1/31/12 – There was unanimous approval of Beaver Dam’s five-year CIP by a joint meeting of the city’s Administrative and Operations Committee last night. The Capitol Improvements Program, or CIP, lays out infrastructure improvement needs and major equipment purchases over the next five years while outlining a borrowing plan for the current year. Council President Jon Litscher took it a step further and came up with a three-year plan that would hold borrowing to $1.6 million in each of the next three years. Litscher, who sits on the Administrative Committee which basically holds the purse strings, says the plan gives the Operations Committee some assurance that the multi-year projects they’ve brought forward would be funded.
Projects for 2012 include the reconstruction Prospect Avenue in conjunction with a state Highway 151 project. Two stretches of North Crystal Lake Road will see mill and overlay work along with the city-owned, downtown Center Plaza parking lot. Borrowing is also planned for a dump truck, handicap-accessible playground equipment, and state-mandated repairs to the dam, along with a new ambulance, rescue boat and pumper truck for the fire department. A plan to address asbestos in the fire department was put-off until 2013 so city officials could meet that $1.6 million borrowing target. Fire Chief Alan Mannel says he had a professional assess the situation recently and was told there is no immediate threat…except in the council chamber where last night’s meeting was held and further study would be needed to confirm that. Projects on the wish list for 2013 are tied to the state’s reconstruction of Highway 33, including portions of Front Street and 33 that are not part of the state’s plan. In 2014, the city wants to reconstruct portions of East Davis Street and West Burnett while doing mill and overlay work on parts of Henry, Beaver and Front streets
