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Port Arthur council advances downtown telecommunications project, adopts EDA-related budget amendment
Summary
The council approved a contract for downtown telecommunications improvements and passed a $3.4 million EDA grant appropriation ordinance after staff and finance director explained the project is funded by a reimbursable EDA grant that requires the city to spend first and seek reimbursement.
Port Arthur City Council on Nov. 18 voted to move forward on downtown telecommunications improvements, approving contract authorization and passing a budget amendment ordinance tied to an Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant.
Council approved a resolution authorizing the city manager to execute a contract with NW Atlas Services for telecommunications work in downtown Port Arthur between San Antonio Avenue and Shreveport Avenue with a stated amount of $1,132,398.82; the contract and some project expenditures were described as contingent on approval of a budget amendment and Ordinance PO7375. Council then adopted PO7375, increasing the EDA grant fund by $3,400,000.
Mayor Pro Tem Dusett questioned the timing and whether the budget should have included the project earlier, tracing prior council resolutions and awards to 2021, 2022 and 2023. City Manager and Director of Finance Lynn Bamaso told the council the project is funded by an EDA reimbursable grant (approximately $3,000,000) and that the city advances expenditures and is later reimbursed; the finance director said the relevant fund balance can cover interim expenditures and that a budget amendment ordinance is the appropriate mechanism to record the grant funding.
Staff also explained that earlier stumbling blocks, including property ownership issues, have been resolved by choosing a site owned by the city and that work can now proceed. The council approved the resolution and budget ordinance by voice vote.
Next steps: staff will proceed with contract execution and the capital project implementation consistent with the adopted budget amendment and required grant reimbursement procedures.
