| Rover passengers to get shelter at hub |
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By: CHRISTIAN GRANTHAM, Post Contributor
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Posted: Friday, January 14, 2011 10:59 am
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Passengers of Murfreesboro's bus system will have more protection from the elements at the Rover Transit Center at the northeast corner of Walnut and Burton.
City council members approved spending $8,800 to build a shelter for waiting passengers. The city's share is only ten percent with 90 percent of the funds coming from state and federal grants.
Murfreesboro's assistant transportation director Nellie Patton told the council the past week's snow highlights the need to address safety and comfort of riders. Wellspring Builder Inc. was chosen from three bids to complete the project. Riders have been waiting at the central hub in th elements for trips every hour and half hour.
The city council also voted to lower sewer and water hookup fees for builders in hopes of spurring more economic development. Funds generated from sewer and water permit fees are used by the city as working capital preventing the city from borrowing money for anything from projects to salaries.
"We want to reduce these fees back to the 2006 level, which is a $1000 deduction, to help stimulate the economy for single family unit building," Water and Sewer Department Director Joe Kirchner said.
City Manager Rob Lyons explained how the measure would keep Murfreesboro inline with average charges by other comparable cities and argued the temporary reduction could help the local economy.
"We've tried to hold the line to facilitate growth. We've funded over $40 million of capital projects using these connection fees," Lyons told the council. "We're looking for what can we do to put ourselves in the position to grow and prosper as a community."
Vice Mayor Chris Bratcher and Councilmember Shane McFarland both disclosed conflicts of interest with McFarland abstaining from the vote. Councilmember Toby Gilley amended the proposal to limit the reduction to 12 months instead of 18 months after a discussion on projected budgets based on the higher permit fees.
"To have the same revenue under the reduced fee would require another 152 taps at the lower rate," Kerchner said. "For water it would require about 17. We have $6 million available for future projects."
The city also approved an interest free $1 million loan from the state to improve energy efficiency in city schools. City schools Finance Director Gary Anderson said a condition of the loan is that the efficiencies will pay for the loan over ten years. The school system plans to upgrade decades old HVAC systems and lighting that end up costing tax payers more over time. |
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