Councilman J.Ross Lacy will present a smaller road bond plan to the Midland City Council Tuesday.
Lacy's new bond plan is for five years and $100 million. He developed the alternate proposal after initial feedback to an eight-year, $195 million road bond presented in July was too much for taxpayers to absorb at this time.
The highlights of the new plan include:
- 26 different road projects across the city;
- the following breakdown of costs -- roads, 60 percent; water and sewer, 24.4 percent; engineering, 5.2 percent; ADA compliance, 10.4 percent;
- a peak tax rate increase in which the owner of a property valued at $250,000 will see a $100 increase in the city tax bill when all debt is issued.
A second plan, allows for options as the council decides whether to put a road bond proposal on the November ballot, Lacy said. The presentation of different proposals can be effective for two reasons, he said. One is to allow for the entire community to offer feedback on the right plan. Second is to create a smaller plan that when completed will regain taxpayers' trust in city government.
"It became apparent that some members were a little hesitant to go for the entire proposal at once," Lacy said.
Projects are planned mostly in older, central Midland. They include parts of Garfield Street, Cuthbert Avenue, Louisiana Avenue, Michigan Avenue, Texas Avenue, "A" Street, Main Street, Tarleton Street, Whittle Way and Sinclair Avenue.
In southern Midland, streets include parts of Thomason Drive, Anetta Drive, Carter Avenue, Taylor Avenue, Hicks Avenue, New York Avenue, Sunglo Street and a small part of Bankhead Highway.
In northern Midland, streets include parts of Green Tree Boulevard, Wood Drive, Oriole Drive, Bluebird Lane and Solomon Lane.
Each street scored a rating of less than 50 on the pavement condition index, according to Lacy. (A score under 50 indicates roads are in "poor" condition.)
Roads not part of the second bond plan include stretches of Neely and Wadley avenues, Golf Course Road, Godfrey and Ward streets and Cotton Flat Road. They are part of projects scheduled for years six through eight on the first plan.
"We need to be ready to do phase 2," Lacy said. "That is once the taxpayers gain confidence the city can execute such a plan."
The council has until Aug. 21 to call a bond election for November. Lacy said previously that he anticipates calling for the election on Aug. 8 but Aug. 15 is also an option.
If the bond does not pass, the city of Midland will not be allowed to issue any form of debt toward roads or utilities for three years, he said.
