Discussion regarding the economic stimulus package was in full-swing as Madison employees proposed their plans regarding the funds to the Board of Estimates Tuesday night.
According to Mayor Dave Cieslewicz, the Madison Metro proposal to obtain 18 more hybrid buses for the city is the most advanced stimulus project and will hopefully be brought in front of the Common Council by April.
Currently, the city has five hybrid busses, two of which run on the University of Wisconsin campus. Hybrid buses are approximately 30 percent more energy efficient than gasoline-fueled busses and will allow the city to continue its compliance with Environmental Protection Agency particle standards, Cieslewicz said.
Additionally, the buses are built in the United States and will therefore create more jobs for American citizens, Cieslewicz added.
According to Cieslewicz, the city of Madison is allotted $12 million to $15 million from the stimulus. But after different city projects apply for state and federal funding, he predicts a total of $20 million to $30 million will be given to the city.
UW’s research program will hopefully thrive from the stimulus as well, said Larry Nelson, city engineer for the city of Madison.
He said the city’s engineering department will ask for money to fund the second University of Wisconsin research park which would be located at Pleasant View Road from Mineral Park Road to County Highway.
“This is the second of the university research parks, and the first university research park was able to grow a large number of jobs in research-related fields with businesses that have a close connection with the UW research program,” Nelson added.
The funding of the Aberg Avenue Pedestrian Bridge is a big project Nelson is working to receive funding for. The bridge would serve as a bike bath that would be as a connection between Madison Area Technical College and the City Bike Trail.
Tom Heikkinen, Madison water utility general manager, said Water Utility is also asking for money from the State Drinking Water Loan Program to fund an array of already embedded projects including water main replacements, facility rehabs and purchasing an automatic meter system.
Because pipes are getting old and need to be replaced, water main replacements is at the top of the list for funding requests from the stimulus package, Heikkinen said. Additionally, he said water quality is very high in Wisconsin, but in some Madison wells there is an issue with manganese, causing the water to become discolored.
Water filters in these wells assure the water in Madison is clean, Heikkinen said.
Bill Clingan, community development director for Madison, said he wants stimulus money to fund a community project where previously foreclosed properties will be given to families who are homeless.
He also wants stimulus money for additional funding of Emergency Shelter Grants. The city receives about $500,000 a year. Clingan said he is hoping to receive an additional $800,000 to provide money to people who are in danger of losing their homes to foreclosure.
