Mount Pleasant seeks $6.1 million from Utah CIB for Phase 1 road repairs

Mount Pleasant City Council staff held a public hearing to gather comments on an application to the Utah Permanent Community Impact Board (CIB) seeking funding to complete a Phase 1 package of street repairs and drainage improvements identified in the city—s transportation master plan.

City staff described the proposed Phase 1 project as covering about seven miles of streets with a mix of treatments — thin-lift overlay, chip seal, slurry seal and limited rebuilds — and drainage work intended to reduce water damage and extend pavement life. The stated total project cost is $6,544,397; the city would contribute $444,397 from its road funds and road taxes. The application asks the CIB for $6,100,000, split in staff—s proposal as approximately $3,660,000 in grant assistance and $2,440,000 in loan principal at 0.5% interest for seven years.

Staff said the application flows from the city—s recent pavement-management work and transportation master plan. The pavement-management process used roadway condition surveys and a GIS surface tool to score distresses (potholes, fatigue cracking, transverse and horizontal cracking), estimate remaining service life, and rank candidate projects by severity, treatment cost, functional class and city priorities. That work produced a prioritized list of projects divided into three phases; the hearing focused on phase 1.

A staff presenter said drainage elements were included for each block in the package because prior road work that omitted drainage has led to recurring pavement failures. Staff also described the selection process as intended to be defensible and data-driven while allowing the city to include locally prioritized corridors.

During public comment, staff read the primary streets proposed for Phase 1: 100 North (Second East to State), Second East (Fifth North to Main), Third North (from Second East), 200 North (900 East to Fifth West), Main Street, 400 South (6 East to Fourth West), First South (State to Fifth West), 200 West, Fifth South (State to Fourth West), Seventh/800 South and several other local corridors. A resident and business owner urged staff to consider naturalized drainage solutions at known low points where heavy rains have caused large water flows and occasional plugging.

Staff confirmed the loan portion of the CIB package would be through the state (not a private bank) and explained the city placed this application on the first of three CIB review meetings; offers are expected in November and final funding authorization would occur at a later funding meeting, likely in February. Staff warned that CIB funds are currently limited and that the city may need to adjust the package based on the CIB—s offer or on bid results: if an offer or bids come in less favorable than proposed, the city would consider scaling back the Phase 1 scope, seeking alternative revenues such as a transportation utility fee or other sources, or request reconsideration from CIB staff.

Staff noted the city selected Sunrise Engineering through a prior competitive process to prepare the transportation master plan and that the Phase 1 application is built from that plan—s recommendations. The city emphasized that engineering for individual intersections and drainage elements is preliminary at this stage and would be refined if funding is awarded and the project moves to design and bidding.

No formal council vote occurred at the hearing. Staff said draft minutes of the public hearing should be submitted to the CIB by Nov. 6 for the first review meeting, and that further public meetings would follow if the city receives an offer to allow final scoping and additional public input. The hearing was then closed.

Notes: The application figures and project lists above reflect staff statements at the public hearing; where staff provided dollar amounts the article reports those figures. If CIB offers different grant/loan terms or if bid results change, the final project scope and financing may differ.