ABILENE, TX – Handling growth in Taylor and an update on revitalizing the the West End Elementary school building are among several items across two nights of Taylor city business this week.
On Wednesday, April 7, the Taylor City Council will meet for its third time in a series of workshops about city growth. Then on Thursday, the council will reconvene for a regular council meeting to discuss items such as the West End Elementary school building.
Wednesday’s workshop will focus on prioritizing the use of existing infrastructure before expanding outward. The two previous workshops centered on new developments in Taylor and how neighborhood design can promote a small-town atmosphere.
Then on Thursday, the council will receive an update from Lonestar Circle of Care about Project Headwaters and revitalizing the West End Elementary school building.
West End Elementary School was used as a school until 1983. The municipal government acquired the site in 1992 with the goal to find someone that could revitalize the building.
In December 2019, the city signed an agreement with Lonestar Circle of Care that conveyed the West End Building and some land off Doak Street for a community garden to Lonestar. In exchange, Lonestar agreed to revitalize the building and to execute Project Headwaters, which is meant to develop a new service delivery model in Taylor for low-income residents.
In other business Thursday, the council is scheduled to:
consider approving a lease agreement with the Greater Taylor of Commerce and Visitors Center;
receive a presentation on the state of the Taylor Police Department and Animal Control;
receive a presentation on the state of the airport department;
receive a report regarding the 2021-22 fiscal year street level-up program; and
enter into executive sessions on the Justice Center Center and easement acquisitions at First and Royal streets, then re-enter into open session for possible action.
The council meetings will start each day at 6 p.m. on the city’s live video stream at http://www.taylortx.gov/660/Taylor-Videos. To voice a comment in citizen communications during either meeting, contact the city clerk’s office at dianna.barker@taylortx.gov prior to 5:30 p.m. of the meeting’s day.
