“We’re getting to a critical point to continue to maintain this system, that’s what I’m going to drive at,” Wilkens said to the commissioners. “When you maintain this system, this is one of our big economic development tools as you well know. If these roads go, economic development goes with it a little bit; there’s no doubt about it.”
RELATED: West Chester issuing bonds for huge interchange project meant to break bottlenecks
He told the Journal-News the state legislature had authorized the rate hike, which would generate an additional $1.8 million, money that would allow him to get the resurfacing program on track. The county resurfaces roads it’s responsible for every 27 years, but Wilkens said the optimal street resurfacing cycle is every 17 years.
“That would sustain our paving program, as long as inflation doesn’t do us in,” Wilkens said. “That would sustain us and get us closer to our 17-year cycle.”
Wilkens didn’t formally ask the commissioners for permission to levy a rate hike. All three commissioners told the Journal-News they would have to wait and see what comes of the wrangling going on in Columbus over a proposed gas tax hike. Commissioner Don Dixon said he hasn’t made up his mind but is leaning against any county-authorized taxes, which is what the plate increase would be. The county hasn’t raised general fund taxes since 2007.
He also said what needs to happen is the federal legislators must keep their promises to pass legislation that fixes the entire highway system in this country. He said if they did that then “Band-Aid” fixes like this would be unnecessary.
“I understand the need and I’m all for fixing it, but it should be fixed fairly and not try and fix it (roads) on the back of people in this area that other people use …,” Dixon said. “It’s just another tax. I understand and I haven’t made up my mind if I will or I won’t support it, but I can tell you it doesn’t solve the problem and just puts another tax on our residents.”
Wilkens said he “isn’t 100 percent sure” he’ll ask the commissioners for the increase but he likely will, regardless of the proposed fuel hike.
“This is a chance to control our own destiny,” he said. “I don’t know what’s going to happen in Columbus.”
Commissioner T.C. Rogers also said he loathes to raise taxes since the commissioners have committed to keeping taxes low, but he hasn’t made up his mind.
“He has been able to fund $38 million of projects this year,” Rogers said, noting ongoing transportation funding talks in Columbus. “I want to see what monies are involved there and then we’ll make a decision on it. But I don’t think we have to make a decision anytime soon on it.”
Commissioner Cindy Carpenter is looking to the north as well.
“I guess we’ll have to wait and see what happens in the transportation budget bill and then take a look at what we need,” she said.
Aside from paving, Wilkens has several large projects on his to-do list, the biggest is the $17 million diverging diamond interchange at Union Centre Boulevard in West Chester Twp. The last project estimate was $14 million a few weeks ago when township trustees agreed to sell bonds to pay for it. That project is funded by a tax increment financing (TIF) money that will repay the bonds.
MORE: Major Tylersville Road project back on track after county spends $2.6M to acquire property
Wilkens said their estimates increased $3 million, but it is anyone’s guess how much the final price will be. Those bids are due later this month.
Phase two of the Tylersville Road widening project — from Interstate 75 to Cox Road — is off Wilkens’ project list for now. The project estimate was around $2 million and the bids came in a little more than $3 million. He said the project would be re-bid later this fall.
The project stalled last year as officials worked to acquire land from the commercial property owners. Wendy’s frontage and entrance way was the last parcel the Butler County engineer’s office needed to acquire. It cost almost $2.6 million to purchase right-of-way from businesses on that side of Tylersville Road.
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