Public meeting set to discuss Liberty’s 2-mill levy on ballot

April 17, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

By LINDA M. LINONIS

liberty

Township officials say they can make dollars stretch more if voters OK a levy this spring for capital improvements.

Trustees will have a public meeting at 7 p.m. Monday in the township administration building, 1315 Church Hill-Hubbard Road, to discuss the 2-mill levy on the May ballot.

Patrick Ungaro, township administrator, said the levy is for permanent and capital improvements in the township. The levy would generate $468,000 a year for five years beginning in 2011. He said it would cost the owner of a $100,000 house about $5.10 a month for five years.

The levy will be used for infrastructure improvements such as roads, waterlines, sewer lines, a possible community center and for matching grants. A capital improvement is any structure or material that lasts 10 years or more.

Ungaro emphasized none of the levy funds would be used for personnel, payroll or pay raises.

Ungaro used this example of how important passage of the levy is. The township also has a $2 million grant for sidewalks and LED (light emitting diode) lighting on the bridge on Shady Drive, waterlines and flood-prevention projects in the area leading to Liberty schools. The township has to come up with its share of $400,000, but the project is on hold because the township doesn’t have the necessary matching funds.

“We could triple the impact of our money from the levy through grants,” Ungaro said.

Ungaro has secured other grant money for various improvement projects, but these also are on hold. For example, the township secured a $1 million grant for waterlines on Logan Avenue but doesn’t have its share of matching funds. So the project has not moved forward.

There are 61 miles of roads in the township, where 13,500 residents live.

“Twenty-four miles need to be resurfaced,” Ungaro said of another area that would benefit from the levy passage.

He also said a $180,000 retention pond project on Belmont Avenue near the Goodwill Store would benefit if the levy is passed. The township’s share of the project is $80,000, and the rest is grant money.

There are seven projects related to flooding issues that would benefit if the levy is approved, he said.