Willow Park authorizes staff to pursue funding for Squall Creek road and water-line reconstruction

Willow Park's city council on Oct. 28 authorized city staff to pursue funding options for the Squall Creek road reconstruction and related water-line replacement, following an update from staff on outreach, engineering status and community feedback.

Rose Hoffman, leading the presentation, said engineering work on the project is about "90% complete" and outlined a multi-pronged outreach program that included door notices, mailed letters, a project web hub and a QR code the city says has had nearly 100 scans. Hoffman described one-on-one property-owner meetings to address driveway and property concerns and said staff is working with the school district, emergency services and the postal service to limit disruptions.

On funding, staff recommended opening talks with prospective lenders and returning financing options and debt-authorizing proposals to the council at the November meeting. "Once the funding is secured, we will take bids and award the contract. Once the first shovel turns, the project is anticipated to take approximately one year," Hoffman said.

Residents asked whether streets would be paved in concrete or asphalt; Hoffman said no final pavement choice had been made and that staff did not yet have definitive life-cycle numbers. Staff also noted gaps in resident contact information and said part of the project outreach includes updating contact records.

Council approved a motion authorizing staff to pursue funding by voice vote and directed staff to continue community engagement and return financing and debt-issuance options to the Nov. 17 meeting.