Drainage, roads and sewer lines
City pays the bill on host of improvements aimed at upgrading area's infrastructure and laying groundwork for new business
By BENJAMIN C. SHARP bensharp@journal-spectator.com

Staff Photo by Benjamin Sharp David Bijarro stands ready with a shovel as Oscar Delbosque scoops out dirt around a drainage culvert being set along Junior College Boulevard.

It takes time - and money - to improve the city, and no one knows that better than the Wharton City Council.

On Monday, the council approved pay requests on four different projects that will upgrade everything from traffic flows to drainage to future sewer needs.

Taking the requests one after another, the council appeared a bit numb as the cost figures continued to mount. The total equaled over $680,000 - and only one of the projects is complete.

"We're spending a lot of money," Councilman David Samuelson said.

Yet the council believes the projects are crucial to the development of the city's infrastructure.

The most expensive of the four, for example, is the frontage road on U.S. 59 which will allow highway traffic to exit for a new Buc-ee's service station now under construction.

The 25,000 square foot facility is anticipated to create 75 new jobs and generate some $17,000 in city property taxes and around $45,000 in sales tax.

The council on Monday approved a pay request from Angel Brother's Enterprises Ltd. for around $598,000.

Engineer Carlos Cotton said the project is about 64 percent complete, and should be wrapped up by the end of this year.

The city will get some help with these costs, though.

The Wharton Economic Development Corp. is chipping in around $390,000 and the Texas Capital Fund will contribute with a state grant.

The second pay request was from Bellville-based Lonnie Lischka Co., which is overseeing roadway crossings for the Santa Fe Drainage Channel. The channel begins at FM 1299, crosses two acres of pasture, then passes beneath Texas 60 and Old Lane City Road before ending at Alabama Road. It's designed to drain the entire east side of town, which has been prone to flooding.

Culverts are being constructed by Lonnie Lischka at each of the road crossings, and also beneath a gas pipeline. Cost is $854,000.

The council on Monday approved a pay request for $34,700.

Cotton said the project is about 57 percent complete.

The council also approved a $33,500 pay request from R&B Group Inc., which is constructing the Wharton Industrial Park Pump Station.

That project will bring sewer to the park, which is behind Franklin Furniture on the outskirts of town, in the hopes of attracting new industry here.

Cotton said the project is about 47 percent complete.

The approved request was actually slightly lower than expected since it included a $315 deduction, which resulted from a revision in the pipe configuration.

The final request was from Faltisek Paving Partnership for city street improvement projects.

Faltisek handled the seal coat and prime coat for Junior College Boulevard - which was earlier this year widened and resurfaced by the city to accommodate growing traffic - as well as similar resurfacing on Lee's Lane, Mulberry Street, Abell Street, Columbus Street and Speed Street.

The request was for just over $17,000.

"So we're through with all these streets?" asked Councilman Ken Freese.

City Manager Andres Garza Jr. said yes.