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Aldermen press public works on sidewalks, paving, parks and a refuse pilot to cut tipping fees
Summary
Public works officials outlined a five‑year pavement and sidewalk program, park upgrades and an ongoing refuse procurement; engineering said a master list of candidate streets exists but prioritization is fluid due to design, utility work and contractor capacity; refuse staff said bids returned with first‑year MSW disposal at about $107.75/ton and a school food‑scrap pilot is underway.
Public Works Director David Simpson and bureau chiefs spent the bulk of the May 12 hearing answering aldermen’s questions about parks, recreation, streets and refuse.
Engineering and paving: City engineer Roy Kavanaugh described a multiyear milling and paving program with a planning figure of roughly $6.5 million over five years and said the department maintains a master candidate list for projects. He cautioned the board that the list is fluid: projects must be prioritized around anticipated utility work and design capacity, and contractors’ limited bid capacity affects schedules. "The list is fluid," he said. "We don’t allow anybody to dig a new road that’s been paved within the last 5 years." Aldermen requested a public, prioritized list of streets and sidewalks slated for work so they can evaluate bond packages.
Parks and recreation: Parks officials described a $1.12 million set of park projects for the coming year — Berkeley Park court and field upgrades, Washington Park HVAC and other rec center improvements, tree trimming and miscellaneous park equipment — and said parks will use MyRec revenue and some local capital funds for work. The parks bureau also reported it expects to be fully staffed for summer seasonal work.
Snow and salt operations: Public works said the city is preparing for future winters after an unusually heavy recent season and is buying new dump trucks and trying pilot anti‑icing approaches, including brine applications and equipment upgrades.
Refuse and food scraps: The refuse bureau reported a multi‑year average of about 36,000 tons of municipal solid waste and said the low‑bid rates on recently returned contracts will start near $107.75 per ton — below some worst‑case budget scenarios. The department is pursuing a school food‑scrap pilot and vendor partnerships to divert organic material and reduce tipping costs.
What’s next: Aldermen asked for clearer lists and schedules — the engineering master list of candidate streets, a roster of vacant positions (with vacancy durations), proof of after‑hours take‑home vehicle responses, and data on snow‑stipple payments and contractors. Public works agreed to provide detailed follow‑ups.
