Council approves airport lease change, awards water‑tower contract, authorizes parks grant application and completes sale of Arcadia Theatre

The Bridgeport City Council took four formal actions at the meeting: it refused a requested land‑lease renewal for a T‑hangar and moved the tenant to a month‑to‑month lease; it awarded a construction contract to rehabilitate the Loveland Water Tower; it adopted a resolution to submit a Texas Parks and Wildlife recreation‑trails grant application; and it approved a contract of sale for the Arcadia Theatre.

Hangar lease: The council denied a requested renewal of a land lease for one T‑hangar and directed that the property convert to the city’s standard month‑to‑month lease rate. The council discussed background on the airport’s policy to move T‑hangar occupants to month‑to‑month arrangements and noted about 25 T‑hangars exist at the airport with “all but about 2 or 3” on month‑to‑month terms. The council motion to deny the renewal and convert the tenant to a month‑to‑month lease at the current monthly rate of $2.25 carried; the recorded result was unanimous (5–0). The tenant, Ole Berrymola, said he has held the hanger about nine and a half years, has paid lease, taxes and insurance, and that his contract gives him 120 days from lease end to remove property if he chooses.

Loveland Water Tower contract award: The council awarded a construction agreement for rehabilitation of the Loveland Water Tower to Tanks Company Inc. of Decatur for $377,600. Staff said seven bids were received; the apparent low bidder of $364,704 was deemed non‑compliant for failing to acknowledge an addendum and for arithmetic errors. Staff reported the city’s construction budget for the project was $432,600 and the recommended award stays under that amount. Contract documents will be returned by the contractor within 30 days, and staff estimated the physical work will take about four months; the project has one year for completion under the grant. The council approved the award by voice vote (unanimous).

Park trails grant resolution: The council adopted a resolution authorizing submission of a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Recreation Trails Program grant application. Staff said the city intends to apply for $196,930 in project work, an 80% reimbursable grant that would result in approximately $157,544 reimbursed by the state and roughly $39,386 net city expense if awarded. The project described in the application would add about 700 feet of trail at Harwood Park, add and upgrade trail lighting around Harwood Park and Champions Park, and connect sidewalks to existing bridges and parking. The resolution passed 5–0.

Arcadia Theatre sale: After an executive session under Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code, the council moved to approve a contract of sale for the property at 1009 Househill Street (Arcadia Theatre) between the city and RDL, LLC. The motion was made by Councilmember Susan Kaufman, seconded by Bobby Rodriguez, and passed unanimously. The council did not provide further sale terms in the public remarks at the meeting.

Each of the above actions was approved by majority or unanimous vote as noted; several items will require follow‑up staff work (contract execution, permitting, grant application submission and coordination on airport property transitions).