Magnolia Springs has big plans to spend a grant from BP totaling in excess of $220,000 to build a boardwalk and dock to highlight the magnificent Magnolia Springs River. 

Plans for the project were presented to the town council in its work session earlier this week. The exact design of the project is still debatable, but the town council as a whole likes the ideas presented to them. The project will be placed in a one-acre site along the river that was given to the city.

The proposed project will include a parking lot, a boardwalk and a dock of some description. The proposed plan also extends the existing sidewalks along the river and will end near Jesse’s Restaurant and may connect to the new Magnolia Springs park, which is currently under construction.

The town was also considering placing water testing facilities along the Magnolia River and may utilize some of the money from the BP grant to create a water testing facility near the proposed boardwalk.

Overall, the council thinks this project is a fit way to spend the money they will receive from BP, pending grant approval from BP.

Magnolia Springs has already submitted two grant requests to BP, but a third addendum is required to receive more funds.

At the meeting, the fire rating for the town was clarified. Within the town limits, the fire rating dropped from a six to a three, but outside of the town limits the fire rating is still a nine. Nine is the typical rating for rural fire protection.

Construction was set to begin earlier this week to complete the Family Dollar structure and allow the corporation to begin moving in. Officials from Family Dollar are confident that the store will be up and running by Thanksgiving.

The town council is also considering moving their December meeting up a week, to Dec. 21.

The town council will meet on Tuesday, Nov. 16 at 5 p.m.