City Council will hear from west end residents Monday night over Breen Avenue and the decision is a difficult one given the cost of even these relatively small projects.
Residents of the street are anxious for a rebuild and that is entirely understandable. This is a close knit neighborhood where people are proud of their homes and an improved street would be a wonderful thing
Every member of City Council knows this project has been in the queue for years, even though there are other streets more heavily used and in similar or worse condition.
The downside is cost...While this is a project slated for 2010, the costs associated with it or any project come at a time when revenues have softened. To sustain the first year debt service costs would mean a percentage or two on the property tax levy in a budget where the five year plan already assumes an 8 percent increase.
This is the classic legislative conundrum of spending and tax rates, compounded by a general nervousness about debt in a nation so wracked by overspending.
There are sound arguments on both sides and that is why normally perfunctory bond ordinance vote has become difficult.
21 comments:
You have an obligation as Mayor to maintain our streets. Frankly, Jeff I don't care about the other budgetary problems that is what you are elected to figure out.
The streets of this city are deplorable. People take pride in their neighborhoods when they have nice homes, sidewalks and streets and you are not keeping up your end of the bargain - fix the streets.
It's kind of funny when your sidewalks crack or break the city makes you repair them or they will and bill you. The city doesn't have to repair the roads that have potholes big enough to swallow your car.
What about selling the bond or a portion thereof to LOCAL entities?
e.g. wealthy individuals
or groups of investors
or churches
or social clubs like IACA
or one of the myriad "alphabet soup" agencies
Does one of the council people live on Breen Ave? If not no new street for you.
It funny how people complain about one street,when there are hundreds of street in the city of Watertown and over half of there are in need of repair....most traveled should be first on the list and work there way down from there.....
the CC will have to put a call in to Alexander, maybe he still has a chip good for one more favor from Bergdorf
Jeff
Its sad you can't make a decision on your own and have to wait and see as you put it what the girls are doing Thanks for the vote
Breen Ave does need some repair, just as other streets within the city do. But , I think what gets folks upset, is when you see streets like Sherman, TenEycke,etc.. get upgrades, while Breen Ave and some others , have been wallowing in potholes and water,for years. And I am going to say it exactly as I see it, "it depends on not only the traffic, but who and what businesses are in that area." I know folks are going to say "that's not true, thats b.s.".But I have worked in a public works arena for 29 yrs, and I am telling you that this does go on. The only sad thing, Breen Ave and other streets may have to wait a few more years.
To bad we missed the 2.2 million from Big Wind, would've done the street. Wonder the 8 people would like to their St. Croix vote back??
Give the entire city a PILOT and have the city pick up the tab for a massive street-scape make over -that is long, long over due...
The streets in this city are shameful yet the council remains shameless...
I guess it balances out, right?
I live on this street and travel it everyday. In fact, in the last week it has even gotton worse. Bigger holes and some of the street appears to be sinking. The sign there says bump but that's not what is happening there. It is sinking. And I wonder every day if this is the day I get to call the plumber once again. Can he bill the city direct?
You would think mayor graham would at least want to call BREEN AVE buy it's right name.Just think I lived on BREEN AVE. 30 years ago, and its 30 times as bad now as it was then.
Why would Graham and his "girls" be in favor of tearing up the J.B. Wise lot, and with the next breath say the budget couldn't afford a project like Breen Ave.? Why would they want to put the business people in Downtown through another construction project so soon? Tell us if you or your cohort Teresa, who claims to be so pro-business, have ever been downtown to ask how the business owners feel about the business interruption this project could cause so soon after the Square project? While you're at it you could also explain to Breen Ave. residents why every time you were asked when the street was going to be done you said, "It's in the next budget to be done".
The owner of Pete's - one of the only businesses on that street, said that he would like the project undertaken, but knows that the city budget is a greater priority. Mr. Graham's "co-hort" Teresa is not pro-business, she is Pro-People and Business! Just because someone gives a vote that disagrees with what you want, doesn't make them a bad council person or bad mayor! Get over it. Now, the other council member who is voting yes, what is he pro? Hmmm??? It's a popularity vote, unfortunately. The new council people have to worry about losing their seats over this issue? Can YOU do a better job - get out and do it, then! Geesh!
READ IF YOU DON'T LIVE ON BREEN AVE, BUT YOU THINK IT SHOULD BE FIXED: Do you have any idea what this project will do to YOUR taxes? It's called Fix Now, Pay Greater!! Your taxes are going to sky rocket? Now, promise not to complain when they do, cause if you don't mind that, then yes, let's all harrass the city council and mayor until they vote yes!! This is a joke to me. Are we all trying to get our "15 minutes of fame" or what?
Use the Fund Balance, is it 9 million now.???
Not sure what the vote will be tonite; but if we come away with anything, I hope that it changes the priority system of road repairs/reconstruction/projects, and puts the city back in touch with the concerns of the citizens. I know the feedback from the city will be that concerned people need to attend the meetings; but I know for myself that not everyone can make it , whereby, we as citizens entrust upon our city council and leaders, to make the smart,sensible solutions not only for those that work here,but live here as well.
If you didn't go over budget on the useless square, plus what is now in the surplus budget for the snow removal, If you did not have contractors build houses where you knew NO sewer existed (Emmett and Palmer)and the city accomadated ONE homeowner,and then the city council proceeded to purchase a private street that also was not in the budget. I wonder how all these things were paid for. BREEN AVENUE could have been paid for.
I DON'T LIVE ON BREEN AVENUE BUT...do use it. OK, so what's the answer? Don't fix it and close both ends of the street so no one uses it? How convenient for the residents. Its Breen Ave today, could be your street tomorrow. That is, if you live on other than the south side of town. Since Pete's Restaurant is mainly accessed by Arsenal Street the owner of that establishment doesn't have as much of gripe as the others on Breen do in my opinion.
That surely is an interesting point 7:36, gotta wonder why when Bellew Ave. was redone a sewer wasn't run up Ely and Palmer????
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