Texarkana · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Texarkana public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Agenda access for individual directors
Director Harris's ordinance would have let any director place items on the agenda without a second, workshop, or city-manager gatekeeping, restoring pre-July 2017 practice. It failed 3-4, leaving current rules in place.
Liens on seven overgrown lots
The city's environmental department mowed 43 overgrown lots and is now placing liens to recover costs, which get collected ahead of property taxes.
North Texarkana Wastewater Treatment Plant expansion
The board signed off on a construction contract with Dixie Overland Construction to expand the North Texarkana wastewater treatment plant.
Byrne JAG grant for police and Miller County
The police department gets $14,748 of a $22,122 federal grant for body armor; Miller County's sheriff's office gets $7,374 for radios.
Federal housing funds and housing study
Roughly $200 million a year in new federal housing money may be available, and directors want the city to hire a housing coordinator and commission a housing study to compete for it.
Railroad blockages on Seaby/Pioneer area streets
Director Harris pushed for the city to pursue available federal funding — reportedly $200-300 million — and a Union Pacific joint meeting to fix trains blocking Seaboard, Pinehurst and Oak Streets, but the city manager noted a costly study would be needed first.
Airport Runway 4/22 Overlay Strengthening
The board funded construction extending runway 4-22 and Taxiway Delta so the airport can handle wide-body aircraft — a big economic development play funded largely by federal and state grants.
REDI Site Water & Sewer Extensions Change Order
The water/sewer project needs a new 2,393-foot access road to the lift station after an access deal with a property owner fell through, raising the project cost by about $189,000.
Ward 4 constituent concerns raised by Director Brewer
Director Brewer aired a long list of unresolved Ward 4 issues — clogged ditches, flooding streets, missing park lights, housing needs, and a proposed grocery store incentive for College Hill — and said his ward's requests take too long to fix.
Demolished 110 East Broad Street — delinquent tax certification
The city tore down the long-troubled former dealership at 110 East Broad at a cost of $630,000, but state law caps the tax-book lien at $15,000. The rest will be pursued through invoicing.
Lindberg Street water main replacement
A $189,980 contract with Stone Construction, LLC will replace about 1,350 feet of aging six-inch water main, adopted on consent.
College Hill neighborhood convenience store
The Dudley Street rezoning will let the applicants open a convenience store in College Hill, which currently has no grocery or convenience store. Neighbors signed a petition in support.
Sourcewell cooperative purchasing transparency
Director Jewell questioned whether the city verifies that buyboard vendors actually offer the lowest price, using the Ingrahm Park shade structure as his example. Staff defended the process but agreed to send him vendor comparison information. Expect more scrutiny of no-bid purchases going forward.
Grocery Access Survey
Texarkana officials and the Chamber want College Hill residents to fill out a grocery-access survey. The results could shape how the city tackles food deserts and whether new grocery options or related fixes get prioritized. If you live in the area, this is a direct chance to say what’s missing.