Council outlines capital projects
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » Saratoga Springs Mayor Joanne Yepsen outlined the 2018 capital budget projects during Tuesday night’s City Council meeting.
The 26 projects, totaling $11,069,323, were mentioned in the capital program and budget 2018-2023 presentation, $11,004,323 of which would be bonded and $65,000 would be funded by other sources such as subdivision and the school district budget.
Some of the programs are multi-year proposals.
Yepsen explained some of the bigger projects, including a city radio tower; Loughberry Lake dam embankment stabilization and spillway; and an East Side fire and EMS facility.
The city radio tower would cost about $1.3 million. It’s the top item on the recommended capital budget, which excludes various
water and sewer projects. Yepsen said the deficiencies in radio communications throughout the community have been tracked and studied.
“A radio tower is needed to assist first responders in communicating,” said Yepsen. “A city radio tower will address the life safety issues that currently exist.”
The Loughberry Lake dam embankment stabilization and spillway would cost about $825,000, using geotechnical design and permitting work in order for the city to be in compliance with NYSDEC Dam safety regulations.
An engineer assessment determined the dam on Route 50 a high hazard one in a presentation to the council in May.
The third most important project deals with replacing traffic signals at Broadway-Circular and Congress-Hamilton streets that are over 30 years old and would cost $306,669.
Top five projects would cost $7,569,323. Rounding out the five most recommended projects were replacing the 87 year-old fire department station one doors and replacing aging 1998 central states fire engine.
Water and sewer projects included upgrading the sanitary pump station, improve Kaydeross Avenue west pipe, gear reduction valve capital improvements and improvements at the city’s water treatment facilities.
Five total projects, with a total cost and bonding requirement of $2,835,000, would be supported by water and sewer budgets.
Yepsen said 21 of the 26 projects being proposed have a total cost of bonding requirement of $8,169,323.
Other proposed projects discussed Tuesday night involved the Katrina Trask Stairway in Congress Park, implementation and improvements to the complete streets plan and replacing four dump trucks with a plow and spreader.
The city had planned to acquire land in the past to build an East Side fire and EMS facility. The project would cost an estimated $3 million in the capital budget for 2018.
The next city council meeting, August 15, will feature a public hearing for comment about the proposed capital budget projects.
To view all project details, visit http://www. saratoga-springs.org/documentcenter/view/6767