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Lamar council approves urban renewal amendment, advances funding for Centennial Building demolition
Summary
At its Sept. 16 meeting, the Lamar City Council adopted an amendment adding the Centennial Building demolition to the Lamar Highway 75 Bypass Urban Renewal Area, authorized an internal advance for the project, and approved plans and specifications ahead of a fall bid opening.
The Lamar City Council on Sept. 16 approved an amendment to the Lamar Highway 75 Bypass Urban Renewal Plan that adds the demolition of the Centennial Building as a project, authorized an internal advance of funding for that demolition, and adopted plans, specifications and an engineer's estimate so the city can solicit bids.
The amendment (Resolution No. 25-44) was adopted after the council opened a public hearing and received no public comments. The administration recommended approval. Council later adopted a separate resolution (No. 25-45) authorizing an internal advance of funds for the Centennial Building Demolition Project and a third resolution (No. 25-46) adopting plans, specifications, form of contract and engineer's estimate to permit bidding on the demolition.
Why it matters: designating the demolition as a project in the urban renewal plan makes demolition costs eligible for Tax Increment Financing (TIF) reimbursement, and the funding advance gives the administration cash authority to proceed while reimbursement is pursued.
City staff identified cost elements for the project during council discussion. Jason, a city staff member, said asbestos abatement previously cost about $163,000 and "the current estimate for the project we're gonna talk about next is, 247,300." Council and staff noted the amendment includes a cap; the amendment text sets a project cap of $500,000. The administration told the council costs will be eligible for TIF reimbursement.
The council set the demolition procurement schedule in the plans item: bid opening on Oct. 1, 2025 at 2:00 p.m., award scheduled for Oct. 7, 2025, and project completion estimated by Dec. 12, 2025. During the hearing several council members asked whether existing trees shown on the site map would be preserved or removed and how tree removal would affect costs; council members and staff discussed that leaving mature trees in place could avoid immediate removal costs but that trees might still be removed later if site work requires it.
All votes on the three resolutions were roll-call approvals with no recorded dissent. The council record shows the motions received a second and passed. The administration recommended moving forward to bidding after adopting the plans and specifications.
Next steps: the city will accept bids on Oct. 1 and return to council for award Oct. 7 as scheduled. If the low bidder and contract are accepted, the city intends to use TIF to reimburse eligible costs after the expenditure is advanced.
The hearing and decisions took place during the council's regular meeting at Lamar City Hall.
