City Council considers Lightner Again

Last week City Manager Russell Allen put forward a new proposal on moving forward with the Clarence E. Lightner Public Safety Center using a new funding model.  Allen proposed that there would be no property tax increase and that funding would be borrowed and played out over the next several years.  Today Allen went into detail on his plan. Allen cited the reasons it makes sense for moving forward on Lightner now:

• We have invested a significant time and money in planning and design
• Low construction fees
• Low interest rates
• Possibility of stimulus funding if they act now

Aleen also went on to cite costs that have already been sunk in ancillary projects that were to be funded along with Lightner and have to be funded regardless of Lightner’s status.  Allen is perusing more value engineering in the project. Allen said that additional funds would be needed in the next few years:  $2 Million in 2012, $3 Million in 2013 and $4 Million in 2014.  The plan means that many of the other public works projects bundled with Lightner particularly the remote ops plans would not be moving forward.  Allen stressed that every passing week means significant loss in savings across the different benefits.

Mayor Meeker suggested creating an independent group to study Lightner Center, that group would be formed by experts and their research would be based on data.  Russ Stephenson reiterated that this group should be data driven, and repeatedly said ‘focused on proper siting.’ Stephenson has repeatedly stressed along with Thomas Crowder that they are unhappy with the location of the center. 

John Odom recommended that Lightner be put to public vote in the fall. 

Allen reiterated that this discussion is about more than Lightner and that council needs to approve some of the remote ops project funding. Allen asked the council to apply $46 million in bonds to move forward with the remote ops centers.  This funding may or may not be used but would go to cover the remote ops projects.  In the end council approved going forward with applying for the bonds, with John Odom as the only vote against.

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Politics , Other posts by David.

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Thomas Crowder Mayor Meeker Russ Stephenson Clarence E. Lightner Public Safety Center Russell Allen

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