[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6654751,"mediaKeyId","5448778-fd83e47c9d769ea6ef106cef545f4d69","parentId",5448778,"title","Council unanimously approves consent agenda including light‑pole and vehicle purchases","audioSeconds",492,"startMs",9961000,"endMs",10453000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5448778-fd83e47c9d769ea6ef106cef545f4d69&start=9961&end=10453","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5448778-fd83e47c9d769ea6ef106cef545f4d69/thumbnail_9961000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6654751/Bedford/Tarrant-County/Texas/Council-unanimously-approves-consent-agenda-including-lightpole-and-vehicle-purchases","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6654751-e6404def27c0beff47f29b6cd59a1909/orig.mp4?Expires=1771129805&Signature=g5PCizINqqQTgvsgrBzshDP~7mDv3l-mNd8EHatwnvuSQjXu~WWxIZEA2HdmOaMdc1MjP2Bzv~w0I-P4rHPWF0cjlpH19JL-d3dQEYKzUK8crwvto93qb7jTF8SftRR2wHlXFNPf-aJWdiAGA57~p42wxjQwtBqVzKqqItSgem32u-Pi1J-IL7zK0Qibxc5YHX5r-M-HDXE5P2T8KZIO3ru9Bdun-f2cD8otFV5GVRCJAkjLR5VWlojc1y2OOoorGjka8J5G0tRdwY~u1bXa7y9PsgLqFqyrIpzyRj3DSE5SXKI4CKlf47O7WojRaZBMntP3U9nYUySnshdYUZh3ww__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Bedford","date","2025-07-22T00:00:00Z","article","The Bedford City Council unanimously approved its consent agenda on July 22. The items approved were: the minutes of the council’s July 8 regular meeting; a resolution to purchase and install sports lighting for Brookhollow Park from Techline Sports Lighting in an amount not to exceed $126,773.50; and a resolution to buy a 2025 Ford F‑550 diesel truck (including upfitting) from Silsbee Ford through The Interlocal Purchasing System in an estimated amount of $108,826.

City staff said the Brookhollow lighting project was previously included in the city’s 2019 parks bond plan and will replace aging bollard lights with aerial fixtures to improve trail and park illumination. Funding for the lighting project will come from remaining bond proceeds from the 2019 bond package.

Public Works staff explained the F‑550 purchase will replace a decommissioned 1999 dump truck and that the F‑550 configuration chosen does not require a commercial driver’s license, increasing operational flexibility. The Street Improvement/Economic Development Corporation approved the truck last month and funding is available in the 2024–25 operating budget.

The motion to approve the consent items was made by Councilmember Steve Farco and seconded by Councilmember Scott Gagliardi; the council voted unanimously to approve the items.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Bedford - City Council - Jul 22, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Bedford City Council approved three consent items on July 22: minutes from July 8, a $126,773.50 contract for sports lighting at Brookhollow Park, and an approximately $108,826 purchase of a Ford F‑550 dump truck through a cooperative contract.","taxTitle","Bedford, Tarrant County, Texas","taxId",50915,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6654754,"City staff seek council direction to begin phased renovation of Old Bedford School as cultural arts center",1310,7158000,8468000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5448778-fd83e47c9d769ea6ef106cef545f4d69&start=7158&end=8468","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5448778-fd83e47c9d769ea6ef106cef545f4d69/thumbnail_7158000.jpg","/articles/6654754/Bedford/Tarrant-County/Texas/City-staff-seek-council-direction-to-begin-phased-renovation-of-Old-Bedford-School-as-cultural-arts-center","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6654754-95c03ccd9e4d8cc048c30d64902d134d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771129805&Signature=WGeuGfMf2Dr-N88p1MsRbZ0BK2F784kFaLVixD3k1CPpqybaW8o-kpC05SjTFKr49322ZGzVmAybCKXvzIPsTI-fZK~vfEC-161PTvBegrd5D8os7Uu7JT5JxVRFOSzo1f5RC0kqAYdY9hCoRcX2x3u0Qr~aGx5NQHSwIk~i6z2E48XyIj-Ld-KwG~xZba0dQovS34DsYYE~f~w9w4sOEuMixj1aoWOKJSpY9KsKZW-WMyoPOksMeA6fQv10~rmqeKNyx1TWfV7Z4sYwmwTsrVrXc1jib6yg5rVBlnRUrlESXfeIRns~xyefFQiHmvCQN2ZYQq7~Mtu3WaiflP5lgQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff asked the Bedford City Council on July 22 for direction to pursue a phased renovation of the Old Bedford School (OBS) building so it can be reused as a cultural arts center with classrooms, a small theater, gallery space and flexible event areas.

City Manager Andrea Roy said the building — in use intermittently since 1915 and most recently vacated by senior programming — has enough structural character to make reuse attractive, but that numerous repairs and upgrades are necessary before the city advertises the space for public rentals or expands programming. “This is not by any means an end all... but it is the initial recommendation,” Roy said, explaining staff want to hire an architect to develop detailed plans and bids.

Roy told council that rough, preliminary estimates for the interior and exterior work had climbed “up into the mid‑$800,000s to about $900,000,” at which point staff paused to seek council direction before retaining an architect. Finance Director Karen Riggs said the city has dedicated hotel‑occupancy tax funds that are restricted to tourism‑related programming and that the fund has an estimated unspent balance of about $4.6 million; she said hotel‑occupancy tax rules permit this type of cultural/venue project.

Staff outlined potential first‑phase work including repainting and wood refinishing, restroom and accessibility work, theater back‑of‑house repairs and modest gallery lighting and display improvements to support classes, small performances, readings, portfolio reviews and community exhibits. The city also discussed longer‑term outdoor uses such as a sculpture walk and lawn concerts as later phases, contingent on public demand and additional funding.

Council members generally supported moving forward but asked staff for a pro forma that included projected rental revenue, an estimate of added staffing and the likely cost to meet ADA and structural code requirements. Several council members emphasized preservation of the building’s historic character even as necessary upgrades proceed. Roy said staff would return with architect proposals, a phased scope and a pro forma for council consideration; no renovation contract was approved on July 22.","City staff presented a preliminary plan to renovate Old Bedford School into a cultural arts center, seeking direction to hire an architect and pursue a phased renovation; staff said initial cost estimates rose into the mid‑$800,000s to about $900,000 and proposed using hotel‑occupancy tax funds for early work.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6654757,"Global Pro Flag Football League pitches Bedford to host inaugural championship; school district preliminarily offers facility use",3729,3179000,6908000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5448778-fd83e47c9d769ea6ef106cef545f4d69&start=3179&end=6908","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5448778-fd83e47c9d769ea6ef106cef545f4d69/thumbnail_3179000.jpg","/articles/6654757/Bedford/Tarrant-County/Texas/Global-Pro-Flag-Football-League-pitches-Bedford-to-host-inaugural-championship-school-district-preliminarily-offers-facility-use","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6654757-290ae0b3fb69070d824cff4567cb595e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771129805&Signature=WVfmGykFPi3vMeUE9LXoLL9dKRen7UWxXCDEwSL9VANcy5JZ2FAoiduV4xaV68oTMlBiWAw7avD5Mr0B9uvFvx8u~SgY4rabsdx7Iguw5Aq6QWmTg7nLGT2hjb1lEXn8T~GuUtGNrqt~lbrPH9019X27uaV4hT585m8mhuFb6tNmXiHF2TdbnsGcScd8GLmIQe3VbgRw4xe2kh0dey4IxSbM2J4k1j~KNKGJ5HIKdUcf7ewPb3yvuBUhMWac5WSQOqmPI5yX29ijbdm8epKicuIn2Z-dpOcYr2jnj1QwTfyY2tlDGPEMF7oNm5qN2nqYE7dy8QDYIJqwBU~csz9jew__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Officials from the Global Pro Flag Football League told the Bedford City Council on July 22 that the league is considering Pennington Field as the site for its inaugural championship and playoff weekend and asked the city and local stakeholders to partner on logistics and promotion.

Marjorie Herrera Lewis, the league commissioner, introduced a front‑office delegation including veteran sports executives and tournament operators who said they were impressed by Bedford’s stadium and community. The delegation described a plan to stage the championship during a window when the Dallas‑area will host large international sports events, which league leaders said could boost hotel and restaurant business in Bedford.

Quintus McDonald, who the league described as a multifaceted operations leader, told the council, “You only get one opportunity to do something for the first time,” and said the league wants the host city to be part of the event’s planning and local commerce. Eric “Unc” Cooper, a longtime organizer of national flag‑football events, described the sport as broadly inclusive: “Everybody can play flag football,” he said, noting youth and adult programs feed interest and attendance.

City staff said Bedford Independent School District representatives toured the site with the delegation and indicated the district would not charge rent for use of the stadium while retaining concession revenue. City and school officials also discussed typical event costs such as ticketing, staffing, police presence and parking. Donovan Brandon, the councilmember who introduced the delegation, and other council members said the city welcomed the opportunity but stressed that final dates, contracts and operational responsibilities remain to be negotiated.

League officials and council members cautioned that nothing was finalized at the July 22 meeting. Officials said they want to meet with the chamber of commerce, tourism partners and local vendors to plan marketing, sponsorships and vendor arrangements; the league requested assistance with promotion and local hospitality coordination if Bedford is selected as host.

The presentation concluded with councilmembers asking staff to coordinate follow‑up meetings with the school district, the chamber of commerce and the league to work toward a formal host agreement.","League officials from the Global Pro Flag Football League and local media partners visited Pennington Field and briefed the council on plans for an inaugural championship and playoff weekend in Bedford, saying the school district had offered the stadium without rent while retaining concessions.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6654758,"TMRS representative outlines non‑retroactive COLA option as window closes; city weighs funding tradeoffs",2219,785000,3004000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5448778-fd83e47c9d769ea6ef106cef545f4d69&start=785&end=3004","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5448778-fd83e47c9d769ea6ef106cef545f4d69/thumbnail_785000.jpg","/articles/6654758/Bedford/Tarrant-County/Texas/TMRS-representative-outlines-nonretroactive-COLA-option-as-window-closes-city-weighs-funding-tradeoffs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6654758-2059cf103601917e8266594833be5f58/orig.mp4?Expires=1771129805&Signature=iG4MNh1jbl9SrFeLb2gmy4qeeA9ca85lv1PjKjthbI~vfIAI08cS~HeJ1PBJbEv4NLoPQm~2aX1-E9kLxPM0Ze-e7gmf7i3x4aJY7YkcV--9xQcahSSV4Mgub6s2bgHop~spUIaxjglY4CYFF1ZmLb48sAbe5s3PGP7-RHJi38eWt33DSrqdO1uKQKr8hUTdYxI-c5cZaSGAp3s275bHs8i9bkeuGvZLpUkniU1LrUr4aP0bPYJeyWRWtRRnEn2h~0SaLHwV2X1dXKWKVktncbfb-V2AoWgVjDsm1u3Ct9Cel-YZEP1ju5uj~GrLxbH5i~tJq1Bl~zGmZsGAipGdaA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Anthony Mills, director of education services at the Texas Municipal Retirement System, briefed the Bedford City Council on July 22 about options to add a repeating cost‑of‑living adjustment (COLA) to the city’s TMRS retirement plan and the narrow window to adopt a newly available non‑retroactive COLA provision before it sunsets on December 31, 2025.

Mills said the non‑retroactive COLA — adopted by the Texas Legislature in 2023 — calculates all future COLAs prospectively from a retiree’s current annuity rather than looking back to the original retirement annuity. “Without a cost of living adjustment, your retirees’ benefit stays fixed to whatever it was when that person first retired,” Mills said, adding that the non‑retroactive approach is “simpler, less expensive, more equitable” for employers because it eliminates large retroactive “catch‑up” liabilities.

City staff and council members focused much of their discussion on cost and timing. Brady (staff) told the council the city has financing options but cautioned that the least‑expensive repeating options the city has studied would still add “$6,000,000 in liability, which costs the city between 4 and $500,000 per year in our operating budget.” Staff noted the projected additional cost would be paid from the general fund and that adoption would change the city’s unfunded actuarial accrued liability but that TMRS’s amortization schedule makes the added liability predictable.

Council questions covered who benefits under the two calculations. Mills said current retirees would generally gain more under the traditional retroactive COLA because that method fills in prior years’ unpaid inflation; under the non‑retroactive option, “you just start where they are today and start to grant COLAs going forward,” Mills said.

Staff also briefed the council on financing mechanisms other Texas cities have used to manage pension costs, including pension bonds. City staff said the city could consider issuing bonds to smooth the immediate budgetary impact but cautioned the city’s lack of property‑tax growth this year makes near‑term adoption difficult.

No formal decision was made. Mills told councilors TMRS will provide a model ordinance if the city chooses to adopt the non‑retroactive COLA and that staff will continue to study the options as the budget process proceeds.","A Texas Municipal Retirement System official briefed Bedford council on a 2023 legislative option to adopt a non‑retroactive cost‑of‑living adjustment (COLA) for retirees; staff warned the cheapest recurring option would add millions in actuarial liability and several hundred thousand dollars in annual budget cost.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6654759,"Residents urge Bedford to press neighboring cities on new H‑E‑B exit at Cheeks Barger and Heritage",335,339000,674000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5448778-fd83e47c9d769ea6ef106cef545f4d69&start=339&end=674","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5448778-fd83e47c9d769ea6ef106cef545f4d69/thumbnail_339000.jpg","/articles/6654759/Bedford/Tarrant-County/Texas/Residents-urge-Bedford-to-press-neighboring-cities-on-new-HEB-exit-at-Cheeks-Barger-and-Heritage","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6654759-2abec476d71b28155279f8e2ec71ecd7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771129805&Signature=PgdnDM6qlssCR~ICNF4geMl7hmYPPslFjzoH3rvugyGtMamrxC3FVCPCw4ekAPRDcJ16KfqU~T8HW4tjoVMH9x2dm0tjnvCyai88ngz2qQVPSkMP-E879cxy~ALAz42OwDr9hKcz5zsAfW-x3n~bIolvDWC63EFh2BvhohD2-f0zouiBSC6tohTaScDOytCuism-3ng~~FJ6n6VLNeteDq28zMivqtJUhfnGFiGYkiMxhBUfMSA8gS9nnawMp1rqnBV54hSLa5iThadbO0IVh8P2zp~HMu6lakPnstmvGkjq4oAN7RK-cfZ8uuOGnZYbM~yi5sCBIbnfe4fjlsVzwQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","James Brent Edwards and Sherilyn Edwards, neighbors in the Silverwood subdivision, told the Bedford City Council on July 22 that a newly cut exit and paved drive for an H‑E‑B development at the northwest corner of Heritage and Cheeks Barger is already creating a hazardous traffic condition.

Edwards said the exit was cut “right next to the guardrails of the very small and very dangerous bridge on Heritage,” that construction vehicles taking the turn “took up the whole street and bridge” and that drivers’ sight lines at the new exit are poor. He added the school bus stop near the intersection increases the risk, because buses unload children at the east entry to the Creekside subdivision every school day.

The concerns matter because the intersection sits at the border of three cities — Bedford, Colleyville and Euless — and the new driveway and truck access will change traffic patterns for residents who use the narrow, no‑shoulder stretch of Heritage, speakers told the council. Sherilyn Edwards urged Bedford officials to act on behalf of residents, saying “at least half of that intersection at Cheeks Barger and Heritage is surrounded by Bedford and Bedford residents” and asking council members to inspect the site in person.

Mayor and other council members acknowledged the problem. The mayor said the city “is in process of talks with Colleyville” and that Bedford staff are working with neighboring cities “as much as what we can within our authority” to address the intersection. A councilmember who lives in the nearby subdivision said the development would be “a nightmare” for local traffic but pledged to coordinate with other jurisdictions.

Council staff did not announce a specific traffic remedy during the meeting. Residents asked the council to press for a joint study of the driveway location, sight‑line improvements and truck routing, and to seek agreement with Colleyville and other affected jurisdictions before the exit opens more widely to traffic.

The public comment came during the meeting’s public‑comment period; no formal action or vote on the H‑E‑B driveway was recorded that night.","Two homeowners told the Bedford City Council that a newly cut exit for the H‑E‑B development adjacent to Heritage and Cheeks Barger creates a safety hazard for drivers, school buses and pedestrians and asked the city to coordinate with Colleyville and other neighboring jurisdictions.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council unanimously approves consent agenda including light‑pole and vehicle purchases

City staff seek council direction to begin phased renovation of Old Bedford School as cultural arts center

Global Pro Flag Football League pitches Bedford to host inaugural championship; school district preliminarily offers facility use

TMRS representative outlines non‑retroactive COLA option as window closes; city weighs funding tradeoffs

Residents urge Bedford to press neighboring cities on new H‑E‑B exit at Cheeks Barger and Heritage