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City manager outlines permit-fee plan and private fundraising pledge to repair Black River Canal; residents raise funding and management concerns
Summary
City Manager presented a plan to fund repairs to the Black River Canal using a 30-year municipal bond supported by annual user permits (proposed $150—175) plus $1 million in private fundraising; residents at public comment questioned the gate plan, cofferdam handling and long-term cost assumptions.
City Manager presented a multi-part plan to finance repairs to the Black River Canal, saying the city will pursue federal funding and a user-fee structure to cover local matching requirements and bond payments.
The manager said the city has asked state and federal legislators to include the project in funding requests, and noted Representative Joe Pavlov and Congresswoman Lisa McClain had supported inclusion of the canal in congressional funding requests. He described a likely federal award requiring a roughly 25% local match (about $2 million) and warned that meeting federal requirements (prevailing wage, rebidding) could raise the project's cost 20% to 30% beyond current estimates.
Why it matters: The canal has been closed for roughly three years and local business owners and marinas report economic losses tied to limited boat access. Restoring the canal affects adjacent municipalities (Port…
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