Fairgrounds may get Fed bailout money
Commissioners seek to use $2.1B for Harbor Bridge replacement, fairgrounds expansion, road work and other items

Nueces County Commissioners want the federal economic stimulus package to pay for $2.1 billion in regional projects, including $30 million for fairgrounds expansion and $42 million for a nature park.

The list of projects, approved by the Commissioners Court 4-1 during its meeting Thursday, is separated into $1.3 billion in transportation improvements and $830 million for other projects.

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Commissioner Mike Pusley, who said he didn’t have input on the list’s content, voted against submitting the request to U.S. Rep. Solomon P. Ortiz, D-Corpus Christi.

Replacing the Harbor Bridge, estimated at $900 million, is the largest project on the list.

Although commissioners didn’t vote on the list until Thursday, the letters detailing the requests were dated Jan. 13 and Jan. 16.

Commissioner Betty Jean Longoria said they needed to approve the letters quickly because other governments had submitted their lists of projects.

“Everyone is way ahead of us,” she said. “That’s all everyone is talking about.”

Commissioner Oscar Ortiz, whose district includes the Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds, said projects that would add the fairgrounds’ proposed arena could benefit the economy. That project has been on hold because of the fairgrounds’ overall drain on the county budget. The fairgrounds, touted as an economic stimulus, continues to operate at a deficit.

Ortiz mentioned a San Antonio city request for a $200 million arena.

“What could it possibly hurt to submit our plan for a $26 million arena?” he said.

County Judge Loyd Neal said he didn’t know reasons for all the requests. Which projects to put on the list was never discussed during a meeting.

Commissioner Chuck Cazalas said he wanted to include all possible projects that could qualify for the stimulus money.

“These are projects that have been in the hopper for years that aren’t in anyone’s budget,” he said.

The requests are an attempt to get a slice of a proposed $825 billion stimulus package making its way through Congress. The bill, proposed by President Barack Obama, has not been approved.

Projects must be ready to break ground immediately and be completed by 2010, per Obama’s economic stimulus package requirements.

The letters request:

• $100 million for countywide drainage improvements.

• $1 million for improvements to Packery Channel, including wetland ponds, water irrigation system, road resurfacing, boardwalks and observation decks, restrooms, trails and woodland habitat

• $26 million for an arena at the Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds

• $500,000 for pavement, camping stall renovations, underground utilities and a lift station at IB Magee Park

• $750,000 for an RV park at the fairgrounds

• $3.2 million for a golf course at the fairgrounds

• $42 million for a nature park adjacent to Oso Creek Watershed

• $650 million to $900 million for a south loop mobility corridor, which would connect Interstate 69, U.S. Highway 77 and Interstate 37 and provide an alternate island evacuation route

• $1.9 million for erosion repairs at Packery Channel

• $2.25 million for wind turbines and alternative energy at the fairgrounds and island park facilities

• $680,000 for an Agua Dulce senior center

• $1.8 million for repairs to the McKinzie Jail Annex

• $900 million to replace the Harbor Bridge

• $190 million to deepen the ship channel

• $90 million to repair South Padre Island Drive exit ramps and widen the freeway

• $63 million to create a new entrance to the proposed La Quinta container facility at the Port of Corpus Christi

• $10 million to widen County Road 52

By Sara Foley SOURCE Read Full Article

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