Huntington council outlines fiscal 2027 wish list, seeks $100,000 to design Heritage Complex

At a May 12 budget workshop, Huntington City Council members and staff reviewed proposed wish-list projects for the fiscal 2027 budget and staff said they are applying for a $100,000 engineering-design grant for the Huntington Heritage Complex.

A city staff member leading the budget review said the grant would pay for engineering drawings only. "We are in the process of applying for a grant for the engineering design of the Huntington Heritage Complex," the staff member said, and added that a consultant named Jade (with Serta) is helping prepare the application and that the city has asked earlier designers to provide an updated estimate.

Why it matters: the design estimate will be needed to complete the grant application and, if funded, would cover design work only — construction would require a separate funding step. Staff said earlier drawings by Johansson and Tuttle still exist and the city is seeking an updated cost estimate to support the grant request.

Council also discussed a number of park and capital items for 2027. Staff noted a capital placeholder for a pickleball project and explained the grant approach: "Jade had put down a $100,000," the staff member said; staff has reflected $75,000 for engineering with an additional $25,000 to CIB as a typical local match arrangement. Construction estimates were discussed in general terms during the meeting.

On cemetery improvements, a committee member presented a paving proposal and line-item costs. The member said contractor pricing is about $580 per cubic yard for concrete with additional costs to cut asphalt and add colored concrete, estimating a total of roughly $43,000–$45,000 and noting the work would need to go to bid.

Utilities and service districts were another focus. Staff reported that special-service sewer invoices show roughly $72,000 already spent with two months remaining in the fiscal year and said they increased the projected sewer budget to $84,000 to avoid shortfalls. Council members asked staff to confirm monthly charges and to explore fee or improvement-charge options for users.

Other smaller items discussed included new tables under a pavilion, trash receptacles (noted as roughly $500 each), a replacement sign targeted for completion before Memorial Day, and equipment requests for community facilities (rubber flooring, a replacement fog/smoke machine and an electronics box for training use). Staff also noted invoices for wildland-response work with LA Curtis that will be submitted for state reimbursement and confirmed a $10,000 state grant for fire recruitment and an additional $10,000 wildland grant.

Next steps: staff reminded the council that the tentative fiscal 2027 budget will be set at next Tuesday's council meeting and that the final budget will be adopted following a public hearing in June. A motion to adjourn carried by voice vote at the close of the workshop.

Meeting procedural note: Judd Bigley was excused from the meeting and was noted in roll call by the chair.