A Road Maintenance Pacifier?

City Minutes Work Session 8/13/2008
Finance Director John Meyer reviewed the draft budget for 2009 and commented on areas that Council members had suggested for change. Material he prepared also identified the impact to the levy if additional money were included for street maintenance at levels of $50,000, $100,000 and $150,000 per year. The Council consensus was that some amount perhaps around $25,000 could be included in the 2009 budget to begin setting aside additional money for streets. Mark Statz suggested doing a cost estimate for seal coating all streets once every five years and doing mill and overlay at 15 to 20 years. The Council would like to see the report showing the cost of such a maintenance program.

The Quad Press 8/19/2008
Mark Statz noted that the city would need to save more than $300,000 per year to keep pace with the road maintenance over the next 30 years without imposing assessments. This statement was not in the approved work session minutes and is not required to be there by law. The reporter caught it though...
What is going on behind the walls of City Hall? When our own City Engineer states we should be saving $300,000 annually to avoid future assessments, why did they only budget $25,000? The future assessments will keep coming unless something is done to address the basic need of road maintenance! Is the pathetic amount of $25,000 a pacifier because it's election year?

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The Numbers Are Not Adding Up

During the 9/24/2008 meeting, Council addressed trail grant money. Included in the Handout
The trail needs were identified during the 1997 City's comprehensive planning process. The City received a grant of approximately $700,000 to construct trail connections. The local match of $300,000-$350,000 will be paid from fees paid by developers in lieu of land for parks. These fees can only be used for park projects-capital construction. City property taxes are not planned to be used for the trail construction project.
"Currently, it appears that an assessment will not be needed to correct the grade and install a trail (Mill Rd), part of the reason I favor doing it now. It is still being investigated to be certain."
Email sent by council member Tom Lee 9/7/2008

Quad Press 8/18/2008
Discussed trail grant priorities on which council members voted earlier. The cost of the 26 trails is expected to be more than 1.7 million, much of which will be covered by the transportation enhancement grant.
The numbers don't add up. Who is going to pay the additional $700,000? Why does a City of our size need 26 additional trails? Why can't the Citizens get a straight answer?

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