The Lampasas City Council last week voted unanimously to accept a $200,000 grant for an environmental study and engineering work associated with a possible solar power production site.

After the environmental study, council members will consider whether to build a solar energy facility at a former city dump site off Old Georgetown Road. The State Energy Conservation Office is considering Lampasas’ application for a $2 million grant — which would require a $400,000 match from the city — to build a plant that would make electricity from solar panels.

The grant for the environmental study does not require matching funds from the city, and it will not subtract from the $2 million grant if SECO approves that funding for Lampasas. The $200,000 grant also does not obligate the City Council to approve the construction of a solar power site, City Manager Michael Stoldt said.

If Lampasas does receive the $2 million grant, however, the City Council could decide to build a facility capable of producing 433,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per year — about 4 percent of Lampasas’ annual power use, Stoldt said.

In other business, the council approved the purchase, for an amount not to exceed $71,000, of emulsion material from Austin-based Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions. The material will be used for the Street Department’s sealcoat work on city streets.

Also, the council awarded a contract for $24,225 to CanalesDibble Contractors Inc. for the installation of about 1,700 feet of curb and gutter for East Avenue G, Ramsey Lane and Barnes Street, and for the demolition of about 140 feet of curb and gutter in the same area.

And council members OK’d the purchase of additional road base material for the sports park on Farm-to-Market Road 580 West. The purchase, which engineers recommended to stabilize the area, caused the work to exceed cost estimates by $18,673.

With some construction remaining, the sports park is expected to barely meet its budget or slightly exceed projections, Stoldt and Parks & Recreation Director Micky Tower said. If the park does cost more than the projected amount, it likely would exceed the budget by less than $50,000, Stoldt said during a recent planning session for the 2010-2011 fiscal year.

In the final item of its recent regular session, the council approved an $8,400 contract with Eckermann Engineering Inc. for the design and bidding of an eightinch water line on College Street from Cloud to East Fourth Street. The line, which will replace a fourinch water line, will cost about $56,000.

The water infrastructure replacement will be funded from the $80,000 Lampasas has remaining in a 2009 Community Development Block Grant-Recovery. The engineering contract will be paid from city funds.

During a recent workshop session, council members discussed plans to stimulate economic development by creating a Neighborhood Empowerment Zone. Within the NEZ, property owners who voluntarily follow building design guidelines for remodeling jobs or new construction can receive abatements of certain city property taxes and fees.

The NEZ likely will encompass an L-shaped area from the intersection of Chestnut Street and North Avenue to North Avenue and Hackberry to Hackberry and East Fourth Street. From there, the boundaries will proceed west to the intersection of Fourth and Pecan streets and then will go south to Pecan and Eighth streets. It then will extend back to Chestnut Street and North Avenue.

Council members will vote on the NEZ boundaries and guidelines at the council’s Aug. 9 meeting.

Also, during a report to the council, Oak Hill Cemetery Association treasurer Jim Anderson noted that the association is discussing the installation of a new fence for one side of the cemetery.

The association also is considering a columbarium to provide a place to inter cremated remains, Anderson said.