MANSFIELD — It appears a proposed dry dam project on Mansfield’s north side may emerge from a City Council committee on Tuesday evening.
3rd Ward council representative Jon Van Harlingen, chair of council’s utilities committee, successfully led an effort July 20 to table in committee the next step in the oft-discussed project until city administrators could supply more information.
Van Harlingen said Friday he has received more numbers from the city finance department, though nothing more from public works.
The lawmaker, also chair of council’s finance committee, said he thinks the proposed legislation will now go forward that would allow the city to enter into a contract for design and engineering services for the Touby Run Flood Mitigation Hazard Project.
“I think we’re headed in that direction,” Van Harlingen said when asked if the proposal, with a price tag of $1.5 million, will advance to a first reading Tuesday with a final reading and possible vote on Sept. 7.
Allowing the project to proceed doesn’t mean Van Harlingen supports the two-year engineering/design proposal, which would be paid for from the city’s sewer fund.
He has said he remains concerned the engineering/design work could offer a project the city can’t afford without significant grant funding.
Previously, Van Harlingen has pointed out the city has taken on more than $50 million in bond debt in recent years, including $10 million for state-mandated improvements at the wastewater treatment plant and $35 million for state-mandated improvements at the water treatment plant.
The dry dam project was set aside by City Council in 2019 when a $17 million city-wide water meter replacement program was launched, a plan aimed at increasing water revenues with more accurate measurements. That project was delayed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and is not yet complete.
Van Harlingen said Friday he’s still not certain water revenues are meeting projections.
During the July 20 meeting, city engineer Bob Bianchi said the city could possibly receive up to 75 percent of the dam’s construction costs through a Federal Emergency Management Association’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant.
The key, Bianchi said, was having a shovel-ready proposal to use in going after what he described as “very competitive” grants.
No council members at the July 20 meeting spoke against the need for the dam, which would help to alleviate flooding on the city’s north side.
Fifth Ward council representative Jason Lawrence said in June his goal was to have an engineered and designed “shovel ready” proposal ready in two years as funding options are developed for the project itself.
Alomar Davenport, who represents the 4th Ward, was among council members who spoke in favor of pushing the proposal forward.
“I believe this is crucial to future economic development here in Mansfield,” Davenport said. “I think something we as an administration, as a council, as a city, we have gotten stuck in this working-poor mentality.
“I’m from a working poor family, so there is no stigma to that. But what I am trying to say is we have become so conditioned to just getting by, to just doing what is necessary and it doesn’t seem like we have any interest in investing in things that could bring additional revenue, that can help stimulate economic development, stimulate economic growth here in Mansfield,” Davenport said.
Also on Tuesday, City Council is expected to:
— give first reading to amendments to the city’s emergency alarms ordinances.
— give first readings to legislation to ordinances related to splash pads at Johns Park and North Lake Park.
— vote on legislation authorizing payment of $150 to George Warne, 151 Ausdale Ave., for damages incurred during a sewer back-up in November 2020.
— vote on legislation authorizing demolition of structures at 53 Florence Ave. and 461 Busch Place.
— discuss during caucus the donation of playground equipment from Richland County Newhope for usage at Sterkel Park.
— discuss during caucus the appropriation of $47,626 from the downtown improvement fund for free, public wi-fi in a portion of the downtown. The city’s Board of Control approved the expense during a meeting Monday.
— vote on appropriation of $157,000 to pay Utility Service Co. Inc. for an annual water meter maintenance program through a “then-and-now” certificate.
— discuss during caucus appropriating $200,000 from the parks and recreation fund for various purposes, including new playground equipment at Burton Park and Redwood Park, removal of old playground equipment, demolition of the Prospect Park pavilion, engineering and architectural services for Sterkel Park restrooms and a new F250 pickup truck.
— vote on a proposal to spend $201,300 to purchase a new 2022 Ford E450 Braun Chief XL ambulance for the fire department. The Board of Control approved the proposal on Monday.
