Colonie officials have outlined a list of top priority town projects and sent copies to the U.S. Congress, indicating where the money that the town would receive from President Barack Obama’s 2009 economic stimulus package would go.
This report will give state and federal leaders a clear impression of what the town’s priorities are in regards to stimulus funds, said Supervisor Paula Mahan.
The list includes projects ranging in cost from $180,000 and up.
Mahan said creating the wish list was done to keep Colonie’s name near the top of the pile when state leaders start considering how to divide the stimulus money among municipalities.
`The needs for these funds are real, and we’re pursuing all avenues to make sure Colonie is given every consideration throughout this process,` she said.
Although town officials do not yet know how much stimulus money Colonie is projected to receive, nor do they know how soon they could see it, according to the list of priority projects, two projects rank above all others in terms of priority: the closing of the landfill and expansion of the new landfill site and a townwide roadway improvement plan.
According to Director of Town Operations Peter Gannon, the town would like to get money for all of the 20 projects submitted, but the landfill and roadway projects are the most urgent.
Gannon also said those projects could help create and retain about 100 jobs in the town.
The goal of the townwide roadway improvement plan is to get the town caught up on paving and roadway repairs.
The town is asking for $15 million for the plan, which includes a project on Sand Creek Road. Gannon said the roadway work could generate between 25 and 50 jobs.
Gannon said there are between 60 and 70 miles of roadways that need repairing within the town, ranging in severity of damage, but without the stimulus money, the town would only be able to complete repairs on about 8 miles of roadway.
As part of the project, the town is hoping to improve a portion of Sand Creek Road from Wolf Road to Osborne Road. The town began working on those improvements in the mid-1990s, but funding ran out before it was complete. The town is hoping to use stimulus funds for resurfacing, concrete curbing and sidewalk installation, as well as repairs to sewer lines and drainage improvements on that stretch of road.
The town has asked for $15 million in stimulus money to address issues with the town landfill. It is estimated that work on the landfill could create about 35 jobs.
The landfill has nearly reached its full capacity, and according to the project plan, it is ready to be closed. The closure project could take between 18 and 24 months and should help reduce the emission of landfill gases at the site. The project is expected to cost at least $8 million.
While the one landfill is being closed, the town needs to prepare for a second landfill location.
Work on this project would be completed between 12 and 18 months and come at a cost of about $7 million.
While some projects listed are ready for construction and development immediately, others have looser time constraints, Gannon said, and the stimulus money provided would be used to help get the town started on the projects.
`Some of them aren’t ready to go, but there are steps that can be taken to get us on our way,` he said.
Gannon said town officials wanted to make sure they were vocal in indicating what their priorities are. `Even before this global crisis started, we had encountered our own financial crisis in the town,` said Gannon.
Some of the other projects on the town’s wish list include system upgrades to the pure waters plant, (at about $7.5 million) an upgrade to a unified telecommunications system throughout the town ($3.2 million), replacing town vehicles with hybrid versions ($180,000), a police command vehicle ($1 million) and a library expansion, including a 250-seat multi-use theater ($7 million).
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