By Tracy Dang, Katy Times Managing Editor | Posted: Thursday, September 8, 2011 12:00 am

The City of Katy is moving forward with plans for a new senior citizens center. A ground breaking ceremony was held at the property at 5370 E. Fifth St. last Wednesday.
Senior citizens living in the City of Katy have waited more than a decade for a new social services center to replace the one at 905 Ave. C.

Last year, the city purchased property at 5370 E. Fifth St. and authorized the city to proceed with the design build process for a center, and the city planned to allocate $1.5 million of this year’s reserve to fund the project.

City council voted 3-1 in February to authorize the use of $1 million from its general reserve to fund the new senior center.
The council then unanimously approved a resolution to authorize the mayor to enter into a design build contract with Bass Construction Company for the construction of the center, as well as the allocation of $200,000 in reserves to purchase items and services needed to complete the project.

“There are a lot of seniors here, and we’ve been wrestling for this for a long time now,” councilman Fabol Hughes said. “I’m really happy everything went smoothly,” said Pat Baker, activities director at the City of Katy Senior Center.