Texarkana City Council approves consent agenda; okays cybersecurity grant, hazard mitigation update, siren purchases and several zoning items

At its February 2025 meeting on Monday evening, the Texarkana City Council approved a multi-item consent agenda and then passed a series of resolutions and ordinances covering grants, contracts, capital projects and zoning changes.

The consent agenda cleared unanimously and included: acceptance of a State and Local Government Cybersecurity grant and authorization to purchase a vulnerability-management solution from Tier 4 Technologies for up to $29,612.60 (grant funding $11,364.27; local match $18,248.33); adoption of a five-year update to the city’s hazard mitigation plan required by FEMA; authorization of the city’s annual audit contract with Forvis Mazars LLP not to exceed $170,000; repair authority for the Patman water treatment plant low-service pump not to exceed $150,832; purchases of outdoor warning sirens and related equipment from OmniWarn totaling $486,145.02 and a separate OmniWarn command center purchase of $26,445.86; sponsorship agreements for five ballfields at Spring Lake Park totaling $100,000 in donated funds; and grant-application approvals for several police department programs including a State Homeland Security grant and a rifle-resistant body armor grant. Council also approved a budget amendment adding $6,948,937.27 in previously unspent funds to the FY 2024–25 general fund budget and authorized a nonbinding memorandum of understanding extending up to $11,060 per year in support to the Veterans Services Office.

The council adopted the resolution naming the Bridal Lake Park trail the “John and Julie Ray Harrison Trail” in recognition of long-term volunteer fund-raising and advocacy for local trail development. John and Julie Ray Harrison attended the meeting and thanked council members; John Harrison said the recognition was “an honor” and credited many local volunteers and staff for trail work.

Council also approved several action items outside the consent agenda: a three-year Microsoft licensing enterprise agreement for Texarkana Water Utilities (total $161,526.96; Texas portion $93,346.43) via SHI Government Solutions; authorization for the Texarkana Airport executive director to contract with McClellan Engineering for Runway 4/22 strengthening design ($502,203.20); and several zoning and specific-use permits (see “Votes at a glance” list below). All recorded council motions on these items carried without recorded opposition.

City Manager David Orr asked the council to note two multi-year efforts that had been finalized on the consent agenda: the outdoor warning-siren replacement and the updated hazard mitigation plan. “These two projects took years in the making,” Orr said, and he specifically recognized Police Chief Black and his team for leading the siren and mitigation work.

Votes at a glance (selected items approved) - Resolution 2025-017: Accept cybersecurity grant and authorize vulnerability-management purchase (Tier 4 Technologies). Approved (consent). - Resolution 2025-019: Adopt hazard mitigation action plan (5-year update). Approved (consent). - Resolution 2025-020: Authorize annual audit contract with Forvis Mazars LLP, not to exceed $170,000. Approved (consent). - Resolution 2025-021: Repair authority for Patman WTP No.3 low-service pump, not to exceed $150,832. Approved (consent). - Resolution 2025-022 and 2025-025: Purchase of outdoor warning sirens and related equipment and command center from OmniWarn (totaling $486,145.02 and $26,445.86). Approved (consent). - Resolution 2025-027: MOU with Veterans Services Office (nonbinding support up to $11,060/year). Approved (consent). - Ordinance 2025-028: Budget amendment adding $6,948,937.27 in previously unspent funds. Approved (consent). - Resolution 2025-032 and related: Police grant applications (State Homeland Security; rifle-resistant body armor; thermal imaging camera project — $28,117.84). Approved (consent). - Resolution 2025-001: Name Bridal Lake Park Trail the John and Julie Ray Harrison Trail. Approved (action item 14). - Resolution 2025-002: Authorize city manager to accept SHI proposal for Microsoft licensing for Texarkana Water Utilities ($161,526.96 over three years; Texas portion $93,346.43). Approved (action item 15). - Resolution 2025-013: Authorize Texarkana Airport executive director to contract with McClellan Engineering for Runway 4/22 strengthening design ($502,203.20). Approved (action item 16). - Multiple zoning ordinances and specific-use permits were heard and adopted (tattoo studio permits, single- and double-wide HUD-code manufactured home permits, rezoning requests and a rezoning for Moores Lane Business Park). See actions list for ordinance numbers and captions.

What the council did not do: The meeting went into closed session at the end, and no further public actions were announced after the closed session notice.

Ending: Council members reminded the public of upcoming city events including Run the Line (race downtown), the Spring Lake Park fishing derby and downtown theater events, and the city’s forthcoming parks master-plan meeting rescheduled for March 25. The meeting adjourned to closed session prior to the livestream ending.