WARREN City weighs paying for roads through assessing residents

A majority of residents would have to agree to the assessment.
By AMANDA C. DAVIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- The city is exploring options to fix some of its worst roads, including asking residents to pick up the tab.
Financial troubles in the last few years made it necessary for city officials to prioritize improvement projects for deteriorating roads, they say.
Major thoroughfares have been upgraded thanks to help from state and federal money.
Proposal for program: Councilman Alford Novak, D-2nd, chairman of the engineering, building and planning committee, said the city could undertake a program that would allow each lawmaker to pick a bad road in his or her ward and ask residents if they'd be willing to pay.
If a majority of residents agree to an assessment, the extent of upgrades would be outlined and council would vote on a resolution of support, provided the money is available, Novak said.
The process could take a year because the city would have to advertise for bids and award them.
Residents would be charged based on the frontage of their property, Novak said, and the number of streets that are rehabilitated would depend on money that's available.
The way financing would work, City Auditor David Griffing said, is that the city would have to borrow the money -- either internally or through a bank -- to pay the contractors up front.
Debt limits: He explained there are limits to the amount of short- and long-term debt the city can carry.
Griffing said residents would then get bills with two options -- pay all at once or have the amount added to their property tax bills.
If a majority of residents agree to the assessment, those who don't would be given a chance to appeal before work is performed.
Novak said it's possible that Community Development Block Grant funds could be used to help reduce the cost of road improvements in some neighborhoods.
Road work could include replacement of sewers and waterlines, construction of concrete or asphalt roads and replacement and repair of curbs and sidewalks, Novak said.
Two $5 license plate fees currently charged to city residents could be used to help defray the cost, Novak said.
That money has been used in the past for main roads, he said, explaining that the city is getting caught up with work on major roads.
davis@vindy.com