Council wants cost of citywide street repair

Jacksboro City Council approved of the city working to find out exactly what it would cost to repair all streets.

City Manager Mike Smith said he would request proposals for engineering services and present them the council at a future meeting. The consult would be to create a comprehensive streets and necessary infrastructure below them replacement or overhaul cost study.

Smith said such a study was performed 20 years ago and at that time, the cost was $15 million to repair all streets, but just the streets. It did not include water and sewer repair.

“I just want to get a number to repair everything, whether it’s $25, $30 or $60 million or whatever it takes and if we have to put it out to the public and say, ‘Y’all decide,’” Councilman Craig Fenter said.

Council member Greg Robinson said his concern is what will be the cost of the engineering survey.

“We talked about a year and a half, two years ago about looking a bond, possibly. As our debt goes down, the opportunity’s there if you want to increase your debt to go out for a bond or some C.O.s (certificates of obligation),” Smith said.

The council also approved of the city spending $4,800 for engineering services to improve storm water drainage in two areas, specifically, the intersection of N. 2nd and W. Archer streets and N. Church Street between Jasper and Oakwood streets.

City Manager Mike Smith said he has talked to several people regarding ways to alleviate drainage issues in those areas and no one was willing to take the project on without an engineer’s stamp.

The city will work with the firm of Enprotec/ Hibbs and Todd, Inc.