MANSFIELD — Mansfield City Council is expected Tuesday evening to discuss a plan to issue $13.3 million in 10-year bonds for a city-wide water meter replacement program.
The bond proposal is scheduled for the council’s 7 p.m. caucus that will precede the council legislative meeting. No vote on the bonds is expected Tuesday.
Three committee meetings are also planned Tuesday — public utilities at 6:15 p.m, finance at 6:20 p.m. and claims at 6:30 p.m.
Council has tabled the ordinance for the water meter plan until the funding issue is resolved.
City Engineer Bob Bianchi told council the city only receives revenue on 40 percent of the water it produces and has urged members to support the water meter and data collection system.
“This is important. I cannot stress enough how important this is,” Bianchi told council in early April. “This is the foundation of the revenue that’s associated with the projects we talk about. If we have a shaky foundation, we know what potentially could happen.”
Bianchi told council the project will pay for itself with increased revenues.
“There is no question,” he said.
Other items on Tuesday’s planned agenda will have council:
— Voting on an ordinance to convert Mulberry Street to two-way traffic between Second and Fifth streets. The $120,000 plan would add a third lane to the street, creating two southbound lanes and one northbound lane. Of the planned expense, $18,000 signals and signage would come from the license plate tax increase approved in 2018.
— Voting to increase the pay grade of the city’s chief probation officer, raising the top salary for the position to $70,900 from its current $60,900.
— Voting to accept $875 in donations for the Parks & Recreation Department’s summer “Movies in the Park” program from Gabe and Stephanie Zader ($500), Richland Newhope Industries ($300) and the Alpha & Omega Real Estate Group ($75).
— Voting to approve the city’s finalized Community Development Block Grant and HOME applications.
— Voting to approve a lease for the Culliver Reading Center at the Ocie Hill Community Building.
