Texarkana · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Texarkana public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Drive-thru rezoning request at 209 W 38th Street
John O'Shaughnessy requested rezoning several tracts on New Boston Road from General Retail to Commercial, expanding permissible uses on the site.
CDBG grant funding
A contract with JSG Homes, LLC was scheduled for consideration to reconstruct three homes under the state HOME Program, putting federal housing dollars to work locally.
Multifamily and retail development on South Bishop Road
A 13-acre tract at 2014 S. Bishop was rezoned to allow multifamily housing and general retail, opening the door to new apartments and shops in Ward 2.
Waste Management Contract Extension
The five-year contract extension keeps Waste Management as the city's hauler but ends its construction-dumpster exclusivity by March 1, 2028, letting small local haulers compete. Local operators pushed for a faster timeline.
Sunset Apartments redevelopment and accessibility
Ledge Capital wants the city's blessing to chase 4% low-income housing tax credits to rehab the 150-unit Sunset Apartments — $8.3 million in renovations with all units staying affordable. The formal no-objection vote comes June 8.
Waco Street Reconstruction Project
A $375,693 contract will rebuild Pine Street and convert it to southbound one-way traffic from W. 3rd to N. State Line, with a new stop sign at State Line — drivers will need to adjust their routes.
Employee Health Insurance Cost Increases
Keeping United Healthcare for medical and dental costs the city about $1.8 million more than last year. Going self-insured would have cost even more — roughly $2.7 million extra — so the city stayed fully insured and will revisit self-insurance next year.
SWEPCO Electrical Substation Rebuild
SWEPCO won approval to rebuild its 50-plus-year-old substation next to the existing one in the 5700 block of Gin Road — critical infrastructure serving the hospital and the Richmond Road commercial corridor.
New School Zones for Parks Elementary
With Dunbar and Spring Lake Park elementaries closing, students move to Parks Elementary — so the city is adding 20 mph school zones on four streets and removing the old ones. Council Member Steve Thompson noted ongoing neighborhood complaints about traffic and speeding near drop-off and pickup.
Flock license-plate cameras and surveillance privacy
Residents pressed the council to terminate the city's Flock surveillance camera contract, citing privacy, cybersecurity, and vendor-misconduct concerns raised in an investigative report. The council took no action but heard calls to place the item on a future agenda.
Texas Water Development Board grant application for water main replacement
The city is applying for up to $21 million in state grant funds to replace about 12.5 miles of leaky two-inch galvanized mains and recoup roughly $7.5 million spent on smart meters. Fewer leaks means better water service and pressure for residents.
Golf Ranch property exchange with Texas A&M University System
The city traded the 249.866-acre Golf Ranch to the Texas A&M System for 138.788 acres of buildable land near Oakwood subdivision, both valued at $2.5 million, and ended the golf course lease. The deal opens new land for future residential development.
SWEPCO Large Load Tariff Denial
A resident pointed the council to a growing petition opposing data centers in the region and urged the city to act, noting some cities have enacted moratoriums.
Airport ARFF vehicle and service road grant projects
Several resolutions would let the airport apply for FAA grants totaling nearly $2.7 million for a new rescue/fire vehicle and a vehicle service road, mostly paid with federal and Arkansas aeronautics funds.
Public Health Advisory
A boil water notice is currently active for parts of Texarkana, so make sure to heat your tap water before using it for drinking or cooking. It’s a temporary safety precaution, but definitely don't skip it if you're in the affected area.
Summerhill-Moores commercial development incentives
The council created a reinvestment zone and approved a Chapter 312 tax abatement for a commercial project at Summerhill Road and Moores Lane, along with related Chapter 380 incentive changes — incentives aimed at drawing new commercial development and jobs.
Adoption of 2024 Building Codes and Regulations
The fire department wants to jump from the 2018 to the 2024 International Fire Code to match building inspections — adding rules for lithium battery storage, occupiable roofs and carbon monoxide detectors. Hearing and vote June 8.
Proposed AI data center at TexAmericas Center
Eight residents urged the council to scrutinize or reject the proposed 4,000-acre AI data center, citing water use of up to 5 million gallons a day, rising utility bills, air and noise pollution, and warnings that the AI investment boom is a bubble. One resident presented an online petition with 2,433 signatures. The council took no action but heard the concerns at length.
Personnel Appointment
Texarkana just promoted Daphnea Ryan to lead the planning department. She’s a city veteran who’ll now be calling the shots on our housing, health, and community development projects.
Water Billing Dispute
Texarkana residents are seeing their water bills skyrocket after a recent smart meter upgrade, and now everyone is demanding the city explain why. People are pushing for a full audit and some actual relief for these surprise charges.
Utility Billing Investigation
Texarkana residents are fed up with massive, unexplained spikes in their water bills and are pushing the City Council to launch a formal investigation. People want to know if this is a technical glitch, a billing error, or something else entirely.