Shovels at the ready
Since November, the Kansas City, Mo.-based American Public Works Association, Washington-based U.S. Conference of Mayors and other local government groups have lobbied Congress and President Obama to fund “shovel-ready” infrastructure projects — those that only need funding to get under way — to create jobs and stimulate the economy. American City & County asked the readers of its weekly e-mail newsletter if they had any infrastructure projects in their communities that could begin as soon as federal funding became available. Below are some of the responses.
“Columbus, Neb. — population 21,000 — has $4,587,325 worth of ‘shovel-ready’ work that has been submitted for consideration as part of President Obama’s proposed economic stimulus package. These projects are water and wastewater-related projects submitted to the state as part of the [Drinking Water State Revolving Fund] Program [and include] a water production facility, water line upgrades, repairs and system looping. This funding will go a long way in serving our citizens with quality services.”
— Chuck Thomerson, director of Public Works/Environmental Services, Columbus, Neb.
“We have a project to construct a tornado-proof facility to house our Emergency Operations Center, and a new dispatch center for the county. Construction and equipment costs are estimated at $1.5 million.”
— Clifford Gronauer, chairman of the Audrain County, Mo., Emergency Services Board
“We have several projects here in Tunkhannock Township [in] Monroe County, Pa., that are shovel ready but can’t be done because of the funding situation. [They] include road repairs, stormwater runoff pipe replacement, culvert pipe to be replaced, etc. Currently the number of [projects has] surpassed the township’s ability to make repairs in a timely manner due to lack of funding.”
— Dot Trauger, planning and grants administrator, Tunkhannock, Pa.