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Allen City Council approves new bike trail, renovations to police department
By Andrew Snyder, asnyder@starlocalnews.com
The Allen City Council cleared the way for three construction projects during a meeting Tuesday, the most expensive of which will renovate the city's police department on an $860,000 budget.
The city also approved funding for a new hike-and-bike trail along Cottonwood Creek and for new lighting at its natatorium.
The police department renovations will include the addition of new outdoor evidence storage and the expansion of the department's SWAT facilities.
In addition, the project includes remodeling the department's reception area to create space for a new interview room, remodeling areas used for patrol services and report writing, expanding the department's interior evidence room and moving a briefing room from the second floor of the building to its first to free up additional office space.
Irving-based JQM Management & Consulting, Inc. will handle the renovations. The Allen City Council approved a $542,052 contract with the company that gives it until March 4 to begin the project and a 60-day time frame to complete it. JQM will have to pay the city $240 per day if it takes longer to finish its work.
The contract with JQM makes up the bulk of the funding allocated for the project. The remainder includes money for professional services ($105,000); furniture, fixtures and equipment ($88,000); prisoner relocation ($14,000) and a contingency fund ($82,297).
Most of the money will come from a $404,000 transfer from the Fire Station No. 5 project.
Hike or bike, both are fine options
Allen will begin construction this year on a new 3,200-foot concrete hike-and-bike trail along Cottonwood Creek. The city will use a grant from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to cover the majority of the cost of the $226,875 trail.
The state and city will use an 80–20 percent split for the project with respective payments of $181,500 and $45,375. The grant states that the city must complete the project by June 2016 and maintain the trail for at least 20 years.
With the approval of the grant by the Allen City Council, work on the trail's design can begin. The trail will extend existing trail heads at Allen Station Park and follow Cottonwood Creek until it reaches near Llano Drive. The trail will pass under U.S. 75.
Energy-efficient lighting
The city will also fund new LED light fixtures at the Don Rodenbaugh Natatorium that it estimates will save it about $32,000 per year, or 30 percent of what it currently spends on lighting. The project is budgeted at $138,850 and will be paid for with rebates provided by Oncor Electric for previous energy-efficient projects the city has completed.
Facility Solutions Group, Inc. will be paid $114,975 to complete the project. The remainder of the budget includes money set aside for administration and engineering ($11,250) and a contingency fund ($12,625).
For continued news coverage, follow @asnyder_scn on Twitter.
The city also approved funding for a new hike-and-bike trail along Cottonwood Creek and for new lighting at its natatorium.
The police department renovations will include the addition of new outdoor evidence storage and the expansion of the department's SWAT facilities.
In addition, the project includes remodeling the department's reception area to create space for a new interview room, remodeling areas used for patrol services and report writing, expanding the department's interior evidence room and moving a briefing room from the second floor of the building to its first to free up additional office space.
Irving-based JQM Management & Consulting, Inc. will handle the renovations. The Allen City Council approved a $542,052 contract with the company that gives it until March 4 to begin the project and a 60-day time frame to complete it. JQM will have to pay the city $240 per day if it takes longer to finish its work.
The contract with JQM makes up the bulk of the funding allocated for the project. The remainder includes money for professional services ($105,000); furniture, fixtures and equipment ($88,000); prisoner relocation ($14,000) and a contingency fund ($82,297).
Most of the money will come from a $404,000 transfer from the Fire Station No. 5 project.
Hike or bike, both are fine options
Allen will begin construction this year on a new 3,200-foot concrete hike-and-bike trail along Cottonwood Creek. The city will use a grant from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to cover the majority of the cost of the $226,875 trail.
The state and city will use an 80–20 percent split for the project with respective payments of $181,500 and $45,375. The grant states that the city must complete the project by June 2016 and maintain the trail for at least 20 years.
With the approval of the grant by the Allen City Council, work on the trail's design can begin. The trail will extend existing trail heads at Allen Station Park and follow Cottonwood Creek until it reaches near Llano Drive. The trail will pass under U.S. 75.
Energy-efficient lighting
The city will also fund new LED light fixtures at the Don Rodenbaugh Natatorium that it estimates will save it about $32,000 per year, or 30 percent of what it currently spends on lighting. The project is budgeted at $138,850 and will be paid for with rebates provided by Oncor Electric for previous energy-efficient projects the city has completed.
Facility Solutions Group, Inc. will be paid $114,975 to complete the project. The remainder of the budget includes money set aside for administration and engineering ($11,250) and a contingency fund ($12,625).
For continued news coverage, follow @asnyder_scn on Twitter.
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