Last Monday, Mason’s City Commission held its first workshop on the City’s infrastructure needs and options for financing them.
Mayor Robert Rayburn, and Commissioners Michael Keller and William Beaty, along with City Administrator Amanda Hill were present for the workshop, as well as City Secretary Pattie Allen and Finance Officer Donna Langehenning.
A small number of citizens attended, in contrast to the almost standing room only crowd at the January 21 meeting where many citizens expressed concern about the City potentially taking on a large loan to finance infrastructure projects.
Administrator Hill prepared a detailed presentation on needs and financing options, which identified the two most pressing needs in the City as the water system and equipment. The entire Langehennig said they were not provided with information to track spending, they water system needs, as determined by contracted studies in 2021 and 2023, would cost $18,000,000, a sum the City “can’t afford the debt service on,” she said.
Hill then presented a gradual approach to repairing the water lines on the five streets previously identified as those in the worst shape, and needing repairs most often, and which the City would be able to repair without outside help. They are: 1) Wren St.; 2) Mulberry St., 3) Fir St., 4) Elm St., and 5) Nueces St. Other streets may be just as needy but would require the services of engineers and outside contractors, she said.
Commissioner Keller asked if any statistical analysis had been done on how much money the City was spending on the continual repairs needed on the water system, or if the City could assign project codes to track spending. While Secretary Allen and Financial Officer Langehennig said they were not provided with information to track spending, they estimated that the water lines on Wren Street alone had been repaired up to 20 times in the past five years.
“We have identified that we need a better tracking system for repairs,” said Mayor Rayburn.
Moving on to equipment needs, Administrator Hill said, “The City has a long history of kicking the can down the road” where equipment purchases are concerned. She pointed out immediate needs at the City landfill, including a required water truck, and cleats for the trash compactor which need to be replaced in order for the waste to be compacted properly. “The landfill won’t last long if it is not compacted better,” she said.
The City is also in “desperate need” of dump trucks, she said, as the City’s current dump truck is a 1991 model purchased from the County. A 1977 tractor used for mowing “does not work,” Hill said. The cost for a new tractor and batwing is approximately $100,000, she said. A second mini excavator is also needed, she said. The facilities shop and animal control building are in need of repairs as well, she said.
In her detailed presentation, which citizens can access on the City website, Ad-ministrator Hill said, “There are endless scenarios on what projects to tackle now and how to pay for them.” At the workshop, Hill presented three possible options, ranging from a cost of $1.6 million to repair the five identified streets, build a new maintenance shop, repair the animal shelter and purchase several equipment items: two dump trucks, trash compactor feet, a water truck, two to three pickups, a tractor and batwing, plus miscellaneous tools, lumber and paint.
A second option would reduce street repairs to only Wren and Mulberry Streets, eliminate the Digger Derrick, one pickup and the mini excavator for a cost of $910,000.
The third option, for a cost of $600,000, would pay for only equipment: two dump trucks, trash compactor feet, a water truck, two to three pickups, a tractor and batwing, and miscellaneous tools, lumber and paint.
“Financing options for infrastructure and equipment include a Tax Certificate or Certificate of Obligation. A Certificate of Obligation can be paid using Ad Valorem Tax (Property tax revenue) or through a water rate increase or fee, while the Tax Certificate can only be paid with Ad Valorem Tax,” Hill explains in her presentation.
The least expensive $600,000 option would be financed with a water bill increase only, Hill said, which appealed to several citizens attending the workshop.
Mayor Rayburn opened the meeting by reminding the audience this was only the first workshop, and some of the issues they were discussing “are over 100 years old.”
“Everything is under consideration,” Mayor Rayburn said.
