Kokomo Mayor Tyler Moore final week gave an replace on varied metropolis points, together with future infrastructure initiatives, American Rescue Plan cash expenditures and extra at a enterprise luncheon placed on by the Higher Kokomo Chamber of Commerce.
Listed here are the highlights:
Infrastructure
Town tackled three main infrastructure initiatives this 12 months: the Middle Street, Markland Avenue and Park Avenue reconstructions, the latter of which remains to be ongoing.
Moore mentioned town has a handful of main infrastructure initiatives deliberate for 2023-24. They embody:
- Street reconstruction of East Hoffer Avenue between Indiana 931 and South Locke Avenue. Moore didn’t go into particulars in regards to the challenge however did say the plan was to make that stretch of highway extra “consumer pleasant.”
- Reconstruct the intersection of West Jefferson Avenue and North Washington Avenue to re-install devoted left flip lanes on West Jefferson Avenue. Devoted left activates Jefferson used to exist, however they have been eliminated as a result of earlier metropolis administration’s concentrate on highway diets to decelerate autos and encourage extra and safer pedestrian visitors. The results of that change has been extra on-street parking areas however extra backups on Jefferson Avenue as automobiles now have to attend behind left-turning autos. Moore mentioned town has obtained “plenty of calls” of backups on the intersection.
- Widen South Webster Avenue south of West Alto Street by narrowing the islands and putting in curbs on the islands. Moore mentioned this alteration, too, was the results of “plenty of suggestions, feedback and issues” from the neighborhood.
American Rescue Plan
Town obtained greater than $19 million as a part of the American Rescue Plan. To date, Moore mentioned, town has spent or allotted virtually $11 million of that, together with $1,056,314 to high quality of life initiatives, $1,197,636 to high quality of place initiatives and $8,734,543 to infrastructure.
Expenditures have included donating cash to Ivy Tech Kokomo’s 4.0 Lab, giving a grant to Household Service Affiliation’s Exhausting-to-Dwelling program, putting in overhead netting at Championship Park, upgrading the restrooms at Highland Park to allow them to be open yearlong, to construct a pump monitor and set up restrooms at Northwest Park in what’s now the press field and turning what was once a gravel lot close to Kokomo Municipal Stadium right into a concrete parking zone.
Town has additionally allotted ARP cash to complete highway reconstruction initiatives on Middle Street and Markland Avenue. Moore mentioned inflation “has kicked us within the tooth just a few instances” so cash was wanted to complete these initiatives. ARP cash may also be going to a storm sewer enchancment challenge on East Boulevard Avenue close to the Kokomo Casting Plant to assist mitigate flooding there throughout heavy rainfall.
Fiscal well being
Even with inflation, bolstering staffing on the fireplace and police departments and the financial uncertainty attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic, town of Kokomo nonetheless has a wholesome money steadiness.
Town initiatives it can finish 2022 with roughly $26 million as a money steadiness. Town’s year-end money steadiness has remained steady within the current years, hovering round $20 million.
“We’re remaining fiscally accountable to construct up these money balances we have to help when obligatory and permit us to offer a excessive stage of presidency companies everybody expects and deserves,” Moore mentioned.
