Commission approves Boys & Girls repair funding

SAN BENITO — The City Commission voted to approve the Boys & Girls Club request to the Economic Development Corporation for funding for building repairs.

Commissioners Mark Moody and Valente Resendez were not present for the vote.

The commission took action on this and other items at their regular meeting Tuesday.

EDC Executive Director Alma Puente Colleli said the agency is still working to expedite the process to get the club funding to make roof and electrical repairs in the 401 N. Stookey Rd. building.

The engineer’s estimate is roughly $25,500, she said.

“This is outside of getting the bids” for the work, Colleli told the commission.

The EDC, she said, approved the funding at a maximum of $25,500.

The Boys & Girls Club approached the EDC in November for funds, explaining they had a disintegrating roof and faulty electrical wiring.

The North Stookey Road facility services about 4,000 members, and the local club in total has 7,000 members, club officials said. The building problems made for an unsafe facility and they often had to close, club officials said.

The EDC board approved the funding after receiving an estimate cost of repairs last month.

Casa Engineers found that the roof of the building did not need to be replaced and could cost $17,000 to fix.

Electrical problems were estimated at $8,500, Colleli said in January.

In other items, the commission approved the purchase of seven pickups from Lt. Boswell for the utilities department. Money for the trucks comes from the general fund, city officials said.

Commissioners also approved a $27,810 contract for traffic signal work at Stenger Street and Freddy Fender Lane.

The city may have to take the money from the fund balance, City Manager Victor Treviño said.

However, staff will try to look for another means, he said.

Though she pressed city officials to search for funds elsewhere, Mayor Pro Tem Celeste Sanchez said it was “about time” the city updated the traffic light.

The light, city officials said, often malfunctions.

In December, Public Works Director Hector Jalomo said the traffic light hadn’t been updated since the 1960s.