Elizabeth Larson – Record-Bee staff
LAKEPORT ? In the months to come, Lakeport residents can look forward to seeing the city begin several improvement and repair projects, thanks to Measure I funds.
Lakeport voters passed Measure I ? a half-cent sales tax ? in November 2004, which went into effect the following April.
Along with Measure I, voters approved the advisory Measure J, which stipulated that the city use Measure I funds for road maintenance and improvement, and other major city projects, including the damaged headwall in Library Park and retrofitting Westshore Pool.
In the past year, the city has collected $573,915.94 from Measure I, City Manager Randy Johnsen reported to the Lakeport City Council on Tuesday. Johnsen said that?s about 25 percent more than the city anticipated raising from the measure.
Along with that figure, Johnsen presented the council with a priority list of projects that the city can begin this summer. (For the complete list, see ?At a glance.?)
In choosing the projects, Johnsen said city staff ?wanted to make make sure the projects could be done this summer.?
Johnsen reported that the city has already spent some of the funds, including $43,000 on lease payments for a road grinder, $950 on a financial analysis on bonding Measure I funds and $50,000 on additional asphalt.
In addition, $91,400 is committed to restoring the Westshore Pool and another $30,000 is stipulated to go toward purchasing a hot oil tank.
That leaves a little more than $384,000 to begin this summer?s list of jobs, he said, which will total approximately $759,000.
Other projects being discussed ? but not slated to begin any time soon ? are $11 million in storm drain improvements, $600,000 to signalize the Lakeport Boulevard/Main Street intersection, $600,000 for a new Library Park headwall, $110,000 for a new excavator and $90,000 for a patching truck.
Signs that say ?Funded by Measure I? will accompany all of the projects.
The council unanimously accepted the priority list. Later in the meeting, they also approved Public Works Superintendent Doug Grider?s request for a new street paving machine in the amount of $105,000. Of that, $49,000 will come from Measure I funds.
The machine will be part of the summertime street improvement effort. Grider said he hopes to take delivery of the equipment within two to three weeks.
?The minute it hits the ground here, we?re rolling,? he said.
Contact Elizabeth Larson at elarson@record-bee.com.
At a glance
Measure I projects
? City Hall parking lot: $85,000
? Main Street sewer project: $200,000
? New road paver: $19,000
? Lakeport Boulevard improvements (Highway 29 to Forbes): $25,000
? South Main Street micro seal: $100,000
? Armstrong Street project: $100,000
? Forest Street project: $150,000
? Projects on Second, Third and Brush streets: $30,000
? 16th Street Project: $50,000
All of these projects total $759,000.
