During its meeting on Tuesday, the Edinburg City Council was told Transit Terminal project is more than halfway completed.
Tomas Canul, senior projects manager for Davila Construction Inc., said the delays reported last month have been resolved.
David Negrete, principal architect at Negrete & Kolar Architects, said the project is 63 percent complete and is expected to be finished in mid-March.
“If you drive within the street, you can see the milestones completed within the last month,” Negrete said.
Milestones include installation and/or placement of the following:
–concrete paving on east and west drives
–electrical transformers
–windows at the “bridge”
–rooftop air-conditioning units
Negrete said the mechanical, electrical and plumbing rough-in inspections have been cleared by consultants and city staff.
Councilmember Gilbert Enriquez asked if the rainy weather has affected the recent installment of drywall in the building, located at 617 W. University Dr.
“All of that is being protected and maintained,” Canul replied. “It does not have any water on it at all.”
The 15,000-square-foot facility will include public transit services, office space, kitchen incubators and retail, according to the Edinburg Development Corp. website. It will serve as the home of the corporation and Valley Metro.
The terminal will cost $4.3 million and is being funded by a federal grant, the website states.
Councilmembers also heard a presentation from Hilltop Securities regarding the preliminary plan of finance for drainage and road improvements approved by voters in last November’s election.
Cris Vela, city financial adviser for Hilltop Securities, said the general obligation bonds for the $20 million in drainage improvements and $10 million in road projects will be secured by the city’s debt service taxes.
Vela said the estimated tax rate impact will be $0.050 for Tax Year 2019/Fiscal Year 2020, as presented to voters in the election.
The bond sale will take place between March 5 and 28, with a 20-year set amortization and level debt service structure.
Vela later confirmed that if growth rate valuations increase, there is a possibility of decreasing the set tax rate.
Councilmembers are set to decide on the final plan of finance during their Feb. 5 meeting.
In other business, Mayor Richard Molina recognized Aureliano X. Martinez for his 26 years of service to the Edinburg Housing Authority.
Martinez began working for the Edinburg Housing Authority in September 1992, as a member of the improvements and construction crew. After four years and other promotions, he became the housing quality standards inspector.
“Frankly, without him, I think we would be a little lost,” said Dr. Martin Castillo, chairman of the housing authority.
Accompanied by the housing authority’s board commissioners, his wife and children, Martinez accepted the city’s proclamation.
The man of the hour expressed his gratitude to Estella L. Treviño, the executive director who hired him in 1992.
“Since then, I have just been following my journey, trying to help the community until this time,” Martinez said.
The mayor announced that the city held a groundbreaking for the third of 10 drainage projects happening this year.
“You have voiced to us your concerns of the flooding problems in Edinburg, and we want you to know we heard those concerns and we are addressing them as soon as possible,” Molina said.
He also invited residents to participate in the It’s Time Texas community challenge at ittcommunitychallenge.com.
“It’s a great way for our community to get healthy together,” Molina said.
The city earns points when residents log in their healthy habits. When the challenge ends in March, the city with the most points wins funding for a future community health effort.
