GREEN: With no changes anticipated before its Jan. 22 meeting, City Council appears ready to approve a $16.7 million capital projects budget for 2013.
The meeting is one of two more planned for this month, with a special meeting called for Jan. 30 at Raintree Country Club where the only agenda item will be Mayor Dick Norton’s State of the City address.
The large sum for capital improvements is due in part to the rollover of $10.8 million for projects planned but not done in 2012, according to At-Large Councilman Chris Humphrey, council’s finance chairman.
Norton told council and administration directors that he expects all planned projects to be completed in the year designated, adding that is what the community also desires.
Norton said that the city remains financially sound and has a six-month reserve of funds for general operations.
He added that for the first time the city broke the $19 million “financial barrier” in income tax collections in 2012.
Largest of the capital projects listed by Humphrey is $5,076,671 for the CAK International Business Park III/Port Green project that could mean 1,000 new jobs and added income for the city through taxes.
The land is owned by Akron-Canton Airport, which pays no taxes on the property. When parcels are sold to businesses and industries, those firms will pay the taxes.
Speaking of the capital plan, Norton said the ultimate goal is to fund these projects without putting the city at a financial risk, while maintaining its financial strength and stability.
The mayor called the site the perfect place for industries and commercial businesses in Green.
The city’s Street Construction and Maintenance Fund includes 10 projects and totals $5.6 million.
Engineer Paul Pickett said projects include resurfacing Shriver, Greensburg and Steese roads, South Arlington Road to Nimisila Road, Greensburg Road both east and west and state Route 619.
Pickett said a single-lane roundabout at Greensburg and Lauby roads is planned, along with storm water projects on Melanie Drive, Royce Avenue, Sunnyside Circle and Meadow Wood Lane.
He explained that the Arlington Road, Massillon Road North improvements and Greensburg Road and state Route 619 resurfacings have federal grant funding of $3.1 million.
The Parks Division capital budget is $146,800, including Boettler Park restroom, East Liberty Park baseball fields and $50,000 for planning of Central Park on city-owned properties on Town Park Boulevard and Steese Road.
Tax Incentive Financing funds total $2.7 million for improvements to Massillon Road, Massillon and Graybill roads, plus reconstruction of Steese Road and resurfacing of South Arlington Road and Arlington Ridge.
