2008-097-RES APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A GRANTRESOLUTION NO. 2008-097
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS,
TEXAS, APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A
GRANT APPLICATION WITH THE U. S. ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION AGENCY FOR A BROWNFIELDS CLEANUP GRANT
FOR THE PURPOSE OF MITIGATING ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS
AT THE GRAND THEATER; AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
EXECUTE ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF PARIS ANY AND ALL
DOCUMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE APPLICATION FOR SAID
GRANT; MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO
THE SUBJECT; AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, on March 21, 2001, by virtue of a tax foreclosure, Lamar County became the
Trustee on behalf of all the taxing entities of that certain property known as The Grand Theater;
and,
WHEREAS, at the time the property was foreclosed upon, it was already in a deteriorated
state, and, over the past seven (7) years, it has become even more deteriorated almost to the point
of dilapidation; and,
WHEREAS, until recent repairs were completed by the City to fully secure the building,
there had been various openings which have allowed birds to enter and roost, and the building is
now contaminated with bird carcasses and feces, both of which are hazardous to humans; and,
WHEREAS, additionally, there are ubiquitous amounts of lead, asbestos, and mold in the
building, and in the soil behind the theater, naturally-occurring levels of inetals were detected; and,
WHEREAS, the Grand Theater was named to the list of the Texas's Fourteen Most
Endangered Places in 2007 by the Texas Historical Commission, and there is considerable local
support for taking necessary steps to save this building and mitigating the environmental hazards
found throughout, with the ultimate goal being to restore this historic structure and operate it as a
museum, playhouse, theater, concert hall, and community meeting location through the use of
local funds and grants targeted specifically for theater restorations; and,
WHEREAS, according to the requirements of the Environmental Protection Agency, in
order for the City of Paris to be eligible to file such grant application, it must be the sole owner of
the property by June 30, 2009; and,
WHEREAS, in order to save this most historic structure and provide the City with the
opportunity to obtain a Brownfields Cleanup Grant to mitigate the environmental hazards found
inside the building, it is deemed appropriate that the City of Paris accept the donation from Lamar
County, Paris Junior College, and Paris Independent School District of their undivided interests in
and to The Grand Theater; and,
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Paris is desirous of processing a grant
application with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for a Brownfields Cleanup Grant in
the amount of $200,000.00, with the City of Paris providing $40,000.00 in matching funds and
in-kind services; and,
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to make application and authorize the Mayor, City
Manager, and appropriate City staff to accept and implement said grant (if same is received)
without further action of City Council.
NOW, THEREFORE; BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS:
Section 1. That the findings set out in the preamble to this resolution are hereby in all
things approved.
Section 2. That the City of Paris is authorized to request grant funding from the U. S.
Environmental Protection Agency for a Brownfields Cleanup Grant for the purpose of mitigating
environmental hazards found inside The Grand Theater in the amount of $200,000.00, with the
City of Paris providing $40,000.00 in matching funds and in-kind services.
Section 3. That the City Manager be, and he is hereby, appointed as the Authorized
Official of said project and as such is authorized and directed to execute, on behalf of the City of
Paris, any and all documents associated with the application for said grant.
Section 4. That the Director of Community Development be, and she is hereby,
appointed as Project Director and is hereby authorized to execute and deliver, on behalf of the City
of Paris, all reports, communications, assurances, and documents necessary to process the grant
application.
Section 5. That the Director of Finance be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed to
serve as the Financial Officer for said project and to receive and distribute funds for purposes of
the Brownfields Cleanup Grant.
Section 6. That, in the event the City is awarded said grant in an amount sufficient to
remediate all environmental hazards, it pledges to accept the donation from Lamar County, Paris
Junior College, and Paris Independent School District of all their undivided interests in and to The
Grand Theater.
Section 7. That this resolution shall be effective from and after its date of passage.
PASSED AND APPROVED this l Oth day of November, 2009.
O
/6se Jam Freelen, Mayor
ATTEST:
t ,
J ce Ellis, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
W. Kent cIlyar, it Attorney
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November 14, 2008
Environmental Protection Agency
Monica Smith
1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 1200 (6SF-PD)
Dallas, TX 75202-2733
RE: Brownfields AssessmendCleanup Grant Application
The Grand Theater Restoration Project
City of Paris, Texas
SAI-EIS# p
Dear Ms. Smith:
The City of Paris, Texas, is submitting the above-referenced application and hereby provides
this as its official cover letter.
General Information
1. Applicant Identification
City of Paris, Texas _
135 lst Street S.E.
P. O. Box 9037
Paris, TX 75461-9037
2. Funding Requested .
Funding Requested: Cleanup Grant
Amount: $200,000.00
Contamination: Hazardous Substances
3. Location
Paris, Texas
Jesse James Freelen, Mayor
P. O. Box 9037
Paris, TX 75461
(903) 784-9201
(903) 785-8519 fax
P. O. BOX 9037 . PARIS, TEXAS 75461-9037 .(903) 764-9234 . FAX (903) 784-1798
4. Contacts
Chief Executive Officer:
Kevin Carruth, City Manager
P. O. Box 9037
Paris, TX 75461
(903) 784-9201
(903) 785-8519 fax
kcarruth@paristexas.gov
Project Director:
Lisa A. Wright, Community Dev. Director
P. 0. Box 9037
Paris, TX 75461
(903) 784-9203
(903) 784-1798 fax
lwright@paristexas.gov
Date Submitted
November 14, 2008
6. Project Period
May l, 2009 to Apri130, 2013
7. Population
25,898 (2000 Census)
Summary of Project
The City of Paris proposes to mitigate environmental hazards at The Grand Theater. Located
in historic downtown Paris, constructed circa 1917, and designed by architect Jake Elder,
who also designed the Interstate Theater chain, The Grand was the largest theater in Paris for
over fifty years and its fly-loft was the tallest west of the Mississippi for many years. In
1996, a new movie theater was constructed on our city loop, and the already deteriorating
Grand closed. The property owners later abandoned the building, and, in 2001, the property
was struck off to the taxing entities.
As a result of openings in rooftop structures, there is water damage to the second floor
ceiling, the floor just beneath that, and the first floor ceiling beneath that, resulting in a
proliferation of mold throughout the building. In the fly-loft, there is a severe pigeon
infestation which has resulted in the building being contaminated with bird feces and
carcasses. There is also peeling lead-based paint throughout the building in extremely high
levels along with asbestos ceiling tiles. The City requires entrants to the building to wear
respirators in order to avoid inhaling particulate matter that can easily be seen floating
through the air.
The Grand Theater was named to the list of the Texas's Fourteen Most Endangered Places
in 2007 by the Texas Historical Commission. There is considerable local support for taking
necessary steps to save this building, and mitigating the environmental hazards found
throughout. The ultimate goal is to restore this historic structure and operate it as a
playhouse, theater, concert hall, and community meeting location through the use of local
funds and grants targeted specifically for theater restorations.
A Phase II survey of the property revealed the existence in the interior of the building of
ubiquitous amounts of lead, asbestos, and mold. In the soil behind the theater,
naturally-occurring levels of inetals were detected.
Your favorable consideration of this application will be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Kevin Carruth
City Manager
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