Commentary by John Beery, city engineer
As the city continues to maneuver with a lean budget, one line item most needing replenishing from alternative funding is road resurfacing.
Infrastructure is the backbone to the community, and despite difficult economic times, residents still expect a certain standard when traveling through our community. City infrastructure also is necessary to develop our local economy and attract new investments. Having smooth, connecting roads not only increases the quality of life, but creates jobs and spurs development.
The outcome of finding alternative funding is pivotal to my department as we begin planning for 2016. Right now, we are looking at losing $500,000 for resurfacing – not including pothole, storm sewer, sidewalk repairs and resurfacing of our alleys, which have not been done since 1995.
Several infrastructure needs will be addressed if a trash fee ($10.57 per month or $125.28 a year) is implemented. In 2016, the city will have more than 250 road center line miles and 16 miles of alleys to maintain and less than $1.2 million to do it with.
We need to expand the streets and roads budget to keep up with the road miles we’ve been accepting in the past 10-15 years to keep up with the maintenance that is going to come with the acceptance of new developments from the past 20 years.
I want residents to know that major road projects – like the roundabout at South 10th Street and Greenfield Avenue – come from road impact fees and are not impacted by the need of alternative funding.
Resurfacing money reaches beyond our city streets and addresses heaved, cracked or destroyed sidewalks in town. There is typically more demand for sidewalks and curb replacement than we have funding. Having more resurfacing money means we’ll be able to spend more on the street budget and not dip into the sidewalk budget to supplement streets.
If the surfacing budget is not amended, it could mean that eight residential roads that we plan to address next year will have to wait. If approved, we could expand the scope and types of projects we do with the extra money.
John Beery has served as Noblesville’s city engineer since 2006. He may be reached by calling 776-6330.
