The Duncan Banner

Local News

September 30, 2012

Mayor supports street proposal, some say time needed for review

Mike Smith The Duncan Banner

DUNCAN — Mayor Gene Brown supports a proposed $9 million bond project to fix many of Duncan’s streets, a plan expected to come before the Duncan City Council for at least discussion sometime in October.

The Duncan Chamber of Commerce is interested in supporting the city’s proposal but has not formally weighed in on it, while the president of the Duncan Area Association of Realtors said the group will look closely at the plan.

Lyle Roggow, president of the Duncan Area Economic Development Foundation, said everyone recognizes the need for street improvements, but he had not seen the proposal and could not offer input now.

The city administration wants to repair and renovate more than 250 sections of streets throughout Duncan and fund it with a $9 million general obligation bond that property owners would pay for if approved by voters.

City officials say the project would cover some of Duncan’s worst streets and is long overdue.

The project would include a handful of complete street reconstructions, but most of the work would entail resurfacing or patching and sealing.

The city council would have to approve a resolution allowing the proposed bond to be voted on, perhaps in a special election in February.

If approved by a simple majority of voters then, the bond could be issued next June and work on the three-year project could begin.

Brown, who is mayor and the president of the city council, said he expected the proposal to at least be discussed at the council’s next meeting. He said he is very supportive of the plan.

“What we are trying to do is start this program and educate the public as to what we need to do and how to do it.” Brown said. “The longer we wait the more it will cost and the longer we wait the more deterioration of our streets.”

Chris Deal, president of the Duncan Chamber of Commerce, said some of its members were given a presentation of the proposal by Scott Vaughn, Duncan’s director of public works, and were asked for feedback.

He said the chamber is “very much interested in supporting the city,” but the group’s board has not taken a formal position on the current proposal.

“They have support in that (street improvements) but we’re looking over the proposal to see if we might offer suggestions on putting it together and moving it forward in the community,” Deal said.

The proposal would be funded by increasing property taxes, not increasing sales taxes.

Deal said increasing sales taxes could put Duncan’s retailers at a disadvantage with neighboring competitors, and there would be other concerns had the city proposed a sales tax increase.

“The problem with sales taxes is you don’t get a good (interest) rate on bond issues,” he said.

That’s because sales tax collections are inconsistent, he said, while property taxes are more stable.

Lynn Parr, president of the Duncan Area Association of Realtors, said he had not yet discussed the proposal with others in the 64-member group. But he offered some general thoughts.

 “As realtors we recognize the need for streets and street repairs and understand that someone has to pay for it,” Parr said. “I’m not sure what is the best methodology, so we are going to have to look at that very close.”

Parr said the proposal will affect property owners, including those who rent property. Property tax increases add up, he said, and could have a significant impact on those who own multiple rent units.

Duncan City Manager Jim Frieda said he has sent the council members information on the proposal, and expects it to be formally presented sometime in October. He said the city also plans to make presentations to a couple of other civic organizations.

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