19 - TxDOT Safety Capital Improvement Project Raised Median - Lamar Avenue

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Regular Council Meeting December 14, 2020 Page 6 Council Member Pilgrim said the public needed to know that 24 million dollars was spent on this project and that Council thinks there are some things that were brushed over and not done according to contract. Mayor Clifford agreed with Council Member Pilgrim. He said he was impressed with this company and expressed appreciation to Mr. Path for bringing them to Paris. Council Member Stone said they needed to hold people accountable. Following additional discussion, Mayor Clifford, Council Member Hughes and Council Member Pilgrim volunteered to serve on the subcommittee. A Motion to approve this item was made by Mayor Clifford and seconded by Council Member Pilgrim. Motion carried, 6 ayes — 0 nays. 22. Discuss and act on a TxDOT Safety Grant Proposal to pursue funding for a raised median from 33'd Street to 42nd Street on Lamar Avenue and the closing of crossover lanes on Loop 286 located approximately at the Home Depot, 29th Street, Spur 139 and Clement Road. Mr. Path explained that TxDOT had available funds for safety-related Capital Improvement Projects throughout the State, and it was a competitive program. He said that the local TxDOT Office had submitted several projects for the TxDot's Review Team's consideration and that the local regional office would like Paris' support. Mr. Path introduced Regional Engineer Dan Taylor. Mr. Taylor said every year TxDOT has a safety project, and then explained the process. He said it was very competitive. Mr. Taylor spoke about the first project being a raised median from 33' Street to 42nd Street on Lamar Avenue. Council Member Pilgrim inquired about the traffic count on Lamar Avenue, and Mr. Taylor said it was in excess of 22,000 on a daily basis. Mayor Clifford said he fully supported this and it would help keep people safer. Mr. Taylor and Mr. Path discussed closing of crossover lanes on Loop 286. Council Member Hughes inquired how long it would take to do all of this. Mr. Taylor said once they got started, it would take four or five months and the work would need to be done at night. Council Member Stone said she was in favor of making our community safer. Mr. Path informed Council there would be no City match required and Mr. Taylor said the money was all Federal funding. A Motion to approve this item was made by Mayor Clifford and seconded by Council Members Portugal and Hughes. Motion carried, 6 ayes — 0 nays. 23. Discuss and act on developing a procedure for expending the City of Paris' allocation of Coronavirus Relief Funding from the Texas Department of Emergency Management. Mr. Path said about 1.4 million dollars was allocated to Paris in funding. He said initially the funding was restricted to abnormal Covid-19 related expenses, such as testing kits, ventilators, and payroll directly caused by Covid-19 and that the City would have realistically been limited to a portion of the total available allocation because the City simply did not have a significant amount of abnormal expenses due to Covid. Mr. Path said the City was able to assist the Health District and schools in an attempt to bring the money into our community instead of losing it. Mr. Path reported that in recent months the Federal/State Government had clarified what were eligible payroll expenses which now allow full utilization. Mr. Path explained by