What major projects should the city of Stevens Point undertake in the next decade?
The Common Council met Monday, June 25, to consider some priorities, looking at spending approximately $2 million per year on the projects.
Some projects are already scheduled or tentatively scheduled, mainly because they involve outside funding that has been already allocated. In 2002, the city plans resurfacing at the airport, reconstruction of Smith Street and also Second Street North between Maria and North Point drives and work on connecting streets to Highway 10.
In 2003, after a one-year break, the city will move into phase III of the Highway 10 project, reconstructing Main Street between Minnesota Avenue and Division Street. The following year, the city plans to reconstruct Ellis Street between Clark and Pine streets.
Comptroller/Treasurer John Schlice said the projects would be split between capital projects the city would have to borrow for and those that would be funded through annual operational budgets.
He called the list of projects a blueprint, since the listing would not obligate a future Common Council to fund them. Priorities will change, based on outside funding sources, he said.
The projects mainly involve the Public Works Department and the Water and Sewage Department because they concern street reconstruction.
Heading an initial list of projects for city considering is the Lincoln Center project, which calls for an addition to the building and is still in the development stage. The council said it supports the project, Schlice said, but hasn't approved borrowing for it and doesn't know what the final plans would be.
Alderman Mike Phillips, 10th Ward, said he was disappointed that Lincoln Center was the top priority. "I think the south side should be the top priority," he said, referring to the reconstruction of the heavily traveled corridor of Church-Division street.
Buildings in the former hub of the district, the east side of the 2200 block of Division, are vacant, and he urged that the city purchase them now to avoid having to pay relocation costs to tenants.
The council will be asked to take action on the south side in July, said Mayor Gary Wescott.
Jon Van Alstine, director of public works, said the city still needs to identify a specific project before it can get money to help in any reconstruction project, which will include state and federal funds.
The city might be able to get grant funds for the purchase of those properties in July 2002, he said, and project funds for the reconstruction probably won't be available until 2004 or 2005. As part of that project, the city would like to include reconstruction of the Church Street underpass, including a pedestrian tunnel.
Another concern of aldermen was installation of storm sewers on the west and east sides.
Alderman Neal Nealis, 9th Ward, distributed pictures of yards on the west side that have standing water in them for several days after rain, with some of the water remaining for long periods until it evaporates because the soil is mostly clay.
A study for storm sewers on the west side is estimated at $50,000 with construction projected at $3.2 million.
Alderman Elbert Rackow, 7th Ward, said the project would amount to $141,000 per house in that area. Van Alstine said storm sewers could double or triple the number of home sites in the area, which may become the city's major region for development in 25 to 50 years.
Alderman Marge Molski, 8th Ward, requested the storm sewer study on the east side. The city has some stretches with a sewer system, but many of the streets are drained through dry wells, which require periodic cleaning.
Van Alstine said he's read minutes of council meetings when those areas were developed and officials felt water would drain into the sand, so sewers weren't needed. Drainage ditches were also dug throughout the area, but residents have filled them in, so the water doesn't have a real area to drain to until it evaporates or soaks into the ground, he said.
Aldermen also discussed possible projects on Water Street.
Phillips, Nealis and David Sowieja, 5th Ward, whose wards cover portions of Water Street, agreed the city should wait for the south side work to be completed before studying possible projects for Water Street.
Some other projects listed include purchasing the police area in the County-City Building, rebuilding West River Drive south of the railroad tracks, constructing a second water tower, adding on to the city garage, building another fire substation and a police storage garage, dredging McDill Pond, acquiring properties downtown and setting aside $100,000 annually to purchase blighted homes.
Schlice asked aldermen to review the possibilities and submit their lists of priorities to him in the next week or so. The lists will then help in budget planning, he said.