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In order to keep up with its “explosive population growth,” the Palmview City Council has issued $10.5 million in certificates of obligation to construct new facilities as well as make improvements to existing buildings and infrastructure.
The decision to approve the certificates of obligation, or COs, was made during a Sept. 17 regular meeting.
“As more people move to Palmview we have to increase our services.,” Mayor Ricardo Villarreal said in a news release. “That means more employees, more equipment, and more City facilities.”
City officials noted in the release that Palmview’s population grew from 5,546 in 2010 to 15,830 in 2020.
The budget will make way for a new fire station and emergency operation center, funding a portion of an all-inclusive park and making improvements to city hall, the police station and municipal park.
The new fire station will be located at the junction of Marla Drive and South FM 492 and will occupy 2.5 acres out of 10 from land La Joya ISD donated to the city, the release stated. With the cost estimated at $7 million, the facility will house the fire department’s administrative offices, serve as Palmview’s emergency operation center and operate as a training facility.
Officials anticipate breaking ground on the facility before the end of the year, the release stated.
Next, the city will invest $178,000, along with a $500,000 grant from the Valley Baptist Legacy Foundation, to build an all-inclusive park on the same tract of land. The release stated that officials also anticipate construction to begin before the end of the year.
Palmview City Hall will also receive improvements along with the original fire station bays near it and the current fire station on Showers Road, with the release noting its cost estimated at $585,000.
The municipal park’s planned improvements include revamping the fields, adding shade structures and new bleachers, which will cost approximately $125,000. The city also plans to replace the burnt playground equipment at Showers Park for the same price, the release stated.
Lastly, public works will receive $615,000 for improvements that include a dedicated bay area to wash the new trash and brush fleet, in addition to receiving a road grader for street maintenance and a truck to help pump out stagnant rain water.
“The new budget that we just approved covered more of the operational costs to provide the services,” Villarreal said in the release. “These COs will help us take care of the big-ticket items that are needed now to continue to improve the quality of service for the residents of our great City.”
Due to the recent A+ S&P Bond Rating awarded to Palmview, Villarreal credited that in helping the city secure “very low interest rates” for the COs.
“With new housing opportunities and businesses in Palmview we expect our population to continue to grow so the time to act was now,” Villarreal said in the release. “And we’re very excited for everything that we will be able to do for our residents.”
