Saturday, March 29, 2008; Posted: 04:59 AM
Maryville City Manager Matt LeCerf knows all too well how much the craters have saddled his community with the need for street repairs. He's kept busy in recent weeks -- making the rounds of various service organizations -- explaining a half-cent capital improvement tax that will appear on the April 8 ballot. The retail sales tax seeks to raise $790,000 annually over a decade for a series of city projects.
"This is a pretty significant winter we're experiencing," he said. "It's taken a toll on the condition of our roads."
More than $4 million of the revenue would be allocated to Maryville's street improvements program. Currently, the city can only devote $300,000 from general revenues to cover the repairs.
Storm drainage, water and sewer system repairs would receive
$1 million from the tax, in a goal allied with streets, Mr. LeCerf said. The program would prevent the need to tear up pavement in four years to make the changes, he added. Water transmission and distribution mains would be updated, with an objective of improving the city's fire suppression system. New storm drains would prevent the future backup of water in homes that occurred during storms last May.
"We're trying to be proactive in addressing these needs rather than reactive," Mr. LeCerf said.
The tax also would supply $200,000 to resurface three of the city's parking lots, where pavement is crumbling.
Three aging dump/salt trucks in the public works department fleet would be replaced for $200,000.
"The big concern is whether they would last another winter," Mr. LeCerf said.
One or two new storm sirens would be bought with $300,000 of the revenue. The city has five sirens that each cover a half-mile radius.
"Basically, we've identified gaps in the system," Mr. LeCerf said. "We would also want to look at it from the perspective of (Maryville's) future development" to the west, he added.
Officials have expressed interest in developing a network of multipurpose trails, in a connection that would link in-city trails with other paths in the Mozingo Lake area. The entire plan would encompass more than 50 miles and include Maryville's parks and schools. A total of $700,000 from the tax would be used as leverage in grant applications for trail construction. The city has already received more than $600,000 in grants to help build about two and a half miles of trails in the fall.
The city is discussing the trails project with the Missouri Department of Transportation, which has offered $620,000 toward development.
Two firetrucks -- a brush unit and a pumper -- are included in the capital improvement plan. A total of $130,000 would be dedicated to the brush truck, while $200,000 would be used for the pumper. The brush unit has been labeled as vital for first responses to determine the severity of rescue calls.
No tax money is slated for personnel or general operations, but a remaining $370,000 would not be allocated for a specific purpose. Those funds may be used as additional bond money for street projects, Mr. LeCerf said, and the city may wait three years to raise enough money before it starts the street repairs.
The election marks Maryville's first major tax issue since 2006, when voters renewed a half-cent sales tax for programs at Mozingo Lake. A simple majority is needed for approval.
Ray Scherer can be reached at rscherer@npgco.com.
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