Unintended consequences: Or at least $300K, more than three years of planning, and hours of meetings down the drain

First, where has Curmudgeon been? Thank you for asking.

Busy, living life, cruising Cove, and tied up with other things. But I didn’t forget about you, dear reader.

Truth be told, Curmudgeon has been a bit sad.

I almost hate to write this, but it looks like the imminent death knell for the Business 190 project, the median, the improvements, whatever you want to call them.

It is also sad but a little funny that a former councilwoman who touted the tide’s turn in Copperas

Loves the median, hates Andrea more!

Cove in the 2016 and 2017 elections, has likely shot herself in the foot where the median project is concerned.

Marty “Former-Everything” Smith was a huge proponent of the Business 190 project in its very early discussion stages, back in 2015. But then, things went south somehow between her and one-time pal city manager Andrea Gardner.

Former-Everything Smith is a huge fan of Heartburn Manning and others who are now ready to kill this project. For whatever reason, Marty spoke and people listened.

She was the champion of turning the tide to seat her own selection of council members in office, men who saw things like she wanted them, and number-one to her: anyone against Andrea Gardner and anything to do with her recommendations and decisions. She used that anger to push the tide.

Dear readers, this is what happens when you let people with personal crusades “against” another individual get put into office.

Voters are so “against” someone or something, that if a candidate promotes themselves as “against” a certain project or person, well, they must be able to make good decisions and not just be “for” or “against” something. This is not the case.

A cautionary tale, as we are not quite two weeks until filing opens for city council elections.

At the last council meeting on July 3, one man addressed the council and said the median would bring “Copperas Cove back to the 1950s.”

No, Business 190 already looks like Business 190 in Killeen. Stark, lacking in anything green. “Ugly” businesses. No “destination” businesses other than somewhere you need to pay a bill, buy

Toldja they're in on this together along with the GOBC!!!

insurance

Again, Curmudgeon finds it ironic that a former council member who pushed and promoted Marky-Marc Payne, Jay Heartburn Manning and Sorry Charlie Youngs as candidates during the last city council election has probably shot herself in the foot where the median project – her pet project – is concerned.

Look back at the May 19, 2015 meeting minutes for the Copperas Cove city council.

05/19/2015: CCW Presentation, discussion and possible direction on Business 190 roadway project funded by the Governor's Community Achievement Funding award in 2013 in the amount of $210,000. Andrea Gardner, City Manager

Ms. Gardner reminded the Council that Keep Copperas Cove Beautiful was awarded the Governor’s Community Achievement Award (GCAA) in 2013 for the amount of $210,000.  Ms. Gardner advised since that time, staff, consultants and volunteers from local businesses and the community were working on a business 190 master plan, with a draft schematic presented to Council in February 2015.  Although the plan itself has not been adopted, Ms. Gardner advised staff decided it was in the City’s best interest to start working on the project, especially when the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is willing to complete the design for the first portion of Bus 190.  Ms. Gardner advised the offer by TxDOT is a great benefit to the City and saves cost for that portion of the project design. Ms. Gardner provided Council with an electronic and hard copy map of the project area in question (indicated in red and blue on the maps), running from Constitution Drive west to Dewald Street. Ms. Gardner explained the length of the first phase was determined by the cost.  Ms. Gardner explained the map provided, indicating the different colors of red, which is the raised and landscaped median, and blue, which is the area designated for turning movements for access to the opposite side of the highway.  Ms. Gardner advised TxDOT requires a public meeting, which will be held on June 15, 2015 at 5:30 PM, but she is looking for Council input on the layout prior the public meeting.  Ms. Gardner advised there will also be a meeting with City staff, the Bus 190 Master Plan Workgroup and the business/property owners along the portion of BUS 190 being considered for this project on June 2, 2015 at 2:30 PM.  Both meetings will be held at the Economic Development Corporation, 210 S First Street.  Ms. Gardner explained that TxDOT has asked all the meetings, to include the meeting tonight, have recorded minutes provided, which will have a big impact on the project moving forward.          

Council Member Duncan asked if this portion of the roadway was part 1 of the project.  Ms. Gardner advised it was, adding the whole project will run from RGIII on the east end to Georgetown Road/FM 116 on the west end.  Ms. Gardner added the design funding for the additional phases of the project are already included in the MTP2040, the City will just need to come up with the actual construction funding for those.

Council Member Lack asked what the cost of the project would be.  Ms. Gardner advised, and the Mayor agreed, timing would be a large factor in the cost of the project.  Additionally, there are several intersections along BUS 190 that need to be straightened up for the project, such as Robertson and Main and Georgetown/FM 116 intersections, which will also drive the cost of the project up.  Ms. Gardner advised that she is hesitant to put a number on the project with so many of those factors to be considered.

Council Member Smith advised the businesses along the highway should be pleased with this project.  Ms. Gardner advised City staff hopes businesses will be motivated to keep their business fronts looking nice with the additions incorporated in the project.  Council Member Smith advised that Bella Sera is already planning on a remodel of their business, so she knows they and others along the way will be very happy. 

Council Member Duncan advised this project is the absolute right move for the City, stating the project is a benefit for both businesses and citizens in the community.  Council Member Duncan knows business owners will support the project.

Ms. Gardner advised the Council she cannot stress enough the importance of thanking TxDOT for their support and assistance in this project.  Ms. Gardner advised Bobby Littlefield, and before him Richard Skopic, in the Waco District Office has been very helpful to the City and has a tremendous staff working under him who are always professional and easy to work with.  Ms. Gardner expressed gratitude for all the staff at TxDOT, as well as all the individuals who partner with the City to make projects like this possible.

Council Member Russell commented on the project and the drainage issues within that corridor.  Ms. Gardner advised City staff has not seen the detailed design, but she is certain any issues with drainage will be addressed in the design.  Ms. Gardner also added she spoke with TxDOT about the City completing the irrigation for the landscaped medians, cutting the total cost of the project by doing it in-house.  Ms. Gardner will share the final, detailed design with Council once she receives it from TxDOT.  

The Mayor asked any citizen wanting to comment on the project come forward and do so.  No public comment was  provided.

Curmudgeon again. Sorry, dear readers, for putting this much of an agenda history in the article. You can see how things have changed and morphed with this project. But the end goal was the same: execute a master plan for Business 190, set to be the “heart” of the new business area for Copperas Cove.

That’s not happening, nor will it happen, if the council majority continues in this direction.

This is why we can’t have nice things, y’all.

It’s a crying shame that our city officials play lip service to planning and strategic thinking, then turns tail on this years and years of long planning.

Curmudgeon does not know what the consequences will be for our city down the road. But it’s not good.

Curmudgeon predicts that unless something drastic happens, 15 years in the future, Business 190 will look the same as it does now. Same-old, same-old.

We will never be a destination if we do not execute the plans in place to pave the way for us to be somewhere people want to visit and spend money. If you think we are a hot spot now, dear reader, you’re kidding yourself. 

We have a brand-new city planner with decades of experience and I believe Mr. Bobby Lewis will find a council that fights him every step of the way. They will nod at his presentations such as the one he distributed at the July 3 meeting -- on how to make a city a 'destination' through planning - and on the other hand, the council collectively lacks so much vision that it can't see beyond the inconveniences of change. 

Ohhh. The inconveniences of change. That's a good one! Sometimes I amaze myself.

The collective majority of the Copperas Cove city council has no vision, but only gives lip service to wanting to improve Copperas Cove.

Dear readers, we cannot improve our city with more of the same.  

Curmudgeon's hope is that Councilman David I'm-a-writer-not-a-talker Morris will give 'em hell for his final four months in office. It will be the closest any of us get to saying, "I told you so."

Curmudgeon’s only shining moment for this week is when Sorry-Charlie Youngs announced from the dais on Tuesday evening that he will no longer be putting the call out for candidates for the election.

Who’s gonna jump in the pond?

Will she be baaaaack? Now on the chamber of commerce board, y'all! What a smooth political move, Ms. B!

Again, Curmudgeon predicts Bradi I’ve-been­-here-longer-than you-buddy Dewald-Diaz, some

almost-won’s, and perhaps a new face or two. Depending on who the new face or two is, Curmudgeon will gladly be a campaign advisor. Just HMU, like the kids would say.

(BTW, somehow Bradi IBHLTYB Dewald Diaz is now a board member on the Copperas Cove Chamber of Commerce. Um…how’d that happen? Um, chamber peoples, does she even show up to anything? Any of y’all in the know, know how this happened? But Curmudgeon digresses.)

And as councilman James For-it-before-I was-against-it Pierce Jr. likes to say, Stay Tuned.

Next week, CCISD! I promise.