Normal Considers 45% Increase in Road Spending
By: Jacob Long, WMBD/WYZZ-TV
Updated: October 1, 2012
NORMAL - Town leaders in Normal are proposing a plan to create smoother streets.
The town is set to spend $6.2 million on road work over the next four years, including this year.
But some on council don't think that's enough.
They argue the town has had to hold off on some work because of the recession, so they directed staff to find more money.
City Manager Mark Peterson is responding with a proposal the council is set to vote on Monday night.
It increases spending on road work to $8.9 million over the same time frame. That's a 45% jump.
Peterson said the primary goal is to fix what the town considers "priority one" streets, or the worst of the worst.
"As we repair streets, others get older and begin to need repair. So we'll still have priority one streets. It's not going to eliminate priority one streets, but it should shrink the number of them," Peterson told WMBD 31.
The extra money is coming from a few areas in the budget.
Normal recently sold land in Uptown. It's delaying other capital projects.
The town is also borrowing $1 million from a vehicle reserve fund, which Peterson said will be paid back over time.
The town is set to spend $6.2 million on road work over the next four years, including this year.
But some on council don't think that's enough.
They argue the town has had to hold off on some work because of the recession, so they directed staff to find more money.
City Manager Mark Peterson is responding with a proposal the council is set to vote on Monday night.
It increases spending on road work to $8.9 million over the same time frame. That's a 45% jump.
Peterson said the primary goal is to fix what the town considers "priority one" streets, or the worst of the worst.
"As we repair streets, others get older and begin to need repair. So we'll still have priority one streets. It's not going to eliminate priority one streets, but it should shrink the number of them," Peterson told WMBD 31.
The extra money is coming from a few areas in the budget.
Normal recently sold land in Uptown. It's delaying other capital projects.
The town is also borrowing $1 million from a vehicle reserve fund, which Peterson said will be paid back over time.
