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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-13-87 Public Works i (inmmtitn at port PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE tlit Mammon Cow& of tip Otttg limit: The April 13 , 1987 meeting of the Public Works Committee was called to order by its Chairman, Councilman Thomas Zakrzewski, at 3: 45 p .m. in the Council informal meeting room. Persons in attendance included : Councilmen Puzzello , Zakrzewski , Serge , Paszek, Voorde , Beck, Braboy , -and Barcome; John Leszczynski , Kevin Kelly of Walsh & Kelly , Inc . , St . Joseph County Engineer Robert J. Richardson, Rollin E. Farrand , Sr . of Cole Associates , Inc . , members of the news media , and Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand . Councilman Zakrzewski noted that the purpose of the meeting was to receive an update from the Arterial Road and Street Improvement Group. Mr . John Leszczynski then gave background information regarding the Arterial Road and Street Improvement Group . He noted that the group consisted of the City Engineers from the City of Mishawaka and the City of South Bend , Mr . Robert Richardson of the St . Joseph County Engineering Department , the St . Joseph County Area Plan Commission , the Mishawaka Planning Department , Rieth Riley Construction Company , Inc . , St . Joseph Materials Company/Levy Company , Rollin E . Farrand , Sr . of Cole Associates , Inc . , and Mr . Kevin Kelly of Walsh & Kelly , Inc . He noted that the group began approximately 6-7 years ago and focused upon major projects and project financing in the area of road and bridge construction which are priority needs in St . Joseph County. He further noted that both Walsh & Kelly and Cole Associates have volunteered their services on the project and that these firms as well as the others previously listed are known for their expertise in the area of cost projections and regulations . Overall , the group looked at community-wide projects and a guide to long-range planning . Mr . Kevin Kelly then narrated a slide presentation showing the overall goals initially recommended by MACOG from 1981-1991 . He noted the Federal Aid Urban Area where nine (9) of twenty- three (23) projects have been completed to date. He also noted that the Transportation Task Force for the • Community-Economic Development Planning Program (C-EDPP) was organized by the South Bend-Mishawaka Area Chamber of Commerce in 1980. The C-EDPP identified ten (10) major growth area potentials throughout the county. Additionally, thirty (30) new areas were identified for traffic growth potential . 1 IR[R /Rimy IVULIRHIN CO. Public Works Committee Minutes/4-23-87 Page 2 Mr . Kelly then reviewed the various types of construction funds available for road and street construction from federal , state and local sources . He noted that Federal-Aid Urban funds are appropriated by the Federal Highway Administration. This funding is available because of the five-cent federal gas tax. The combined 1987 allocation for South Bend , Mishawaka, and St. Joseph County urbanized areas totals $950, 000.00. A second source of funding is the Federal-Aid Secondary which has the same funding source as the Federal-Aid Urban ; however , these funds can only be used for areas outside of the urbanized area. $100,000.00 of the 1987 total allocation of the $135 ,000.00 has been projected for use for identified projects . The Local Road and Street account funds provide a third source of funds . The LRSA funds are provided to the local jurisdictions by the State and reflect the monies collected from gasoline taxes . LRSA funds for yearly construction projects allocate $470, 000.00 to South Bend , $170,000.00 to Mishawaka , and $850,000.00 to St . Joseph County. Motor Vehicle Highway Funds (MVH) can only be used for maintenance and operation . There are two (2) cumulative bridge funds in St. Joseph County - a regular and a major . These funds collected from local taxes each accumulate $950,000.00 for bridge projects in St. Joseph County. There are two (2) capital improvement funds collected from local taxes for South Bend and Mishawaka . $200,000.00 has been projected as available for various road and street construction from these funds. Based on 1986 estimated construction costs for arterial road and street projects for implementation by 1986 , it is estimated that a total funding of $96, 925 , 000.00 will be necessary. This projection breaks down as follows : C-EDPP projects not completed $44, 680, 000 new priority projects for 1991 $ 8, 600,000 additional projects for 1996 $43, 645, 000 Total 1987 through 1996 $96 ,925,000 The Arterial Road and Street Improvement Group projects that the total funds available from present construction funding sources will be $46, 750,000.00. The construction funding sources break down as follows : 2 Public Works Committee Minutes/4-23-87 Page 3 Federal-Aid Urban $ 9 , 500,000 Federal-Aid Secondary $ 1 , 350, 000 LRSA-South Bend $ 4, 700,000 LRSA-Mishawaka $ 1 , 700,000 LRSA-St. Joseph County $ 8, 500,000 Cumulative Bridge (regular) $ 9 , 500, 000 Cumulative Bridge (major) $ 9,500,000 Capital Improvement Funds (SB & Mishawaka) $ 2 ,000,000 Total 1987 through 1996 $46 , 750,000 In comparing the estimated construction costs to the construction funds available, a shortfall exists of $50, 175,000 for the period of 1987-1996. Mr . Kelly then explained the Local Option Highway User Tax . This tax is actually two (2) taxes which must be adopted simultaneously and are the surtaxes placed on the vehicle excise tax paid annually by owners of automobiles , motorcycles and trucks of 11 , 000 pounds or lighter and a wheel tax placed on all vehicles not subject to the excise surtax . The surtax can be set between 2% and 10% of the excise tax paid annually with a minimum of $7.50 . The wheel tax can be set between $5 and $40 per non-excise vehicle. Both taxes are paid annually at the time of registration. The Local Option Highway User Tax must be enacted by the County Council and a deadline of June 30th must be met . It is projected that the average county-wide cost would be $11 . 21 which would generate approximately $2 . 5 million. This additional revenue would account for approximately one-half of the shortfall in needed funds to address the priority projects . It was noted that the York Road and Ironwood bridges would be let in May and were approximately one ( 1 ) year away from construction and 2-3 years away from traffic. It was also noted that it would take 52 , 000 cars to do the same amount of damage that one (1) semi-tractor trailer can do to a road . It was noted that the Arterial Road and Street Improvement Group wanted to update all governmental units with regard to the projected priorities and funding sources as well as the Local Option User Tax concept . 3 Public Works Committee Minutes/4-23-87 Page 4 Several Councilmen asked questions regarding the overall presentation. Councilman Voorde and Councilman Barcome spoke favorably of the proposal . Following further questions by the Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 4 :35 p .m. Respectfully submitted , Thomas Zakrzewski , Chairman Attached : Copy of Arterial Improvement Study for South Bend- Mishawaka Urbanized Area, St . Joseph County, Indiana March 1987 4