Balch Springs council approves streetscape contracts, $4.01 million street program, benefits broker and electronic voting software

Balch Springs City Council on March 24 approved multiple contracts and program amendments aimed at street and corridor improvements, named a new employee benefits broker and authorized a one-time electronic voting setup for council meetings.

The council unanimously approved contract amendments with Lothrop Landscape Inc. for streetscape work on the Lake June corridor (not to exceed $193,400) and the Beltline Road corridor (not to exceed $150,000). Council also approved an amendment with Freese and Nichols for engineering design services for adding sidewalks on Horseshoe Trail (design amendment not to exceed $84,008.50) and a combined street maintenance tax program to reconstruct four priority streets — Platte Drive, Horseshoe Trail, Glenshauer and Summerhill — at a total not to exceed $4,005,750. The council voted to fund the package from the street maintenance tax fund with any overages coming from CIP fund balance.

Council voted to select Gallagher as the city’s new employee benefits broker and to authorize transition from the prior broker (1Digital). The council approved a one-time payment not to exceed $3,000 from council contingency to activate CivicPlus Live Meeting Manager electronic voting; staff will budget the recurring annual fee in future budgets.

Council also approved a housekeeping amendment to the council policies and procedures to add proclamations under the section governing ordinances and resolutions; that motion passed with one recorded No vote.

Nut graf: The actions mark a concentrated effort by city leadership to advance corridor beautification and accelerate a multi-street maintenance program while shifting administrative services (employee benefits) to a new vendor and modernizing meeting technology. The largest single commitment approved at the meeting was the $4,005,750 street maintenance package, which combines reconstruction and new sidewalks on multiple neighborhood routes.

Most important details

- Streetscape contracts: Council approved…