City moves forward with Lone Star Grand Prix plans

By Miranda Rogers

POST-REGISTER

As the weeks wind down toward the long-discussed Texas Lone Star Grand Prix Kart Race scheduled for March 2-3, the City of Lockhart continues to do its best to prepare for the event on a shoestring budget.

During the regular meeting of the Lockhart City Council on Tuesday evening, the Council voted to employ Au

stin Rent Fence to deliver, set up and take down 6,000 linear feet of 6-foot high crowd fencing and eight gates, which will encompass much of the race route.

Funding for the $7,624.48 contract will be supplied partially from Hotel/Motel Tax and Economic Development.

Lockhart City Manager Vance Rodgers estimated that there have been more entries for this race than in Rock Island (Illinois), which may have something to do with the warmer weather and lack of ice on the roads. The Rock Island race, held annually on Labor Day Weekend, one of the world’s premeire kart racing events.

Rodgers said he intends to work out a deal with the bus company and Wal-Mart, for transportation to and from parking lots.

In a related item, the Lone Star Grand Prix 2013 will host a meeting at Smitty’s Market on Jan. 26, 2013, beginning at 10:45 a.m. The meeting is intended to allow local leaders, business leaders and residents to meet with select drivers and race teams, and to provide feedback on the proposed circuit.

It is expected that the race teams will have karts on hand to allow people to ask questions and understand the nature of the sport and of the upcoming race.

In other business, the council voted to update a city ordinance to allow certain three-wheeled vehicles to operated on public streets within the City Limits.

Specifically, the change amends the definition of “golf carts” to allow them to have a minimum of three wheels.

The discussion began because of an email that Councilmember Richard Banks received from local resident Dave Francis, who owns an early gas-powered model of golf cart that is not made anymore.

Though Banks said he was skeptical of approving an ordinance change just because of one person, Mayor Lew White called Francis a “trendsetter.”

One of the first comments to be made on the subject was from the mayor, who didn’t know many respectable golf players that would play in a three-wheeled cart, but Francis was quick to remind the gallery of legendary entertainer Perry Como, an avid golfer who was often pictured in just such a cart.

These carts should not be confused with NEV’s, which are neighborhood electric vehicles recognized by the Department of Transportation. The Irving Club presented a check to the City of Lockhart for the Clark Library Expansion project.

The noted literary organization has been instrumental in the development of the Library throughout its storied history, and the Irving Club made the donation to help fund the ongoing expansion project, which will build out the second and third floors of the Masonic Annex.

In brief news:

The council awarded a Certificate of Appreciation to the C.D. Marshall Endowed Scholarship Writing Workshop, in appreciation and recognition of their dedication to the youth of our community. The workshop recently completed its third year, and will continue to offer workshops for local students in elementary through high school.

The council approved a contract with Colley-Aire of Lockhart at $90 per hour to complete heating and air conditioning systems for the Lockhart Animal Shelter Adoption Building, and for circulation systems in the Shelter Canine Building. According to Rodgers, this rate is consistent with this type of work, which is both electrical and mechanical.

The City will be purchasing all of the material and is expecting the work to be done within the next 30 days.

Salinas Masonry Contractors will was awarded a $9,000 contract for the installation of cement cinder block to construct the elevator shaft for the restoration and expansion of the Clark Library.

Schmidt Electric will conduct electric work for the Clark Library for $203,000.

The approved Resolution 2013-01, which is a required resolution for authorizing procurement of professional services. TRC Engineering Solutions, Inc. scored the best rating for engineering services and is recommended, along with Community Development Management Company, Inc. for management services, for the implementation of projects funded by the Texas Community Development Block Grant.

They also approved a Resolution approving the Investment Policy for the City of Lockhart. There were no changes to the investment policy for 2013.

The council also approved zoning changes for a property on N. Colorado St. (Highway 183) and another on Blackjack Street (FM 20 E) allowing the owners to pursue expanded business opportunities.

The Lockhart City Council routinely meets on the first and third Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m. in the Glosserman Conference Room at Lockhart City Hall. The meetings are open to the public and are televised on Time Warner Digital Cable Channel 10.