Pima County will go forward with pavement preservation work on Silverbell Road after all.
The Board of Supervisors voted to restore funding to the project, reversing a move by County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry to stop issuing contracts for $2.2 million of pending road projects.
“I really think Silverbell must be done,” Supervisor Sharon Bronson said.
In response to state funding cuts and cost shifts, Huckelberry decided to not move ahead with eight planned road projects that were approved as part of the current fiscal year’s budget.
Supervisors had approved a $5 million infusion from the general fund to repair 21 roads throughout the county. Transportation projects normally are not funded from the general fund, the portion of the budget that supports most governmental activities.
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The section of Silverbell the county plans to repair runs between West Goret and Ina roads. The estimated cost of the work is $312,000.
Other roadway projects that will remain on hold include North Sabino Canyon Road, north of East River Road; North First Avenue, between East River and Ina roads; North Thornydale Road, from West Rudolph Drive to West Daphne Lane; North La Cholla Boulevard, between West River and Magee roads; North Kleindale Road; East Aviation Highway at South Dodge Boulevard; and the Palo Verde overpass.
Supervisor Ally Miller asked that all the projects be restored, but her motion failed for lack of a second.
“As long as we continue to do this, our credibility in the community is zero,” Miller said, noting county residents have anticipated the work be completed.
Four of the projects put on hold are in her district.
Supervisor Ramón Valadez, who cast the only vote against restoring the Silverbell project, said he didn’t like having to put the projects on hold but said expected cost shifts from the state mandate finding savings.
“We potentially could be hit with $23 million in cost shifts,” Valadez said. “I think it’s fiscally prudent to do this and otherwise stupid not to.”
Supervisors postpone sewer increase
Saying more time was need to mull over new information, supervisors postponed a proposal to increase sewer fees.
Supervisor Richard Elías made the motion to postpone the rate change, saying staff should look at possible changes to connection fees as well.
He said ratepayers to the county sewer system have seen bills more than double in the past 10 years and shouldn’t have to bear the costs alone.
Sewer rates have increased almost every year over the past decade, going from an average monthly bill for residential bill of $15.16 in fiscal 2005 to about $40 now.
Supervisors had been asked to approve two annual rate increases at 3 percent each. That would have brought the average residential bill to more than $43 per month.
Supervisors will revisit the rate increase proposal on April 23.
