BC Council interested but will wait on painted signal boxes

Drivers in Bridge City may soon have a more pleasant drive since some new scenery may be added about town.

The Bridge City City Council tabled an agreement to research insurance matters with the Texas Department of Transportation to allow Next Generation Orange County to install artwork on Texas traffic signal boxes, at their regular meeting Tuesday night. the item will be readdressed at a future meeting.

Jerry Jones, city manager, said other cities are painting the signal boxes at intersections with different designs, such as in the city of Beaumont. The design plans submitted will be reviewed by the state. Likewise, the city council will have opportunities to see the sketches and drawings too.

In other council business, the Council approved financial assistance from the Texas Water Development Board for manhole replacements. Jones said the assistance is a $500,000 grant to repair 51 manhole covers that were affected by storm water infiltrating after Tropical Storm Harvey.

The Council also approved the construction contract for a Texas Community Development Block Grant to Jet Aeration, the low bidder, in the amount of $274,165 and committing an addition in-kind contribution of $36,725 to the project.

Jones said the CDBG will go for yard line repair work.

He reported crews will start up the third and final water filter online to remove iron and manganese from the water. Jones said the first two filters already seemed to do the job and this will be added protection.

Lastly, a zoning change was approved on Granger Drive from single family residential to multi family residential to build duplexes.