By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
A string of oft-discussed improvement projects officially have a funding mechanism, following a recent vote by Whitewater officials.
The Common Council on May 6 voted to take out $4.28 million in general obligation bonds to see through a list of seven big-ticket items. Plans call for the borrowed funds to be paid off within 15 years.
“All projects included in the borrowing have been discussed at some point over the last six months, either as part of the budget or other discussions,” Finance Director Doug Saubert said.
The bond money will fund assorted projects that point toward construction or reconstruction of existing infrastructure.
The largest beneficiary of the bond proceeds is the imminent East Gateway project within the city’s downtown area. Officials plan to allocate $2.64 million toward street construction, curb and gutter, sidewalks, dam improvements, underground utilities, street lights, right-of-way acquisition and engineering and design work.
The recently approved performance contract issued to heating and air conditioning company Trane also is included in the bond amount.
City officials are allocating $1.18 million toward a series of improvements undertaken by Trane – including emergency generators and unified temperature controls – at the municipal building, Armory and library.
Plans also call for addressing flood concerns with some of the borrowed funds. The city is earmarking $600,000 of the funds toward a drainage project within Basin 15 – infrastructure that primarily serves residents living along Ann, Franklin and Whitewater streets.
Basin 15 work includes a series of storm water improvements aimed at mitigating past occurrences of flooding in the area.
Additionally, $86,000 is to go toward improvements along Woodland Drive – another section of the city that has been prone to flooding. Saubert said “significant storm water improvements” have been identified in the area.
Another item on the list is roofing projects. The city has identified $347,642 worth of repairs needed at the municipal and public safety buildings, as well as the aging Armory site.
Also in the mix is $149,500 toward the proposed expansion of the city’s water utility complex. The funds will be set aside to acquire property and see the project through.
The high-profile Treyton’s Field of Dreams development within Starin Park also is a benefactor of some of the borrowed funds.
Plans call for setting aside $116,000 to fund some of the construction costs with the first phase of the baseball field, which pays tribute to Treyton Kilar, the 6-year-old boy killed in a 2010 car crash.
Saubert said 62 percent of the borrowing will be covered by the property tax levy. The remaining 38 percent will be funded directly by the city’s water utility.
To accommodate the borrowing, Saubert said city tax payers will notice a difference in the mill rate, starting next year.
In 2015, the mill rate is expected to increase 8 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. The following year, the mill rate is to increase 12 cents per $1,000 of assessed value.
Additionally, water utility rates will be adjusted to accommodate work within that entity.
