Republic file photo Columbus City Hall is shown in downtown Columbus.
Columbus City Council has approved the first reading of an ordinance appropriating about $3.7 million from various funds, including about $2 million for trail projects.
Ordinances require two readings for full approval, and the council’s next meeting is set for June 6.
The ordinance includes the following appropriations:
- $2,266,000 from the thoroughfare fund for trail projects
- $927,807 from the Community Crossings Grant Fund toward overlay projects
- $412,000 from the general fund for stormwater projects
- $100,000 from the general fund for the city’s sidewalk program
The city has three trail projects that have been approved for shared funding with the Federal Transportation Agency.
“We will be paying this money up front and then receive 80% reimbursement from the feds for the work,” said Jamie Brinegar, the city’s former director of finance, operations and risk.
The $2,266,000 includes work in the following areas:
- Westenedge Drive — $861,000
- Fairlawn Drive from Taylor Road to Richards Elementary — $510,000
- 25th Street from Fairlawn to Talley Road — $895,000
According to an a map of the city’s ongoing bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure projects, which can be accessed at columbus.in.gov/bikewalk/, city officials are planning a shared use path extension along the east side of Westenedge Drive from Rocky Ford Road to Parkside Drive, a sidewalk construction project on the north side of Fairlawn between Taylor Road and Par 3 Drive, and a shared use path on the north side of 25th Street between Fairlawn and Talley.
The $927,807 for overlay work comes from a Community Crossings grant that the state recently awarded to Columbus.
City engineer Andrew Beckort said in a previous interview that most of the funds will be spent on upgrading Old Indianapolis Road from the roundabout at the junction of Brown, Lindsey and 11th street to Paula Drive, just south of the U.S. 31 overpass. Additionally, some funding will be used to put a new layer of asphalt on the roundabout.
The city also plans to do a full-depth reclamation and overlay of County Road 100N, just off Old Indianapolis Road at the city limits, for about four-tenths of a mile, said Beckort.
The Community Crossings Matching Grant program provides funding to cities, towns, and counties to make improvements to local roads and bridges. Counties and towns that are the size of Bartholomew County and Columbus or larger must match the grant on a 50-50 basis.
In regards to the stormwater appropriations, Brinegar said this expense and funding dates back to a December meeting where the council voted to amend its 2023 budget by adopting a new levy and rate for the general fund.
At the time, he said that the state notified the city that its 2023 budget was under the maximum levy by about $413,000.
“The levy is the amount of money we can raise, via taxes, in order to fund our budget,” said Brinegar.
After receiving this information from the state, city officials decided to rescind the general fund portion of the 2023 budget and add an additional $412,899 to use for stormwater capital. Officials said that even with the change, the city’s tax rate would decrease in 2023.
As for the $100,000 allocation from the general fund, this will help fund the city’s sidewalk repair program, which is in high demand, according to the ordinance.
“Each year, for many years, we’ve budgeted $60,000 in that program,” said Brinegar. “Two or three years ago, at your request, we increased that to $100,000. And Dave was very excited to email the mayor and I about a month ago and say, ‘Hey, we’re about out of money in that fund. Can we get some more?’”
According to Hayward, the Shared Cost Sidewalk and Curb Program provides a partial reimbursement as a way to encourage property owners to repair or replace deteriorated sidewalks and curbs, which is already their responsibility under city code.
