Janesville City Council cuts back on borrowing plan
JANESVILLE — The Janesville City Council on Monday did what it has not done in recent memory: It took a big chunk out of suggested borrowing.
The council, led by members Matt Kealy and DuWayne Severson, cut $1.72 million from a total $16.97 million proposed for 2012, leaving total borrowing at $15.250 million.
Council members Deb-Dongarra Adams and Jim Farrell concurred with many of the cuts, while Russ Steeber and Liebert mostly voted against them. Council President Kathy Voskuil was absent.
The administration also had pared the note because of favorable project bids, with new garbage carts now costing $2.48 million instead of $3.15 million and a sanitary sewer lining contract now at $1 million rather than $1.175.
In other news, the council:
-- Delayed borrowing half of the $1.2 million for a new fire department. Steeber made an impassioned plea for public safety. Kealy and Severson said they weren't against buying the equipment but rather for borrowing the money before it was needed.
Assistant City Manager Jay Winzenz said administration wanted to spread borrowing across several years for large projects, especially with several large projects looming in the next couple of years.
-- Delayed $100,000 to design an animal holding facility, again until it was needed. The vote was 6-0.
-- Cut $100,000 from a fund to buy blighted properties, leaving $125,000. Liebert and Farrell voted "no."
-- Cut $70,000 from $250,000 set aside for information technology projects, including one to update the fire department's payroll system. Severson said money set aside for this function can sometimes get "a little inflated," and Farrell wondered if the city could save money by outsourcing its payroll. Liebert and Steeber voted "no."
-- Cut $50,000 from $200,000 for a multipurpose room at the ice arena. Kealy said the city already has borrowed more than $2 million for renovations there. Liebert voted "no."
-- Severson suggested cutting $110,000 to improve parking at the Youth Sports Complex. That motion failed, with Kealy and Severson voting in support.
Oct 11, 2012 at 3:27 p.m.
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Wow, there is a genoius idea eh?
I still thinkis is very fishy about the cans "being delayed" until Oct and then Oct-Dec isn't a good time because it might snow. They said an issue in making them at the factory.
This "flipping houses" idea is stupid if you ask me. The market is terrible already and you're going to put $1000'sss in a house and try to break even and sell a $150k house in 4th ward. Have you guys been watching Love it or list it toooo much. They always take the value and add what they spent and then ADD SOME more on top of that and say your home will now sell for this. The ice arena wants MORE money N. O.
Oct 10, 2012 at 10:07 a.m.
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I really appreciate that there seem to be members on the city council that are approaching projects with a sense of responsibility in the way they spend tax payer dollars. I also am shocked to see that there is forethought being put into spending and projects. This is exactly what we need on the city council.
Oct 9, 2012 at 9:02 p.m.
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Mr. Liebert's first name is Sam. He ran for the Assembly from the 44th in the primary this year as a Democrat and lost, garnering about 700 votes to the winner's 4000. He jumped on the union bandwagon during the Act 10 tantrum, adding his voice to the cacophony of protest against the Governor last year. I guess he thought he could parlay that into a job at the Capitol. That didn't work so well. Maybe he thinks that voting to tax and spend to the max is now the way to get that job or another like it sometime in the near future. Yep, Mr. Liebert is busy forging a name for himself here in Janesville.
Oct 9, 2012 at 8:56 p.m.
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It's a he. Council member Sam Liebert.
Oct 9, 2012 at 6:29 p.m.
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Nowhere in the article is Liebert's first name mentioned. But s/he is making a name for himself/herself - voting 'no' on most cost cuts makes her/him a big spender - right when big spending has become a big no-no.
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