The City of Austin is moving ahead with its plan to purchase Budget Oil, located at 501 Oakland Ave. E.

City Council members gave city officials their blessing with the buyout Monday night when they unanimously voted to approve the purchase for flood mitigation purposes.

In a memo from City Engineer Jon Erichson to council members, Erichson said, “As part of the City of Austin’s flood mitigation program, the acquisition and removal of property located in the flood plain has and continues to be a major component in the Comprehensive Plan.”

The gas station, which is located within blocks of the Cedar River, has frequent flooding problems. While the owners have held off on selling the station until now, they recently accepted after the city offered $293,000 for the property.

Half of the funding for the buyout will come from the local option sales tax, and the other half will come from a DNR flood mitigation grant.

Erichson did not say when the purchase will be final or when the gas station will close.

Council members also voted to approve a change to the North Main flood mitigation project. Originally, the project was going to include the construction of a vertical wall to keep out flood waters, but council members also voted to raise the elevation of Main Street.

The street will be raised 2 to 3 feet between First Drive NW and Fourth Street NE.