HUMBOLDT — The poor condition of Humboldt’s streets has prompted its city council to request voters approve a one-half cent sales tax over the next 15 years.
An estimated $1.2 million in equipment, materials and labor is needed to repair approximately 300 city blocks, Humboldt City Council members learned at their meeting Monday night.
The city budgets $40,000 for street repair and maintenance, derived from $50,000 in fuel tax money. In years past, that tax brought in closer to $80,000 a year, said Larry Tucker, Humboldt city manager.
A one-half cent sales tax would bring in about $85,000-$90,000 a year, Tucker said.
Dan Julich, who serves on the street committee that has studied the issue extensively over the past six months, said a sales tax would “be spread among everyone the most fairly, as well as reap the benefits of others who shop here, just as we do in Chanute and Iola.”
Julich said he and Mark Slater of the committee also think the city should purchase certain street equipment needed to repair Humboldt streets, “so we can do the work ourselves, when we want to.” That equipment is figured in the $1.2 million.
Julich said he figures it will take 10 years to completely tear up and rebuild about 300 blocks of Humboldt. The base and the overlay need replacing, some of the streets need widening, and many curbs and gutters need replacing.
Over the past five years attention has been paid to the arterial and high-volume streets including Bridge, 8th, and Central, but otherwise, the streets have been neglected, Tucker said.
Tucker said the city could get a 15-year loan at 3.05 percent interest from the Kansas Department of Transportation.
Repayment does not begin until the third year, allowing the city to use the first two years of the additional sales tax as start-up money including purchase of needed equipment.
Julich said he favored a mail-in ballot to register voters’ opinions.
Fred Works, city attorney, said he would draft a resolution to ask for the vote, which could come as early as next fall.
Predicting public backlash to the increased sales tax, council woman Sunny Shreeve said, “This new sales tax is never going to add up to the repairs needed on my car caused by the potholes in this town.”
Julich also asked council members to “de-frost” the hiring freeze of city employees by one position in order to adequately staff the street department if the sales tax referendum passes. That would enlarge the street crew to three positions.
“A DEATH TRAP,” is how Mayor Nobby Davis described the city’s primary utility tool truck. Davis said a recent experience in the 1995 model was harrowing. “It should be parked.”
Council approved spending “up to” $24,500 on a suitable vehicle. Tucker said he felt comfortable spending $20,000 on the purchase.
