Commissioners approve concrete replacement for Heart of Texas Fairgrounds parking lot

McLennan County commissioners on Dec. 2 approved a contractor’s proposal to remove the existing asphalt at the Heart of Texas Fairgrounds Extra Cove parking area and replace it with 8‑inch concrete.

TJ, representing JRJ Enterprise LLC, told the court the county had three repair options and recommended option 3, saying the plan calls for “removal of all the asphalt grinding and then replacement with concrete.” County staff said the work would be funded from venue‑project funds; once county venue funds are used on an area, staff explained, that area is designated venue property and county ad‑valorem funds and county forces cannot be used later to repair it. Commissioners asked for a map showing the venue/property delineation; staff (Dustin Soufalle) agreed to attach a map to the venue agreement and to return a budget amendment on a later agenda to allocate funds for the project.

Commissioners discussed practical details: TJ said the project will produce large volumes of asphalt millings that the contractor will haul to a county storage site at Trading House for reuse on county road or park projects. Commissioners confirmed the design will accommodate occasional heavy truck access and that the pavement thickness (8 inches) was specified to support event and service vehicles. After questions, a commissioner moved and the court approved the proposal by voice vote.

The court did not vote on a specific dollar amount at the meeting; staff said a budget amendment to allocate venue funds to the project will be brought back at a subsequent session.