The Mineral Wells City Council voted unanimously to approve a professional services agreement with Brandon CS for construction management services on the TIRZ/TIRS Parks Plaza project, authorizing an amount not to exceed $2,394,886.46. Council approved the agreement 7–0 during the Sept. 2 meeting.

City staff and a representative of the tourism/TIRZ board explained the TIRZ (tax increment reinvestment zone, also referred to in the meeting as TIRS in places) governs implementation of an approved project plan and financing plan and may not itself enter contracts or issue debt; the contract therefore is between the city and Brandon CS. Staff clarified the debt for the project had already been issued by the city as a revenue note secured by TIRZ revenue and that no city general-fund dollars were being used for the phase under consideration.

Why it matters: the contract is part of a larger TIRZ-financed Parks Plaza project that the city budgeted in a prior fiscal year and which staff said required updated cost estimates and construction oversight to proceed. The council-recorded motion and vote authorized the city manager to execute the contract.

Discussion: a tourism/TIRZ representative said the nine-member TIRZ board (five city appointments and four appointed by participating taxing jurisdictions) oversees implementation but cannot itself sign contracts; that responsibility rests with the council per the ordinance that adopted the TIRZ project and financing plan. Staff said bids were in place and that city staff would oversee the contractor during construction.

Action: Council approved the professional services agreement with Brandon CS, 7–0.

Ending: Staff said the city will proceed with project oversight and bring construction updates to council as the work proceeds.