The Katy City Council Monday authorized approximately $15,600 for civil engineering services for the Old Fussell House and 3B Learning Center, 5402 Franz Road.

Parks Director Kevin Browne, in a memo to the council urging approval, wrote that the civil engineering services were necessary to complete the construction documents for renovations.

“The original contract with Slattery Tackett approved at the Feb. 14, 2022 council meeting stipulated that civil engineering services may be required, and if so would be submitted to the city at cost without markup, and were determined to be necessary based on the scope of the project, which includes paving, and Harris County and Harris County Flood Control District requirements,” Browne wrote.

The city purchased the house, along with a tractor and trailer that came with it, in 2021. The city has been repurposing the building to serve both as parks department headquarters and as a parks learning system center.

The structure sits on a 1.24-acre plot just east of the Katy Library. It sits near the Katy City Park, Mary Jo Peckham Park and the Katy Dog Park.

The city paid $350,000 for the house, and $22,750 for the tractor and trailer. Money for these purchases came from the city's reserve fund.

In another action, the council approved funds to replace the playground at the Katy Arboretum, 2046 Katy City Park.

Browne, in a memo to the council urging approval, wrote the total project cost for the design, demolition and removal of the old playground structure, along with the delivery and installation of the new playground and shade structure, is about $84,700.

The contract is with the PlayWell Group of Boerne, which is near San Antonio.

Browne said the parks advisory board reviewed design submissions for a new playground and decided to proceed with the PlayWell Group proposal at its Nov. 9, 2022 meeting.