City Councilman Jim Gerlt: ‘If We Don’t Fix the Omni Building, Lubbock Could be Stuck With It for Another 50 Years’

During an interview with Tom Collins and Laura Mac Friday morning, Lubbock City Councilman and Mayor Pro Tem Jim Gerlt spoke about LP&L's change in leadership and why the Omni Building should be converted into a new Lubbock City Hall.

Gerlt said the Lubbock City Council approved a resolution appropriating $21 million dollars in federal money for rehabilitating runways at Lubbock's Preston Smith International Airport. Gerlt noted the price tag for the entire project is $26 million.

The remaining $5 million in funding will also come form the federal government in the form of a grant but will come at a later date after the money has been collected from airport usage fees, he said.

Gerlt has a big idea for the Omni Building. He said one possibility for the downtown building is converting it into a new Lubbock City Hall complex that would house more  city offices. This would help improve the efficiency in serving the needs of the citizenry.

Gerlt mentioned there may be some problem in determining  ownership for some of the complex.

Gerlt also addressed the request by the Friends of the Library for another branch library in southwest Lubbock while construction is going on at the Frankford Avenue location of the new Goedeke Library location. He said he has concerns about the costs associated with maintaining the technology needs of a new library.

Gerlt also spoke on the additional $93,000 needed for work on 34th Street due to work needed on several man holes.

Another topic of discussion is how the change in leadership at Lubbock Power and Light (LP&L) has affected the morale at the electricity service provider. Gerlt admitted he feels things are going better at LP&L since the change in leadership.

To hear all of Jim Gerlt's interview, click here: