Perry staff outlines plans for railroad overpass, sidewalks and a city-run street program

The Perry City Council received updates Sept. 16 on several public-works initiatives as staff outlined next steps for a railroad crossing elimination grant, three sidewalk projects and a plan to do more street work in-house.

City staff told council that the municipal application for a September grant deadline will not be met and that staff are identifying alternative grants with an October meeting scheduled to discuss options. On sidewalks, the city has three projects (Locust Street, Furr Street and 7th Street) in the works; staff will interview qualified firms within about three weeks and proceed with separate bids for each project.

On streets, staff said the city has set aside about $400,000 to be used strictly for materials, not equipment. The manager listed equipment needs and approximate costs: a used grader (about $125,000), a tack/tack sprayer ($10,000), an asphalt layer/attachment (roughly $155,000 new for the attachment) and additional trucks (three suggested; single-axle used trucks quoted around $60,000 each). Using county equipment short-term (grader and roller) or purchasing used equipment were presented as options; staff also discussed grant and lease-to-own possibilities.

Council members pressed staff on cost comparisons with contractors, referencing a prior vendor estimate that suggested in-house work could be substantially cheaper per block once equipment ownership is included. Staff said the city will interview firms for sidewalks and continue to pursue grants and equipment options for streets.

Next steps: staff will return with procurement steps for the sidewalk projects and continue to pursue equipment grants and partnerships to move the city’s in-house street program forward.