and rebid as an MEP package.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6121792,"Copperas Cove workshop: staff outlines $33.3M long-range debt schedule; advisor says rating allows more borrowing",2097,1497000,3594000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2700162-4d57d6e5983770812106e3ef349e0bb4&start=1497&end=3594","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2700162-4d57d6e5983770812106e3ef349e0bb4/thumbnail_1497000.jpg","/articles/6121792/Copperas-Cove/Coryell-County/Texas/Copperas-Cove-workshop-staff-outlines-333M-long-range-debt-schedule-advisor-says-rating-allows-more-borrowing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6121792-84f364d5ca330c806ea3bc03da99aad5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771190564&Signature=gNKF3dAAs~dfm74HeB4dS6zv1RVpJCusJjPGlvLtPgY4ZPm1iZ-s2hhvIi83TqFfAoEmXubEfahiGPFYL0uIZObsV9kvR-3qg4LuBY5LxdkJXWsETqX~vXLeuWD6SGTLjYqzX1DA~7hFjB~yoHBkVWtkSH1350ukqRN-VJXBIICUQ0rV1TP02NxXGGAQPD~32Bj7NnuanrEB5iYJuypmY0swTCRV72e9wdO5d-Ze4xytBiyIwRE3lcyuHKXNgR06dZepCunxidWdSDyjCtz5JqeZCiZgXGPPH-E5tYP5kMcvYz2p6FOksAaQeO169VuaMoe8JNP02W75g95dZY5phw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City of Copperas Cove officials reviewed a $33.3 million long-range debt schedule at a March 18 workshop, focusing council direction on projects slated for fiscal 2025 and 2026, city budget director Ariana Beckman said.

The plan, Beckman said, groups projects by fund and year and calls for $3.9 million in tax-supported work and $22 million in water and sewer projects in 2025. Beckman identified specific items: $1.1 million in athletic storage and skate-park work, a $1 million driving-range renovation, a $12.9 million second phase of the 20-inch transmission line relocation, and multiple wastewater plant upgrades including a $2.2 million clarifier rehabilitation and $1.6 million blower upgrades.

The presentation matters because the schedule frames debt issuance and the city’s near-term capital program. Beckman told council the legal process for tax-supported debt would begin in May with a notice of intent and debt issuance targeted for August.

Gary Kimball, the city’s financial advisor, joined by phone and presented an updated five-year debt-capacity analysis. “You can add up to $75,000,000 of additional debt that would be tax-supported over the next five years without, in our opinion, upsetting your double A rating,” Kimball said, comparing that to the roughly $49.5 million of tax-supported debt projected in staff materials. He noted improvements in Copperas Cove’s metrics, including a decline in leverage to about 1.58 percent of assessed value versus roughly 3 percent previously and the amortization of more than $36 million of existing principal in the next five years.

Public works director Scott Osborne emphasized that most of the large-dollar projects are in enterprise funds and funded by rates. He said the city is updating its rate model with consultants to “true up” revenue assumptions tied to water and sewer projects, and again flagged the long transmission-line and pump-station upgrades that would increase treated-water capacity.

Council members asked clarifying questions about what is eligible for certificates of obligation versus general obligation bonds and whether certain projects require voter approval; staff reminded the council that general obligation items would require an election. Beckman also walked council through the fund‑by‑fund percentages used in the schedule: tax-supported projects represent about 12 percent of the 2025 total, water and sewer about 66 percent, solid waste about 10 percent, drainage about 3 percent and street maintenance about 7 percent.

No formal vote was taken; Beckman asked for council priorities to guide the debt issuance process, and Kimball and staff said they would return with additional details and fee/rate analyses as needed.

Ending: Council did not set specific project funding changes that night; staff said they would bring more refined proposals, fee-model updates and legal notices as the May–August debt calendar moves forward.","City staff reviewed a $33.3 million plan of projects for fiscal 2025 that is concentrated in water and sewer work; financial advisor Gary Kimball told council the city can add debt without harming its AA rating, while staff asked council for funding priorities.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents raise storm cleanup and sewer‑repair concerns; council hears but takes no immediate policy changes

Council workshop: staff previews FY2025–26 budget, seeks priorities on assistant city manager, grants consultant and impact fees

Council votes: rezoning, conditional use permits and several procurement and funding approvals — March 18, 2025

Copperas Cove senior center project underfunded by about $1.5M; council directs use of general fund balance and rejects plumbing bids

Copperas Cove workshop: staff outlines $33.3M long-range debt schedule; advisor says rating allows more borrowing