Several key projects part of the 2008-09 city budget

Following a 20-minute public hearing, members of the Onaway City Commission approved a $1.45 million budget, which includes several key projects in 2008, such as construction of new police station and a stairway/lift to the third floor of the courthouse.

?We had a hearing, which is required by charter to be posted and conducted so members of the community can review and make comments before the city commission adopts it,? said city manager Joe Hefele. There was no public comment. Following the discussion by the commission and staff the budget was unanimously approved 4-0.

The city?s new fiscal year runs from April 1, 2008 to March 31, 2009. A budget workshop lasting more than three hours, where each line item was gone over, took place February 1. The budget includes general fund, major and local street funds, courthouse debt fund, capital projects fund, sewer and water funds, and the motor vehicle fund.

HEFELE SAID the Department of Public Works established a street reconstruction priority list for the 2008 construction season. ?These are the worst streets in town that need more than just resurfacing,? he said. About $70,000 has been tabbed for street projects, although the exact streets to get the work is still not known, as the list may need to be revised when winter is finally over.

In the water fund is $40,000 for main line upgrades. Again, the DPW made a priority list and is looking at changing 1 1/4-inch to 2-inch diameter lines to six-inch pipes. The Department of Environmental Quality also wants the city replace well house No. 3, or bring it up to code.

?We are determining costs,? said Hefele. ?We may or may not be able to do that. We are hoping to do that project this year if there are enough funds available.? If a new baseball field is constructed at Edna Lound Recreation Area, a line will have to be extended to the field.

IT COULD be a very busy year for construction at the courthouse, especially outside of the nearly century old landmark.

There will exterior painting and installation of a lightning protection system, and now that the parking lot is paved, work can begin on some landscaping. Some trees need to be removed along Maple Street and may be replaced with some flowering trees.

Hefele also said a drop box for people wanting to pay their utility bills without going in the courthouse will be set up. There?s also some sidewalk work that needs to be completed to meet ADA requirements. There is $5,000 allocated for the smaller courthouse projects.

The big project will be construction of a stairway/lift. The cost will be about $220,000, with almost half of the funding coming from a federal grant. Much of the rest will come from donations made to the courthouse restoration and rent from the city?s tenants.

That project is being designed and will have to be reviewed by the county?s building and zoning office, the state elevator inspector, and the State Historical Preservation Office.

EXCAVATING HAS already started on the $150,000 police building project next to the fire hall. The commission decided Monday to construct a stick built-style building instead of pole-style. The architect is now moving forward with drawings.

Other projects include installation of two fuel tanks in case there is a power outage in the city similar to the one last year. The city realized they need a readily available fuel supply to k

eep generators operating, to keep the water going, and the sewer system from backing up. The plan is to install two tanks at the DPW garage for diesel and regular fuel.

An older pickup truck will be repaired and the DPW will be cleaning storm drains and lift stations.

?It is a lot to take on in one construction season with such a small administrative staff and a small public works staff,? said Hefele. ?The way we are able to stretch our dollars out, and to accomplish multiple things, we have to utilize our DPW manpower whenever possible. We have good talented people to assist in these projects.?

Commissioners Bernie Schmeltzer and Chuck Abshagen complimented the staff and all the employees for the work that went into finalizing the budget.

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