Council OKs extra spending for paving job
City lawmakers have approved paying nearly $45,000 more than anticipated for engineering work required as part of the Hurley Avenue repaving project.
During a meeting Tuesday, the Common Council adopted three separate resolutions authorizing the engineering work and for the city to borrow $70,580 to pay for the expense. Alderman William Carey, D-Ward 5, voted against resolutions approving the increased funding and the borrowing, while Alderman Patrick O’Reilly, D-Ward 7, voted against one bond resolution.
The council previously authorized the city to borrow $26,000 for the engineering work, but that was later determined to not be enough.
“It was deemed that the initial estimate was far insufficient,” Alderman Douglas Koop, D-Ward 2, said during a caucus Monday. He said city Engineer Ralph Swenson told lawmakers that more money would be required.
Swenson also has told lawmakers that in addition to needing more money for the engineering work, the overall project will cost more. He said, though, that additional money is available through the Ulster County Transportation
“It was deemed that the initial estimate was far insufficient.” — Kingston Alderman Douglas Koop
Council.
The Transportation Council previously awarded the city $451,639 in federal highway funding for the project.
The overall project now is estimated to cost about $916,000, according to Swenson. He said much of the cost will be reimbursed to the city because the work qualifies as a federal highway project. Generally, the city would pay only a 5 percent match, he said.
The project is to comprise repaving the entire length of Hurley Avenue within the city limits, as well as making handicapped-accessible improvements at all cross streets. The project also is to include the addition of a bicycle lane.
Council Majority Leader Reynolds Scott-Childress, D-Ward 3, said during the caucus that the project also will reconfigure the portion of Hurley Avenue near Washington Avenue. He said part of the road there is very wide and that motorists do not always know if it is one lane or two, which creates a dangerous situation.