MEMORANDUM
TO: Pete Sprague, Assembly President
Members, Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly
THRU: Dale Bagley, Mayor
THRU: Jeff Sinz, Finance Director
FROM: Gary Davis, Roads Director
DATE: April 24, 2003
SUBJECT: Ordinance 2002-19-39, appropriating $300,000 in road service area capital improvement funds toward the Edgington Road Improvement Project
The attached ordinance appropriates $300,000 from the Road Service Area Capital Improvement Fund to the Edgington Road Improvement Project Account. The legislature approved a grant of $325,000 to provide improvements to Edgington Road, located at Mile 88, Sterling Highway. Several residents pursued the legislative grant and it was approved as part of the FY03 capital budget. The road is one of the busiest roads in the road service area ("RSA") and is a continual road maintenance problem. A 2003 traffic count showed an average daily usage of 850 vehicles.
The RSA had the Capital Improvement Project ("CIP") engineering firm complete a preliminary cost estimate to determine the cost of the project. The RSA specified that the cost estimate should include all road improvements, including paving. The preliminary estimate is $576,000, including construction, engineering, and project administration. The pavement item in the estimate was $130,000. Several residents have contacted the RSA indicating their hope that the additional funds would be provided to complete the project as proposed.
The issue of providing the additional funding was discussed at the April 8, 2003 road service area board meeting. A spokesperson from the Edgington Road homeowners was present to support the request. Several board members spoke in favor of the funding request, citing the work residents have done to secure the legislative grant, promote the project through public meetings with the Mayor's office and the RSA staff, and indicating road maintenance savings over time. RSA staff described the fund balances in the CIP account, as well as other funding options. The RSA board unanimously approved a motion to provide funding of "up to $300,000" from the RSA CIP account. An Edgington Road Improvement Project fund has already been established due to the existence of the legislative grant funds. This ordinance requests the CIP funds be transferred to the Edgington Road Improvement Project fund.
The assembly is asked to consider the attached ordinance on a shortened hearing basis in order to expedite the start and completion of the project during the 2003 construction season. Contract documents should be completed by the time this requested assembly action is complete.