MOBILE, Ala. (WPMI) It's been four months since Mobile officials said yes to a sales tax hike. Now we're learning where and how your money is being spent.
Tuesday the Mobile City Council approved several engineering contracts that will be used to repair broken guard rails, old sidewalks, roads and drainage pipes. Officials say more improvements are on the way.
Construction on the drainage and road projects should start in the next two to three months. Then, expect to see new public works equipment, new fire trucks and police cars all funded by the extra 1 percent sales tax you pay when you shop.
Every time it rains, Trinity Gardens football field is a wet soggy mess for days. Improving the park's drainage system is one of many capital projects the city now plans to tackle city-wide with new money from the penny sales tax.
"It's a combination of drainage pipe repairs and or drainage ditch repairs. There are a number of those throughout the city that need addressing," said City engineer Nick Amberger.
Amberger said most of the drainage projects are ones people have requested through Mobile's 311 system.
"Some are being replaced because of the age of the infrastructure. Some drainage systems have been in place for 50 to 60 years and a lot of them are collapsing," said Mayor Sam Jones.
Other plans include repairs to sidewalks inside Bienville Square and intersection improvements at Museum Drive.
There engineers are going to construct a round-about to help with traffic flow.
"I've lived in this neighborhood for 15 years and haven't had any problems at this intersection," said Allen Hughes, who lives down the street from the intersection.
He isn't buying into what the city says are benefits of the increased sales tax. He doesn't see the need for a round-about.
"If it's not a hazard to the population I really don't think they need to be spending any funds right now especially with the way the economy is," said Hughes.
And he certainly doesn't support putting the burden on taxpayers.
"We have enough pressure on the federal tax side so to be hit at not only state level but municipal level it's a triple whammy," he said.
Contracts approved by Mobile City Council Tuesday using new sales tax money:
21-053 Authorize contract with Burk-Kleinpeter, Inc., for 2013 Miscellaneous Infrastructure Repairs, Phase 1, $110,000.00 (sponsored by Mayor Jones) (submitted by Nick Amberger, Engineering Department).
21-054 Authorize contract with ECS Consulting Engineers, Inc., for 2103 Miscellaneous City-wide Drainage Repairs, Phase 1, Part-A pipe rehabilitation, $124,000.00 (sponsored by Mayor Jones) (submitted by Nick Amberger, Engineering Department).
21-055 Authorize contract with Neel-Schafer, Inc., for 2013 Miscellaneous City-wide Drainage Repairs, Phase 2, $186,000.00 (sponsored by Mayor Jones) (submitted by Nick Amberger, Engineering Department).
21-056 Authorize contract with SJ&L, Inc., for Trinity Gardens football field drainage, $48,337.00 (sponsored by Mayor Jones & Councilmember Richardson) (submitted by Nick Amberger, Engineering Department).
21-057 Authorize contract with Esfeller Construction Co., Inc., for Theodore Park-fire apparatus road & entrance apron, $167,637.20 (sponsored by Mayor Jones & Councilmember Williams) (submitted by Brad Christensen, Architectural Engineering Department).
21-058 Authorize contract with Volkert, Inc., for Mobile County 2012 Transportation Program Pay-As-You-Go -intersection improvements {N. McGregor Avenue and Museum Drive; and Overlook Road, Howells Ferry Road and Cody Road} (sponsored by Mayor Jones & Councilmember Gregory) (submitted by Nick Amberger, Engineering Department).
