Montgomery City Council members met Tuesday evening to discuss and take action on various agenda items, including city elections and the Corridor Enhancement District. Council members Jon Bickford and T.J. Wilkerson were absent from the meeting.

Here are four takeaways from the Jan. 23 meeting:

1. Montgomery mayor, two council member positions up for May 5 election
Council members unanimously approved holding Montgomery general elections on May 5. The position terms of Mayor Kirk Jones, Position 2 Council Member John Champagne and Position 4 Council Member Rebecca Huss end in May. So far, Champagne and Huss have confirmed they will run for re-election. The filing period for general elections opened Jan. 17, and the filing period deadline is Feb. 16. The write-in deadline is Feb. 20.

2. Amendment to Corridor Enhancement District approved
Following a public hearing, council members unanimously approved amendments to the Corridor Enhancement District, which involves major highways such as FM 1097 East and Hwy. 105 West.
With the vote, construction of metal buildings is allowed in the Corridor Enhancement District, however, metal panels and cement blocks are not allowed on the exterior walls and facades of the buildings. The purpose of the amendment is to aesthetically preserve the corridor as development in the area continues, Montgomery City Administrator Jack Yates said. 

3. Section one final plat for Shoppes of Montgomery property approved
Council members unanimously approved the final plat of section one of the Shoppes of Montgomery property, located at the intersection of Hwy. 105 and southwest corner of FM 2854. The property will be developed into a CVS Pharmacy, with construction anticipated to start in the next three weeks, Yates said.
CVS Pharmacy sits on 27 acres of land that will potentially be used for a commercial development called The Shoppes at Montgomery, Yates said.

4. Construction on Buffalo Springs Drive bridge ongoing
The bridge on Buffalo Springs Drive was severely damaged by flooding in spring 2016. Since then, city officials have been working with FEMA to receive partial funding for repairs to the bridge.
Demolition of the existing slope paving and damaged asphalt began Jan. 15, City Engineer Chris Roznovsky said. According to the construction schedule, rebuilding of the bulkhead will take place over the next week, with the contractor estimating a mid-June completion date, Roznovsky said.