HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003 proposition 1 highway facilityOur current facilities are hazardous It is not feasible to expand or upgrade The current economic environment
and obsolete the current facilities offers favorable interest rates and low
construction bids
Trucks do not fit in the building with
snowplows attached. This creates added
steps to prepare for snow removal, making
the fleets'state of readiness unacceptable.
Trucks and equipment are squeezed into a
small area leaving narrow walkways
between them. Mobility within the building
is awkward and egress case of emergency
is extremely compromised
The ceilings are asbestos and the roof
leaks.
The building has insulated block walls and
poor insulation overall.
The heating is ineffective: free-standing
burners are used.
The rear windows are sealed off and there
are no exhaust fans. The lack of ventilation
creates a very serious health hazard.
The Employees' break room is upstairs with
no alternative exit in case of emergency.
The environmental control devices on
garage drains are outdated.
On-site storage for aggregate material is
insufficient.
There is no environmental control for cinder
and salt storage.
Sharing the building with the Town Clerk
creates additional vehicle and pedestrian
traffic during Highway Department hours.
The general public sharing space with
heavy equipment and aggregate piles is a
safety concern.
Thanks to the many Town officials, Town
employees, and community members involved in
getting this project to where it is today, including:
Roy Barriere
Frank Podulfalski
Chris Hem
Buddy Rollins
Denny Hubbell
Debbie Teeter
Dave Miller
Ron Updike
Jean Owens
There is no room for expansion on the
Town's 1/3 acre without encroaching on
neighboring properties.
The cost to upgrade current facilities would
exceed the cost of new construction.
The Town owns land well-suited to
new construction
• The Town owns a 58.42 acre parcel on
Enfield Main Road to the north of the
hamlet.
• The parcel's predominant soil type is
Howard, a gravelly loam, which is well-
suited to construction.
• The parcel is large enough to
accommodate the Town's future building
needs as well as community recreation
space.
The Town is financially well-positioned
to undertake this project without a
corresponding tax increase
The Town has $500,000 in Capital
Improvement funds available for this
project.
In addition to the $500,000 the Town has
on hand for this project, there is $200,000
in reserve plus $50,000+ per year in capital
funds.
This would cover the annual bond
payments
If you have any questions about
this information, please call
Town Supervisor Roy Barriere
at 592-0557
• Municipal Bond interest rates, fueled by a
sputtering US economy, the possibility of
increased state and federal tax rates,
recent Federal Reserve announcements
that the Fed will not raise rates for some
time and the underperformance of the
stock market, have all combined to create
the lowest municipal bond rates since the
mid -1960's.
• During the period from 1945 to 1967 yields
on 20 year municipal bonds remained
between 2% to 4% - it appears the
municipal bond market could return to this
range again for the next several years.
• Extremely low construction costs are being
seen in the market during these times of
economic uncertainty, especially in the
trades needed for this project.
• Construction bids for building projects are
coming in over 20-30% less than what
construction estimates were over two years
ago.
• It is very rare to have the combination of
low interest rates and low construction
costs occur at the same time like they exist
at the present time.
Saving for big projects
is not necessarily cost-effective
In 1993 the Town Board saw the need to
replace existing town facilities and in 1999 began
setting aside $50,000 a year for Capital
Improvements. That fund has now grown to
$500,000.
The estimated cost for a new Highway facility
in 1993 was $385,000. Today the estimate is up
to $1.6 million.
If we postpone this project, and miss this
opportunity to build when bond rates and
construction bids are low, costs will again rise
faster than our ability to save for them.
Questions and Answers
from the Public Hearing:
How much will this project cost?
Up to 1.6 million. The Town has $500,000 set
aside for this project and will bond for the remaining
$1.1 million.
Isn't $1.6 million a lot of money for a highway
facility?
The cost is for the Highway facility and site
infrastructure (public and access roads, storm water
mitigation, etc.). Recent design changes reduced
estimated costs by up to $150,000; the building itself
will now be $500,000-$600,000.
The Highway Superintendent has offered to
handle many aspects of the project's road and parking
lot construction, which would reduce infrastructure
costs.
What's the interest rate?
Interest rates are at an all-time low: 2-3.5%
for a 15 -year bond.
Doesn't this site have drainage issues?
No. The site's predominate soil type is
Howard, a gravelly loam, excellent for drainage and
construction.
Will this project result in a tax increase?
No. In addition to the $500,000 the Town has
on hand for this project, there is $200,000 in reserve
plus $50,000+ per year in capital funds. This would
cover the annual bond payments.
Will building maintenance costs increase?
No. The building will be larger, but will be
energy efficient. The current building has no insulation
and is heated with stand alone burners.
' Were alternatives to steel, such as concrete block,
considered?
Yes. Steel is the most cost-effective
construction material. Concrete block would be far
more expensive.
Can't we just fix the current facility?
No. Generally, it's almost always cheaper to
rebuild than to renovate. In this case, we have a 50
year old concrete block building with no insulation, no
adequate heat source, on 113 of an acre of land.
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Enfield
Community Members:
November 2nd
Vote YES on
Proposition 1
To build a new
Enfield Town
Highway Facility
The Time is Now...
Our current facilities are
hazardous and obsolete.
It is not feasible to expand or
upgrade the current facilities.
The Town owns land well-suited
to new construction.
The Town is financially well-
positioned to undertake this
project without a corresponding
tax increase.
The current economic
environment offers favorable
interest rates and low
construction bids.
Let's finally stars
/;ep/acing our Towm Facilities
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Enfield
Community Members:
November 2nd
Vote YES on
Proposition 1
To build a new
Enfield Town
Highway Facility
The Time is Now...
Our current facilities are
hazardous and obsolete.
It is not feasible to expand or
upgrade the current facilities.
The Town owns land well-suited
to new construction.
The Town is financially well-
positioned to undertake this
project without a corresponding
tax increase.
The current economic
environment offers favorable
interest rates and low
construction bids.
Let's finally stars
/;ep/acing our Towm Facilities