[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-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],{"_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",6488251,"mediaKeyId","5675614-02f1c80e2d9ae4cd74a009ab24829ab2","parentId",5675614,"title","Council limits Kwik Trip highway pole sign to 50 feet, 300 sq. ft. after appeal and public debate","audioSeconds",2812,"startMs",4955000,"endMs",7767000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5675614-02f1c80e2d9ae4cd74a009ab24829ab2&start=4955&end=7767","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5675614-02f1c80e2d9ae4cd74a009ab24829ab2/thumbnail_4955000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6488251/Midland/Midland-County/Texas/Council-limits-Kwik-Trip-highway-pole-sign-to-50-feet-300-sq-ft-after-appeal-and-public-debate","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6488251-ad644b91ccfc3009780b31cbf0188ce6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770422335&Signature=go6wPzxxDWIle2dOqI78~B0eERjdrIhqbpKk0tTDvggKtLJ3JXT7ggrd4VlqHpzfPccL5Ie6Ll~eReKJ2BOgqSe49OpRPO44tJVulhEaibq0a-j4gbLziqDiYbd9M7aDaThCM72TEH-Ni3nYiI1ZCsSsWn95go1nyDjd7QgGeolPvKvrQoKM6uvu9BKH-u0aFdW8qpHrh6L5cJflmHuBk7P1zGy6Er7jqsUOFovDp73KeGQ8e8CWGVf9yM1FBYXwyAa5fd3~pHBw9DD-pyfOOER-KkGx5m-3YAINUsdOnYjfK4ApAqdoVXgVc5IKA63R4uJalOZbQpwRH3fQqH7UIg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Midland","date","2025-08-26T00:00:00Z","article","The Midland City Council unanimously amended a sign-permit appeal on Aug. 26 to allow a 50‑foot tall pole sign with a 300‑square‑foot sign face for a proposed Kwik Trip site near Interstate 20, increasing the site’s total allowed signage to 517 square feet including monument signs.

Turner Sign Systems had appealed a building official’s denial of a permit that would have allowed a much larger pole sign. Company representative Craig Honeywell, on behalf of Kwik Trip, said visibility from the interstate and the need to display fuel pricing drove the request for a taller and larger sign; Honeywell presented field photos and crane-flag trials used to assess sightlines. City staff recommended a compromise aligning a 50‑foot height with what the city normally allows for properties with direct I‑20 frontage and proposed a 300‑square‑foot maximum for the pole sign.

Why it mattered: Council members who questioned the request said granting an oversized pole sign would establish a precedent for other highway-adjacent businesses, increase light pollution and invite an “arms race” of larger signage. Staff told the council that the sign code permits up to 50 feet where a property fronts I‑20; code otherwise limits signs in the area to significantly less height. Officials said they could locate no recent record of an approved sign higher than 50 feet within the city limits.

Council action: Councilmember Poole moved to amend the appeal to match staff recommendations (50 feet tall, 300 sq. ft., 517 sq. ft. total) and Councilmember Holder seconded. The amended motion passed 7–0, after which a final building permit process will follow code conditions and the council’s variance.

Ending: The permit will allow Kwik Trip a larger-than-code sign for its site near I‑20 but stop short of the 100‑foot, near‑billboard size the applicant requested. The council directed staff to apply the same sign-area logic used for the amendment: larger pole signs can be considered where the code contemplates I‑20 frontage, but the council limited height and total area to the approved compromise.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Midland - Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","After applicant requested a 100-foot, 624-square-foot pole sign for a new Kwik Trip near I-20, the council amended the appeal to match staff recommendation — 50 feet tall and 300 square feet — and approved the change 7–0.","taxTitle","Midland, Midland County, Texas","taxId",25227,"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},6488253,"Council approves shared funding plan for Avalon, Thomason and Wadley improvements after split 4-3 vote",3805,6200000,10005000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5675614-02f1c80e2d9ae4cd74a009ab24829ab2&start=6200&end=10005","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5675614-02f1c80e2d9ae4cd74a009ab24829ab2/thumbnail_6200000.jpg","/articles/6488253/Midland/Midland-County/Texas/Council-approves-shared-funding-plan-for-Avalon-Thomason-and-Wadley-improvements-after-split-4-3-vote","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6488253-fe855f8f0d2348286da8fba9253b19e2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770422335&Signature=P3upnye-rWutEy70E5iWXAjmvlJ~22CeQfprJBV5l~m0NdKGjTLN3elTgkru0tNeEwmCi5NWhq~0U18rtm2WAQvWQlCC-90idR8J4fx0ioTn7BG7uXiT8UodolYn9pYjS7-1D5pQg0wzx9YV25VOkbbGpmItSlDD7lP5L3OKE6Iw~bedr~m8XuYPlsfms6sqo4HgM2JSP9V2MRDXoIlIsw4-MmoJHkrQgU8y1iqsoBoWsKdBUbJMewsQpTKFpaCQJacAZY9lgPZizYWAQgDOLeEVmdkLwj41ZmqW0WgcfJSDIkLDS88BooQ8901kwVc8ZyEcU4uHgAkM6PyGoBBzpw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Midland City Council voted 4–3 on Aug. 26 to approve two capital improvement development agreements with Midland Independent School District that will pay for roadway and utility work connected to the Midland High and Midland Lee school projects.

The agreements allocate joint construction for Avalon, Thomason and Wadley corridors. City staff told council the total program price is about $27.5 million; staff estimated the city’s portion at roughly $18.2 million and MISD’s contribution at about $9.4 million. Council members and staff said the total includes base bids plus optional alternates; if the council approves only the base bids staff estimated the city’s near-term obligation would be lower — roughly $11 million — and the council retained the option to decline add alternates if bids come in high.

Council and staff emphasized two contract terms they said were important to the city: a not-to-exceed cap on the city’s payment and an arrangement that lets MISD manage the construction as part of its overall campus construction. City staff said the approach was designed to lock in current prices while allowing MISD to control the schedule so the school openings are not delayed by separate, city-managed construction.

Why it mattered: Council members who opposed the agreements warned that approving the city’s share would set a precedent for the city paying for infrastructure that developers or other taxing entities typically fund, and they repeatedly said the projects should have been included in MISD’s school bond. Council members who supported the agreements said delaying the improvements risks serious local traffic congestion and safety issues at the new campuses and argued the shared approach could save time and money compared with staggered construction.

Funding and timeline questions: City staff told council the project includes base work required to make each campus function and add alternates that would complete the full roadway cross sections. The agreements call for staggered city payments (three tranches) tied to construction milestones; staff said that approach lets the city lock in current prices while deferring cash outlays over several fiscal years. The council did not approve any city bond issuance at the meeting; staff said options for the city to fund its share could include enterprise funds and other measures that would be presented to council if needed.

Council debate and outcome: Discussion spanned funding sources, precedent and public-safety risks. Several council members said the school bond process should have included the road projects or otherwise anticipated them; others stressed that the roadway work had been in the city’s 10-year capital improvement plan and would have been needed eventually even without the schools. After debate, the council approved the Lee‑school agreement (item 24) by a 4–3 vote; the council approved the Midland‑school agreement (item 25) by the same 4–3 margin.

Ending: City staff said they will present detailed funding plans for any add alternates before the council commits to those extras, and staff reiterated the council would retain final authority to approve or decline alternates based on bid results and funding availability.","Midland City Council approved two capital improvement agreements with Midland ISD to widen and extend Avalon, Thomason and Wadley roads; council split 4-3 over funding, precedent and timelines.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6488258,"Special Olympics organizers outline volunteer needs, hotel strategy and economic benefits as fall event returns to Midland",0,4321000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5675614-02f1c80e2d9ae4cd74a009ab24829ab2&start=4321&end=4321","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5675614-02f1c80e2d9ae4cd74a009ab24829ab2/thumbnail_4321000.jpg","/articles/6488258/Midland/Midland-County/Texas/Special-Olympics-organizers-outline-volunteer-needs-hotel-strategy-and-economic-benefits-as-fall-event-returns-to-Midland","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6488258-c4f15a29155ff41a495ed4dc62d752b4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770422335&Signature=JucIWdSF3STZ-kfzM5SqaLx4ZlLKfI3uxgnQjosJHPnav8vvSWZGF5voFWyTW1mgRwI-AZa6kl1-wN6BcXR34KubnH3FF1-V6QX9~wAZx4FZilgxqOh3oVdNARWAxJ5RF3fFF1DiPGys6JD~mSh9Rm4v8T~8AsEL3eE4zhLl0sdhJb20WYHE-xd3TxZ10WZp63isAmMaqHX8TVD4D64GARyDP6-hCn-dgDKfmuWhVgfWP5qqmBjVGfTrmFAWMPMr5M1ihoNuvPEg6nk01UkIOwjSqHwIAYeMi2HceE6eD5EE0XqIA0IzscTctVH9RP8UTOGhgsHfqYXBvRtTwy6qnw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Organizers of the Special Olympics Texas Fall Classic told the Midland City Council on Aug. 26 that last year’s first statewide competition in West Texas drew participants and visitors who produced measurable hotel and local spending, and they asked the public to sign up as volunteers for the Oct. 2025 competition.

Chad Eason and Troy Briggs, who spoke at the council meeting, said the 2024 event included athletes, volunteers and spectators and recorded about 1,490 total participants and visitors. Organizers reported 1,224 hotel room nights in Midland from the event and estimated roughly $828,525 in direct economic impact to the local area. Briggs said just over 1,000 participants stayed in area hotels, while several local teams and volunteers returned to nearby homes.

Organizers said Special Olympics Texas will bring bocce, golf, softball, swimming and a “fundamentals” sports program back to the region in October 2025. The program includes free health screenings offered on-site by clinical staff; Eason said the event provided more than 515 health screenings in 2024 and that athletes sometimes leave with a physical or Rec Specs reading glasses at no cost. Briggs and Eason emphasized the “unified” aspects of the competition, where athletes with and without intellectual disabilities participate together and as partners in ceremonies and events.

Why it matters: Council members and staff framed the event as both an inclusive community gathering and a driver of hotel occupancy and local spending. City economic-development and hotel partners worked with organizers to secure blocks of rooms; organizers reported 10–16 hotel partners combined across Midland and Odessa and said partners extended uniform rates across the two cities for teams and visitors.

Organizers said the cities and Visit Midland helped with venues, volunteer recruitment and liability arrangements, and they described a memorandum of understanding with host cities that covered at least the first three years of the event, with city decisions for later years. They told council that for 2025 they contracted an equal number of rooms — 300 in each city — to keep room nights more proportionate between Midland and Odessa and said they expect overall participation to grow because of the positive experience reported by teams.

Council members pressed organizers on volunteer recruitment and hotel-block attrition. Organizers said they use printed banners with QR codes, partner outreach, sponsor commitments and targeted roles (timers, scorers, sanitation, hydration) to increase meaningful volunteer participation. Briggs said some hotel contracts include attrition clauses and that the event usually plans for two to three nights per stay; the organizers also said they had contingency plans to add hotels if registration exceeds expectations.

On hotels and economic effect: Organizers said some teams traveled from outside Texas last year and that local lodging benefits extend beyond room rates because out-of-town teams used area restaurants and services. Briggs and Eason thanked Visit Midland and local hoteliers for coordinating unified rates and support letters for city council.

Organizers also described returning attractions, including an opening ceremony and a drone show planned for about 8:15–8:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3, 2025, a “Champions Lounge” (sponsored by Coca‑Cola) exclusively for athletes and coaches, and plans to alternate major ceremonies between Midland and Odessa in successive years. They said they seek multi‑year host agreements (three to five years) with right-of-first-refusal options for the host cities beyond initial terms.

Council response and next steps: Council members commended the organizers, asked staff to continue sharing volunteer materials, and said the city will circulate organizers’ recruitment banners and flyers. Organizers noted registration deadlines and asked for public help to build volunteer capacity as the October dates approach.

Ending: Organizers said volunteer sign-ups and event information will be available on the Special Olympics Texas website and via Visit Midland, and they encouraged families and community groups to participate in volunteer and spectator roles at the Oct. 2025 Fall Classic.","Organizers said the 2024 Special Olympics Fall Classic drew more than 1,400 participants and generated roughly $828,525 in local economic impact, and they urged community volunteer support for the October 2025 event.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council limits Kwik Trip highway pole sign to 50 feet, 300 sq. ft. after appeal and public debate

Council approves shared funding plan for Avalon, Thomason and Wadley improvements after split 4-3 vote

Special Olympics organizers outline volunteer needs, hotel strategy and economic benefits as fall event returns to Midland