NU Council

discusses

capital

improvements

Warta attends

last meeting

By CHRIS VETTER

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- The city could see capital improvement projects totalling $2.57 million in 2001, under a plan discussed by the New Ulm City Council on Tuesday.

The council annually approves funding for the Capital Improvement Program (CIP), which generally includes bonding between $1.6-$1.8 million, said City Manager Dick Salvati. The 2001 bond would be $1.75 million, according to the plan.

The other $800,000 for capital projects would come from the budget, the Public Utilities Commission, grants and municipal state aid, Salvati said.

The council will meet Tuesday to discuss the proposed spending. Council President Dan Beranek said he wants the CIP approved by the second meeting in January to give the city engineering staff enough time to prepare projects for the summer.

Highlights of the bonding package include $200,000 for purchasing right of way and engineering costs along a bike trail, $253,000 for a parking lot at Mueller Park/Artstone Baseball field, $428,000 for road improvements to Westridge Road and $107,000 for site preparation at a proposed soccer field at Artstone.

There is a drainage ditch that runs from left-center field at Mueller Park that would cross over the soccer field. The ditch will have to be eliminated. Eventually, a pipe would be put under ground to collect water, Salvati said.

"We can't do anything with that property until we do some improvements," Salvati said.

The CIP is somewhat independent of the city's $10 million budget. Salvati explained that the city pays for past bond projects in the debt service portion of the budget. The city generally bonds its projects for 10 years, so the city would be paying for these 2001 projects through 2011.

Councilor Ron Fleischmann expressed disappointment that the CIP does not show any funding for a skate park in town. He said the council should settle on a site for a park and find dollars for it.

"This is certainly something we've discussed for a couple of years," Fleischmann said.

Councilor Clark Tuttle III questioned the level of the bonding, saying the city should have a lower bond level now in case the city needs to bond higher-than-usual numbers in two years when the new park and recreation facilities are built.

Salvati said it is wise to have a steady bond number so the city keeps good standing with bonding services.

Tuttle also questioned the immediate need for some of the projects.

"I would consider street improvement more important than putting bituminous on a gravel parking lot at a ball field," Tuttle said.

The capital program also should have more funding for installing a new road at North Highland, said Councilor Joel Albrecht.

"It seems to me we should continue to move forward on that project," Albrecht said, noting that no funding is earmarked for the road until 2003.

City engineer Steve Koehler said the city already owns the right of way along North Highland, but development in that area is currently only being done by the Diocese of New Ulm.

"If we do get some developers who are interested, we could move forward to help them," Koehler said.

In other business, the council approved the 2001 budget without discussion. There were no questions from the public. The council had discussed the budget at length in September when it was unveiled, then members held an open truth in taxation hearing on the budget earlier this month.

The final budget, as approved, totals $10.52 million, with a property tax levy at $2.99 million.

The night also marked the final regular meeting for Councilor Denis Warta, who went to the podium at the end of the meeting, thanking the city and the council.

"Serving on this New Ulm City Council has been an honor and a privilege," Warta said.

He urged others to become involved in public service.

"Don't hesitate to apply," Warta said. "It's really a great job. We should not discourage anyone from participating in our government."

Warta also spoke highly of the recently-passed city sales tax and the park and recreation buildings that will be built soon.

In final notes, the council hired Brimeyer Group to help locate a new city manager. The council also approved $1,600 to a firm to lobby on telecommunication issues during the 2001 legislative session.

Another $6,300 was approved to allow Bolton and Menk, Inc., to plot a future road from County Road No. 29 to North Broadway.