Murphy's planned lighted bicycle and pedestrian bridge over Maxwell Creek on FM 544 faces another delay after the City Council voted Tuesday, July 21, to reject all three bids and re-let the project for new proposals.

No bids qualified.

Every submission came in over budget, and none met TxDOT requirements, Director of Public Works Donald Reese told the council. The lowest bidder was not pre-qualified with TxDOT, disqualifying that submission outright. The remaining two bidders failed to submit all required TxDOT documentation, Reese said, as reported by the Murphy Monitor.

The rejection appeared as a consent-agenda item, meaning the full council approved it without separate discussion, according to the city's meeting agenda.

The project, formally designated "Sidewalk T-2.1" in city documents, had already drawn council attention earlier this year. At the May 19 regular meeting, the council discussed the bridge in executive session under the state's attorney-consultation exception but took no public action, according to council minutes.

No dollar figures for the project budget or the rejected bids have been publicly released. The city has not announced a timeline for the new bid round.

Collin County road agreement

At the same July 21 meeting, the council approved on the consent agenda an Interlocal Agreement with Collin County for future improvements on county roads located in or adjacent to Murphy's city limits. Reese also presented that item.

Budget amendment

The council also approved on the consent agenda an ordinance amending the FY26 General and Utility Construction Funds to increase the budget for unanticipated expenses and declare additional revenue in the General Fund. Assistant Finance Director Paulette Overman presented the item.

A separate consent item, also presented by Overman, reallocated approximately $98,650 in 2018 Certificate of Obligation Utility Construction funds to be reflected in the current fiscal year budget.

Tax rate figures embedded in the July 21 agenda show Murphy's current rate at $0.362533 per $100 valuation, with a proposed rate of $0.357514. That proposed rate is lower than the current rate, but estimated annual taxes on the median homestead ($553,991 in appraised value) would rise from $1,884 to $1,981 because of higher property valuations. Whether the proposed rate represents a formal FY27 rate proposal or required statutory context for the budget amendment is unclear from available documents.

Council members present

The July 21 meeting was led by Mayor Scott Bradley, with Mayor Pro Tem W. Scott Smith, Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Ken Oltmann, and Council Members Elizabeth Abraham, Debbie Ison, Kevin Kelley, and Jenè Butler. City Manager Aretha Adams also attended.

Residents can find agendas and meeting documents at murphytx.civicweb.net.