12-14-09 Capital budget to increase, yet stay below historic levels

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“It is important for the City to invest in capital projects to keep our equipment and facilities safe and efficient, preventing much larger expenses later on. Tight budget constraints have hampered our ability to fully fund capital expenditures on par with our annual depreciation level of $21.2 million,” said City Controller Gregg Zientara. “When the Common Council approved an increase in the economic development local option income tax, that provided an additional resource for capital, and Mayor Luecke requested that we set those resources aside for reinvestment in City equipment, facilities and infrastructure.” Engineering improvements account for the largest portion, 19 percent, of the $9,898,803 in expenditures, followed by investments in the Fire and Police departments, about 12 percent each, respectively. The largest single engineering project, $635,000, will widen and improve Cotter Street from Prairie Avenue to Kendall Street to serve Ignition Park. It is being paid primarily by federal dollars and the project will be let by the Indiana Department of Transportation. Traffic signals will be modernized along Mishawaka Avenue and Western Avenue with the City’s 20 percent share supporting a federal investment of $1.6 million. The Northside Trail will be extended from Indiana University South Bend to connect with the western terminus of Mishawaka’s Riverwalk. Federal aid will cover $1.5 million of the project. Next year will see the first of three years’ worth of improvements to Ewing Avenue from Meade Street to Michigan Street. The annual project cost of $4 million is supplemented by $600,000 from the City to complete design work. On the west side, the intersection of Western Avenue and Olive Street will be improved with the addition of a protected turn lane as part of a $400,000 project. The city’s GIS system also will receive a $100,000 investment for maintenance and upgrades. (The Street Department also requested a capital allocation of $893,050 – $300,000 devoted to concrete repairs and the balance for replacement or maintenance of equipment.) The Fire Department’s largest single expenditure is $181,164 over five years to purchase a new quintuple combination pumper to replace a 1986 unit. The “quint” serves the dual purpose of an engine and a ladder truck, providing five functions: pump, water tank, fire hose, aerial device and ground ladders. Fire also has requested: ? $125,000 for renovation and expansion of Fire Station No. 5, 2221 Prairie Ave., the city’s second oldest fire station, built in 1954. An additional $100,000 is allocated for maintenance at all of the City’s 11 fire stations. ? $124,000 for a new firefighter escape system, life safety equipment that has not been provided by grants. ? $140,746 for the first of two years toward purchasing a new rescue and ambulance unit. ? $375,000 for a new pumper to replace a 1991 pumper (which, in turn, would replace a 1973 reserve pumper). The Police Department will continue scheduled replacement of 35 patrol cars in 2010 at a cost of $770,000 including five hybrid cars for use by administrators or detectives. It also will spend $50,000 to replace Tasers and $8,000 to replace radios.