Wichita Falls council approves TIF-backed WinCo road, 7 Brew turn lane; funds opioid, vector and fire projects

Wichita Falls Mayor Tim Short and the City Council on March 18 approved multiple development agreements and funding measures, authorizing TIF zone funds for a WinCo roadway, a private-built turn lane for a new 7 Brew location, grants from opioid settlement proceeds to four nonprofits, a $10,000 vector-control grant from NACCHO and an application for a Texas A&M Forest Service vehicle grant.

The actions, taken by voice vote, move planned public-works projects and community-service grants into the implementation phase and formalize private–public partnerships the city says are intended to improve traffic flow, public health and emergency response.

City staff said the WinCo agreement will use Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Zone No. 2 increment to connect South Winona Avenue to Gregory Avenue and extend sidewalks; WinCo will construct a major portion of the roadway with the city paying the remaining $1,284,000 from the TIF fund. Terry Floyd, the city’s director of development services, said the South Winona alignment and associated work have been part of the city’s TIF plan since 1995 and that private development in the district made the financing available. Todd, a WinCo construction manager, told council WinCo expects the project to improve site access and said the company plans to hire roughly 125 employees for the store. "We are a 100% employee owned company," he said.

Also approved was a development agreement with 7 Crew Enterprises (the 7 Brew franchise) to build an additional turn lane on Piedmont Place at Kemp Boulevard and to relocate a traffic signal if needed. Emma Duett, 7 Crew’s director of field marketing, said the company will invest about $1.5 million in site development and hire local subcontractors and employees. City traffic staff and engineering defended the turn-lane design as the preferred solution to keep Kemp, a major thoroughfare, flowing and to prevent left‑turn queues from blocking the intersection; Public Works staff estimated the queue capacity for the new turn lane at roughly five vehicles but emphasized the lane allows traffic to clear the intersection more reliably.

Those two land‑use items drew public comment. Carol Murray and other neighbors raised concerns about noise, stormwater, traffic queuing and pedestrian safety near the 7 Brew site; a city traffic engineer answered that the site plan includes a double drive-through lane and that staff revised access points to avoid Kemp. Taishma Monroe and other speakers questioned the use of TIF funding for portions of the WinCo access road; staff responded that WinCo is funding a substantial portion of the work and the TIF district is paying the segment that connects the new construction to Gregory as long‑planned TIF investments.

On funding for health and safety, the council: - appropriated $10,000 from the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) to the Special Revenue Fund for a Vector Control Collaborative project to support mosquito surveillance and reduce chemical resistance. Public-health staff said last year the city saw 10 West Nile virus cases and that the grant will fund part‑time staff hours and a microscope for mosquito subtyping. "We had 10 folks who had West Nile virus," Amy said during the presentation. - approved an ordinance to distribute $150,000 in opioid‑settlement funds to four local nonprofits after a competitive application process and review by an outside‑agencies committee. The awards recommended by staff were $45,000 to Actions Against Opioids (needs assessment), $4,400 to East of the Falls Community Development Corporation (support for local Narcotics Anonymous meetings), $85,600 to Helen Therapy Centers (treatment program support) and $15,000 to Homeless Lives Matter. Brad Fisk of Helen Farabee Centers described plans to expand life‑saving measures and treatment access and said the organization will use the funds for outreach, treatment and naloxone distribution.

Council also approved an amendment to Chapter 50, Article 5 of the Code of Ordinances to align outdoor burning permits with the city’s Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP), giving the fire chief permit authority for mitigation burns; and it authorized the city manager to apply to the Texas A&M Forest Service for an Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System vehicle grant to replace one of two aging brush units. The grant application covers a vehicle estimated at $575,000; the program requires no local match but imposes operational conditions if deployed. The fire chief told council the grant requires an application by Aug. 31 and that awards are announced in October.

Votes at a glance - Ordinance: Special Revenue Fund appropriation, Vector Control Collaborative project — $10,000 (source: NACCHO). Outcome: approved by voice vote; tally not specified. - Ordinance: Appropriation of opioid settlement funds to nonprofits — $150,000 (multiple awards). Outcome: approved by voice vote; tally not specified. - Ordinance: Amend Chapter 50 (Outdoor Burning, Article 5) to align with CWPP and grant fire chief permitting authority. Outcome: approved by voice vote; tally not specified. - Resolution: Authorize application to Texas A&M Forest Service for Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System vehicle grant (vehicle estimated cost $575,000). Outcome: approved by voice vote; tally not specified. - Resolution: Development agreement with 7 Crew Enterprises (7 Brew) for turn lane on Piedmont Place at Kemp Boulevard; private construction with city coordination. Outcome: approved by voice vote; tally not specified. - Resolution: Development agreement pursuant to Texas Local Government Code Sec. 212.071 with WinCo Foods LLC for construction of South Winona Avenue and utilities — $1,284,000 from TIF Zone No. 2. Outcome: approved by voice vote; tally not specified.

What happens next City staff said opioid grantee checks will be issued within about a month and that the vector and public‑works projects will move into procurement and permitting phases. For WinCo, city staff and the company said design work is underway and the private portion of the roadway is already being constructed; WinCo’s representative said the company targets an opening later this year. The council adjourned into a closed executive session and returned to say no action was taken there.

Speakers quoted in this report are those identified in the meeting record and in the city’s presentation materials.