New London anticipates funding with bonds

By John Faucher

The City of New London Capital Projects committee met on Monday, July 13 to continue prioritizing projects likely to be financed by the anticipated 2016 bonding process.

The city also plans to bond for the future City Garage in 2016.

“If we start the paper work late this year or early 2016 the funds could be ready as early as May 2016,” said Finance Director Judy Radke.

The capital projects committee met nearly a dozen times in the past year to prepare for the construction of the city garage and anticipated bonding issue. The process of prioritizing department needs and projects to be included with the bonding issue has taken the majority of the committee’s time.

On Monday, committee chair John Romberg proposed accepting the proposed project and equipment bond list totaling just over $3 million.

The committee approved eight projects and equipment items for public works and nine projects for building and grounds/parks and recreation projects.

Public works projects included $453,000 for the downtown river wall project, and nearly $1.4 million for a total reconstruction of Division Street from Wolf River Avenue to Beckert Road.

The committee is waiting to hear from Waupaca County to make a final determination on Division Street.

“If they decide not to do Division Street we do have the flexibility to move up some other projects from the reserve list,” said Mayor Gary Henke.

The committee also has the flexibility to move up reserve projects if favorable bids are received for the anticipated projects.

Other anticipated projects on the public works list included House Road from north of Caroline to Liberty Road for $72,000, and a section of Beacon Avenue from Mill Street to the railroad tracks for $77,000.

Equipment purchases for public works included $190,000 to replace the 2002 Tymco Street Sweeper, $146,000 for replacing the 2000 IHC 2554 dump truck, and $157,000 for replacing the 2002 IHC flat bed truck.

Building and grounds/ parks and recreation purchases on the list included $17,000 to repair the Police Department air conditioning unit, and $36,000 for the boiler at the swimming pool.

The list includes $85,000 for the design, or construction of the Newton Blackmore trail, depending on if the tracks are removed from the railroad spur to Granite Valley lumber company. The city awaits word on a transportation grant to restore the tracks. If the grant is unsuccessful, the city could recoup an estimated $90,000 in salvage value if the tracks are removed.

The parks and recreation list includes $70,000 for Pfeifer Park ADA playground upgrades and $70,000 for Franklin Park ADA playground upgrades. The city would also upgrade five of the 20 sets of bleachers it owns for $40,000.
Additional projects include $160,000 to extend all three boat launches in Riverside Park by 8-feet, and repaving 4,400 feet trails in Pfeifer and Riverside Parks for $55,000.

Forty -one other projects, mostly streets, have been prioritized and kept on the reserve project and equipment bond list totaling $2.7 million.

The committee did not set its next meeting date, but likely will meet in early fall.