PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city is looking to spend some $23.5 million on capital projects next year.

 

Mayor Linda Tyer has submitted a capital budget of $9.1 million for city projects and $14.4 million for water and sewer. The debt incurred from the $9.1 million would be paid for through the city's annual budget while the $14.4 million would come from enterprise accounts. A public hearing is scheduled for the City Council meeting on Tuesday.

 

The largest project is $8.4 million to replace primary pumps at the wastewater treatment plant. The project was identified in 2007 because the force main, constructed in 1963, is at risk of failure, according to the capital plan. 

 

"The force main is constructed of pre-stressed concrete cylinder pipe (PCCP) which is susceptible to sulfide corrosion. Also recent collapses of PCCP at other installations in the country have raised concerns over the integrity of the reinforcement of this pipe," reads the project description. "A complicating factor is that the force main is partially inaccessible due to its location beneath the existing digester building. As such repair of a leak or collapse in the force main would be difficult to impossible."

 

The description warns that "failure of the force main is potentially catastrophic as it would effectively disable" the plant. 

 

Other enterprise expenses include water main improvements on West Housatonic Street, improvements to the dam at the Upper Sackett Reservoir, new water tank and main on West Street near Berkshire Community College, infiltration rehabilitation in the sewer system, siphon repairs to the sewer system, and a one-ton utility truck with a plow.

 

The enterprise accounts are funded through the water and sewer fees collected from users. 

 

As for capital projects funded out of the city's budget, the largest project is $3 million to convert all 5,236 street lights to LEDs and another $2.5 million for street improvements, which includes a design of another streetscape project.

 

The vast majority (80 percent) of spending is anticipated in the Department of Public Services, which has responsibility for a wide range of expensive capital assets, such as roadways, sidewalks, streetlights, parks, vehicles, and equipment," reads the overview.

 

The plan says through utility rebates and saving in energy costs, the $3 million would be paid back within nine years. The Public Service Department will also be replacing a number of vehicles.

 

The plan does include $150,000 for the Capitol Theatre marquee, which the City Council had asked the mayor to include in the plan. The plan also includes the development of a new master plan at the airport for $300,000.

 

"It is outdated, airport tenants are looking to erect a new hangar and MassDOT would like to replace the terminal. Both projects require an updated master plan for location purposes. The most recent plan was completed in 2001. The FAA requires updates every 5 years. This project had been put on hold while the expansion project was completed. This project will be more comprehensive than a typical update since the airport facility has been significantly altered with the expansion project," the capital plan reads.

 

The plan calls for $80,000 to repair athletic courts at schools and parks; $80,000 to construct bathrooms at Durant Park; $130,000 to replace the rooftop ventilation units at both Conte and Morningside Schools; $125,000 to replace carpeting at Morningside School; $175,000 for a match to a grant to develop the Westside Riverway Park.

 

"Installation of the park walkways and other features follows the soil remediation and site preparation which shall conclude in early 2017," the plan reads about the Westside Riverway project.

 

The plan includes the third and final year of replacing turnout gear for firefighters at a cost of $70,000 and upgrade the disease exhaust system at all five fire stations at a cost of $35,000.

 

In the Police Department, the plan calls for a $200,000 project to replace all of the radios and $175,000 for replacement cruisers. The plan also calls for the replacement of tasers, computers, ballistic vests, and support vehicles.

 

The city is looking to spend $110,000 on new voting machines. The current machines will not longer be supported by the manufacturer in a few years and the parts are already no longer available.

 

The capital plan is slightly higher than last year on the general fund side. Last year the city authorized $8.3 million for borrowing for non-enterprise fund projects. 

 

"The city plans to fund the majority of the FY2018 capital projects using general fund debt. Approximately 4% of the $9 million will be paid with current dollars and 8 percent with other sources including for example grants, dedicated revenue funds, and bond premiums," reads the plan. 

 

The big difference is in the enterprise funds. Last year the city authorized $3.5 million on the sewer system, significantly lower than the $14.4 million eyed for enterprise accounts this year.