The Pauls Valley City Council approved a measure to begin preliminary engineering assessments to repair the spillway at the Pauls Valley City Lake during their regular meeting July 12.
Council members unanimously approved a proposal from Meshek and Associates, LLC in the amount of $204,549.78 for conceptual design analysis.
A proposal letter from Meshek indicates that the firm met with city officials at the Pauls Valley Lake spillway on April 5. At that time, “the spillway was found to be in a state of partial collapse with failure progressing with each rainfall event that results in flow through the spillway and additional erosion.”
According to the proposal, the firm will address repairs to the spillway in two phases. The first will provide initial site investigation and engineering reports, followed by construction plans and specifications.
The proposal estimates the time frame for completion of the first phase at 260 days. It goes on to say if the start date is Aug. 1, the concept design report would be delivered in April of 2023.
Meshek will also assist the city with bidding the construction project and determining if any grant funding is available.
Harris Wilson, design project manager for Meshek, told council members he thinks the best grant option available is going to be a Hazard Mitigation Grant through the state, which usually require a matching portion of 10% or 25% of the total project amount from the recipient.
A firm estimate on the cost of the project won’t be available until the engineering work determines the scope of the work needed.
“We don’t know yet if you have a $12 million problem or a $3 million problem,” Wilson told the council.
Wilson also said the engineering fees approved during the meeting could be less if the scope of the project turns out to be less intensive after those initial reports are completed.
In other business, council members approved an architectural services proposal from ARC Architecture for work to re-roof the police station and the fire station.
City Manager Lee Litterell said both buildings have needed roof repairs or replacements for some time and those need to be addressed before the problems cause severe structural damage to the buildings.
The council also approved the purchase of 12 Jet Protector Laser Pepper guns for the Pauls Valley Police Department.
Assistant Police Chief Derrick Jolley told the council officers need a non-lethal option to stop aggressors from a distance.
“Right now, we have two options. We can fight, or we can shoot,” Jolley said.
He said the pepper guns spray a pepper gel stream that sticks better and travels further than traditional pepper spray.
“It acts similar to pepper spray but with a better range,” Jolley said.
He said the department did initially consider tasers, but they are more expensive and carry more liability. Twelve guns will equip every Pauls Valley officer when the department is fully staffed, Jolley said. The guns, training certification and extra cartridges were approved at a cost of $9,870.
