Early voting for the Wichita Falls bond election will begin April 23 at three locations. The election day for the bond will be May 5.
The $131-million bond package includes seven propositions that can be voted on separately.
Proposition A: Parks improvements - $7,378,133
- Matching funds for TAP grants received for three sections of the Circle Trail - $1,598,133
- 0.9-mile trail spur, aqueduct from Southwest Parkway/Holliday Creek to Sikes Lake - $1.3 million
- Artificial turf for four fields at softball complex - $3 million
- 3.6-mile trail spur from the Ohio Street Bridge/Wichita River north to Sheppard Air Force Base - $1,080,000 (this amount is for expected match portion if the project received a grant. Total for project is over $5 million.)
- Lake Wichita parking lot resurfacing - $400,000
Proposition B: Lake Wichita shoreline projects - $3,915,804
- Veterans’ Memorial Plaza - $1,275,00 (Total project cost about $2 million. $725,000 toward project privately donated)
- Matching grant funds for Boardwalk project (received a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department grant) - $640,804
- Circle Trail from marina to Barnett Road along shoreline - $2 million
Proposition C: Street improvements - $17,300,000
- Maintaining current PCI (road rating, 60 is average) of 55 for residential streets and 66 for arterial/collector streets - $11 million
- Widen/improve drainage for Taft, south of Southwestern Parkway - $4.7 million
- Widen Maplewood Ave. to 48 feet between Lawrence and McNiel - $1.6 million
Proposition D: Municipal complex (city hall, police station, fire station No. 1) - $77 million (30-year bond)
- One complex to address major problems in three city facilities. Renovation, relocation while problems are fixed, in three facilities will be as expensive, if not more, than building a new facility for city hall offices, police department and fire central services and station No. 1.
- A new center would address overcrowding, health and safety issues, and ADA compliance. Complex would be 174,000-square feet located downtown.
Proposition E: MPEC improvements - $2,175,000
- LED lights for interior of Kay Yeager Coliseum - $125,000
- Renovation of seven restrooms at Ray Clymer Exhibit Hall - $105,000
- Replacement of air walls (room dividers) at exhibit hall - $800,000
- New roof for J.S. Bridwell Agricultural Center - $500,000
- Ticket scanners for coliseum - $10,000
- Video surveillance for exhibit hall - $75,000
- Video surveillance for coliseum - $75,000
- Video surveillance for ag center - $35,000
- Portable seating at coliseum - $175,000
- Camera upgrades for coliseum - $125,000
- Portable sound system for exhibit hall - $50,000
- Panels, chutes, announcer stands at ag center - $100,000
Proposition F: Memorial Auditorium building upgrades - $1,450,000
- Curtains, rigging, lighting, sound system for Memorial Auditorium - $1.45 million
Proposition G: Downtown streets and infrastructure - $21,900,000
- Street work for nine intersections (including underground utility work), 17 blocks of sidewalks, landscaping, decorative lighting - $20 million
- Acquisition and demolition for parking - $1 million
- Park Central expansion/development - $400,000
- Splash pad (small) - $500,000
The Wichita Falls Chamber of Commerce headed a massive awareness and information campaign prior to this bond.
“We have a chance to make this city great. Unfortunately, we've voted ‘no’ for years on our infrastructure at the ballot box and with our policies,” Henry Florsheim, chamber CEO and president, said Friday.
The outcome of this bond election will influence the city, its residents, businesses and visitors for decades.
“It’s time to make a statement and move Wichita Falls forward, and the only way that happens is with a high voter turnout," Florsheim said. "If you support even one of the seven propositions to help make Wichita Falls a better city, I urge you to get out and vote and to spread the word to your network of friends and family.”
Early voting locations include:
Memorial Auditorium, 1300 Seventh St.
- 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday, April 23-27
- 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday April 30-Tuesday, May 1
Sikes Senter, 3111 Midwestern Pkwy.
- 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday April 23-27
- 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday, April 30-Tuesday, May 1
Home Depot, 3705 Kell Blvd.
- 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday, April 23-27
- 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday, April 30-Tuesday, May 1