Consultant presents Romeo's draft CIP: roughly $20 million short-term needs, $11 million long-term

Karen Stickle of HRC presented the final draft of Romeo's capital-improvement plan (CIP), prepared under a $40,000 SEMCOG planning grant, and reviewed an asset inventory and prioritized list of projects for short-, mid- and long-term horizons.

Stickles summarized the assets covered (wastewater treatment plant and sanitary system, drinking-water distribution and tower, iron removal plant, storm sewer, village roads, downtown sidewalks and parking, village hall/community center and DPW facilities) and recommended timetables and treatments. Key cost highlights in the presentation: downtown sidewalks were estimated at about $1.7 million for replacement/repair; parking-lot reconstructions (several lots described as in poor condition) were prioritized with lots on Bailey Street and behind village hall highest on the list; about six miles of remaining roads were estimated at just over $5 million to address remaining roadwork; and water-tower work was noted as roughly $500,000 over the next 10 years. Stickle said the CIP totals roughly $20 million for 0—-year priorities, an additional ~$6.5 million for year 6—0 and about $11 million for year 11—20, with a mix of general-fund, water/sewer-fund and potential millage or road millage funding suggested depending on project type.

Trustees asked operational questions about revisiting the CIP annually to update priorities; Stickle recommended annual check-ins without repeating the full grant-level study. The board acknowledged the value of the asset inventory in guiding prioritization and budgeting. No formal action was taken; the CIP will inform budgeting and grant-seeking efforts.

What happens next: trustees will use the CIP to prioritize projects, identify funding paths (including potential millages and grants) and to inform bond planning discussed later in the meeting.