I again had the pleasure of attending the Town of Purcellville's Infrastructure meeting April 23 at the Town Mahal. On the agenda was approval for additional funds needed for the N. 21st Street Sidewalk Project Change Order. Although I have tried to piece this project together I thought it may be helpful to have some background before I started to dig in to the entire three phases.
When asked by Council member Wiley if there were any questions from the committee or public audience, I did question the percentage that citizens will pay for the beautification project. Armed with a base of $2.3 million in Federal funding so far, I asked Town Manager, Rob Lohr if there would be additional funding sought for this project. Mr. Lohr responded that there would be an additional $300K this year and Town Mayor, Bob Lazaro indicated that these projects, known as the Downtown Enhancement, would only cost taxpayers 10%. I found that difficult to believe. And unless the revised documents are hidden somewhere, what I looked at in the project binder indicated, 20%, 22% and 25% respectively for the applications of 2006-2007, 2007-2008, and 2008-2009. I am guessing that the Mayor has not been updated on the status.
What this means to us taxpayers of Purcellville is that the Town needs to match at least 22% of the total project to make 21st and 23rd Streets pretty. Of course, that doesn't include any modifications/change orders that will be added to the taxpayers' share. Business and land owners in this district will benefit from the project. Just last night the Town Council voted to approve another $118 188.52 in a change order for this project to add additional asphalt and waterline additions.
The Town is in the hole with debt right now. But like a kid with their first credit card, they are trying to see how far they can go before they're caught overspending. Call it what you may, but the Downtown Enhancement Project aka 21st Street Project aka Purcellville Downtown Streetscape aka Phase 1A, Phase 1B, Phase 2, Phase 3 will be a whopping $1 million to the taxpayers for a town population of 7,700.
All of this in the name of banners, hanging baskets and brick pavers, unless this is somehow connected to the Tourism Zone that Council approved in last night meeting.
