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Mayor seeks council amendment on bond ordinance

City Council is expected to tackle Mayor Gabriel J. Campana’s request that a $20 million bond ordinance be amended tonight to include additional borrowing for projects not paid for in a bond ordinance previously approved.

Campana is expected to argue the case that without the additional $1.5 million in borrowing the city can’t afford to repair the East End or Memorial pools. He said the East End Pool alone would cost between $750,000 and $850,000 to repair and keep competitive with nearby communities’ pools. A paid consultant is looking at the cost of repairing and keeping open either of the city’s pools, according to Justin Simpson, city recreation director.

Campana also said without the additional borrowing the surface lot entering the city fire headquarters on Walnut Street will continue to deteriorate and could result in a sink hole in the pavement that would damage or cause injury to firefighters responding in emergencies.

In addition, Campana said the bond/borrowing package, as is, means he can’t spend $125,000 for streetlight additions and won’t be able to properly make repairs to City Hall, including a leaking roof and control systems that deal with air conditioning and heating.

Campana also said without the additional borrowing the deteriorating brick work on Pine Street may result in someone getting injured and suing the city.

Campana also seeks to allow River Valley Transit to borrow $6 million rather than $4.5 million for projects associated with the compressed natural gas projects at 1500 W. Third St. and public service projects, such as a new salt storage shed.

Other issues expected to be discussed include a vote on a $3.8 million project to build a pre-cast foundation at the former Mid-Town deck site. It would be the start of the Trade and Transit Centre II, a 225-space parking garage replacing Mid-Town at West Third and Laurel streets. The garage demolition is taking place. Council will vote on a bid by Newcrete Products for $3.2 million. The company did the same kind of planned work at the Church Street Transportation Center, a 300-space parking garage and transit center at 11 Church St.

Also, council:

* Is expected to vote on a $558,000 bid by Poole Anderson Construction as part of the Trade and Transit Centre II project.

* Will review engineering agreement for the end of the second phase of the flood-control levee certification process with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The cost is $261,000.

* Is expected to reject the bids for the Bowman Field grandstand painting project. A company submitted a bid of about $90,000, twice what the city Streets and Parks Department had estimated it should cost.

* Is expected to approve a Keystone Communities contract with the state Department of Community and Economic Development for the Newberry Elm Street Facade Improvement program. John Grado, city engineer and director of community and economic development, is planning to present that information.

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