Improvements to buildings and grounds has a proposed total of $315,000 over the next five years during the first round of Municipal Capital Budget workshops. This is a section of the budget that allows for an area of reserve that can be set aside to repair equipment or property as needed such as heating systems, air conditioning systems, major sections of a roof, etc. Even defibrillators could fall in under that category.
This year had $75,000 proposed for capital expenses with $50,000 to be categorized in building and grounds and $25,000 for library grounds. Projects slated for the library include the installation of sprinklers, sod, and landscaping as well as the taking down of the large tree on the library lawn. Even though there was $10,000 set aside last year for the lawn, it was not enough to complete the project so these funds are expected to cover the cost for everything. In addition to the tree in the front, DPW Superintendent also recommended taking down two more trees around the library is a sprinkler system and sod are to be installed. The concern with the trees was that their roots might impact the sod and possibly wrap around the sprinkler system.
2016 and 2018 had sidewalks and trees and could be used in subsequent years since those funds do not expire. CFO Ken Blum stated referring to the sidewalk program, “The future years we may not need. $50,000 this year that might last us all five years hopefully.”
Last year, no trees were planted to replace those that were taken down during the Grant Avenue project. There was discussion whether homeowners would be getting the option to decide to have a tree placed in front of their houses on the municipality portion between the sidewalk and the curb. This was one of the reasons for the delay and the CFO recommended that council create a policy and then enforce it. Mayor Hokanson stated that for this year, those residents who want a tree should have them planted and then, as of 2018, if a tree comes down, it gets replaced on the same spot. First Ward Councilman Eugene Meola did request that trees not be planted or replaced near catch basins.
Anyone wishing to have a tree planted should reach out to their council representative to notify them.
By way of comparison, from 2009-2014, Building And Grounds amounted to $5,873,533. A substantial portion of that was due to remediation of contaminated baseball fields and their renovation, budgeting of $2.6 million dollars for the demolition and new construction of DPW, acquisition of senior housing property, and improvements to Acker Park.
2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings And Grounds | $50,000 | $50,000 | $50,000 |
||
| Library Grounds | $25,000 | ||||
| Sidewalks | $50,000 | $50,000 | |||
| Trees | $20,000 | $20,000 | |||
| TOTALS | $75,000 | $70,000 | $50,000 | $70,000 | $50,000 |