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Texarkana board adopts street‑rehab priority list tied to bond; Assistant Mayor Harris votes no
Summary
The board adopted a prioritized street‑rehabilitation list (Exhibit A) to guide a proposed bond and set a $21M conservative allocation (green line to $25M if proceeds allow); the measure passed 6–1 amid concerns that some low‑income neighborhoods were under‑represented.
The Texarkana Board of Directors voted 6–1 to adopt a priority list of streets and a resolution directing that proceeds from a proposed capital improvement bond be dedicated to the list (Exhibit A). The resolution establishes a $21,000,000 conservative limit on original estimates with a green line extending the list to $25,000,000 if the bond sale returns a higher value and reserves $3 million to $4 million for drainage projects.
A city presenter (public works staff) told the board the priority list was produced from a comprehensive street condition study conducted by Infrahub and that the scoring formula weighs pavement condition, street classification and a cost-benefit analysis: "56% of that score is the pavement condition," the presenter said, adding that "22% is the traffic volume or street classification" and the remaining 22% is a cost-benefit metric designed to get the "best bang for our buck." The presenter explained projects are derived from short sections (as small as one block) so the model can reflect localized conditions rather than only route-length averages.
Assistant Mayor Harris objected that the list left out many streets in Carmichael Hill and other older neighborhoods and said he could not easily tell constituents to support the bond if their streets were not represented: "How can I go to my constituent and ask them to support something, and you don't have anything in their neighborhood getting done?" he asked. Director Jewell and others pushed back, saying major arterials (Arkansas Boulevard, Jefferson Avenue, East 24th) serve people across all wards; one director said the arterial projects alone amount to about $6.5 million.
Staff described the likely timeline: even if the bond passes in November, funds would not be available for construction until engineering, bidding and contract work were complete (the presenter estimated projects might not be substantially underway until late 2027 or early 2028). Staff also told the board the bond proceeds would be invested in the interim and that investment returns might yield additional dollars toward construction.
The city attorney read the resolution, which includes language that allows streets in close proximity to be combined for bidding even if that causes out-of-order improvements for cost efficiency. After discussion the board moved to adopt the resolution; roll-call results were Directors Brewer, Jewell, Smith, Roberts, Director Hollowbush and Mayor Brown voting "yes" and Assistant Mayor Harris voting "no." The resolution passed.
What’s next: passage of the bond on the ballot is required before the city can issue bonds and start the engineering and bid process; staff said monthly or bimonthly updates will be provided as projects progress and as bids and engineering estimates refine the list and budget.
