Crowley council approves up to $225,000 for records building; $78,090 paid to contractor on park project

The Crowley City Council voted to appropriate up to $225,000 from the city's Infrastructure Fund investment account to build a new records-storage facility and approved payment No. 2 of $78,090 to Prestigious Contract Group LLC for work on the Urban Park and Pavilion project.

Alderman Willridge described the proposed records building as a 60-by-100-foot metal structure to sit on the southwest corner of the police department parking lot, divided into four compartments with four north-side doors so city court, city hall, police and fire records would be stored separately. He said the building would be climate controlled for preservation purposes and have security cameras. Willridge told the council the city has about 60 file cabinets plus boxes of older records and that some materials must be kept permanently.

The council discussed design and historic-district review. Willridge said he plans to work with the historic district and is willing to match colors to nearby buildings. He also said the city has considered digitizing records but lacks the staffing and infrastructure to complete a full conversion now; he noted that some original signatures must be retained on paper records. The council voted to appropriate funds during the meeting; earlier in the agenda a referral language had said "up to $250,000" when requesting committee consideration, but the council ultimately approved appropriation of up to $225,000.

Separately, the council approved payment No. 2 on the Urban Park and Pavilion project to Prestigious Contract Group LLC in the amount of $78,090. That payment was offered by Alderman Willridge and seconded by Alderman Lachele; the motion carried.

Details recorded from the meeting: - Records building: proposed 60 by 100 feet, four internal compartments, climate control, security cameras (Alderman Willridge) - Proposed site: southwest corner of the police department parking lot (Alderman Willridge) - Funding: appropriation of up to $225,000 from the Infrastructure Fund investment account (motion carried) - Earlier referral language had referenced "up to $250,000"; council approved $225,000 at this meeting (clarification reported by Revenue & Finance committee) - Urban Park and Pavilion payment No. 2: $78,090 paid to Prestigious Contract Group LLC (motion carried)

Council members said they would coordinate historic-district review and consider future-proofing the slab for potential expansion, but no changes beyond the approved appropriation were adopted at the meeting.