Even with the additional work, civic center construction will remain well within its projected budget, Talbot said. Final bid tabulations for building the civic center and a new city hall are still being reviewed, but the total cost will be roughly $1 million less than the $8.8 million planning estimate, Talbot told the council at their Monday session.

The council expects to discuss selecting the winning bid or bids when it meets at 6 p.m. Jan. 12 at City Hall. Bids were opened last week.

A section of Farm Street between Gills Branch and the Union Pacific rail line is slated for the upgrades after residents along the street complained about potholes, narrow pavement, heavy traffic and a lack of sidewalks in the neighborhood. The comments came as the council discussed rezoning the civic center site which faces Chestnut Street. Council Member Bill Peterson, who has been studying the city’s capital improvement needs, called the Farm Street work “a top priority” among possible projects.

Farm Street marks the northern boundary of the convention center project with a parking lot entry/exit. The street is already a main east-west route between Texas 95 and Fisherman’s Park, said Peterson. Mina Elementary School and the Bastrop school district’s central administration offices are also on Farm Street, adding to the traffic load, said Mayor Terry Orr.

Following a hearing before the city council Dec. 8 at which some area residents called for street, traffic and pedestrian upgrades, City Manager Mike Talbot promised to study the issues and report back to the council in January. The convention center will front on Chestnut Street, but a secondary entrance and exit for the facility will be on Farm Street between Gills Branch and the Union Paccific Railroad west of Texas 95.

Amber Marsh told the council her street needs to be widened, vehicle traffic slowed between the highway and Mina Elementary and potholes fixed. She also urged adding sidewalks to improve safety for pedestrians in the area. Dorwin French echoed her concerns. “It’s about time to fix Farm Street,” he said.

Mayor Terry Orr said some street improvement costs might come from the convention center construction budget.

In a Dec. 10 interview Talbot said he is studying the issues and the city street budget and work force might be able to bear the expenses. The Dec. 8 hearing focused on creating a new CF zoning district for civic facilities and rezoning the civic center and city hall sites on Chestnut Street to CF.