County funds short of city Capitol Avenue request

The sidewalks along several blocks of the north side of Capitol Avenue are in need of replacement. Tree roots have pushed up the concrete sections, creating an uneven, unsafe surface.
The sidewalks along several blocks of the north side of Capitol Avenue are in need of replacement. Tree roots have pushed up the concrete sections, creating an uneven, unsafe surface.

The Cole County Commission on Tuesday approved a maximum contribution of $600,000 in half-cent capital improvement sales tax money for improvements along Capitol Avenue - less than Jefferson City officials had asked the county to chip in for the work.

The city asked the county to contribute $734,641.

Aplex Inc. of Linn was the lowest bidder for the project. The final $1,469,282 cost to be shared by the city and county is 2.7 percent under the engineers' estimate.

The plan calls for bike lanes, passing lanes and two-lane vehicle traffic, all falling in the same street layout.

Work on the much anticipated project is scheduled to begin this spring - but only if all the funding is in place.

In 2012, county commissioners endorsed a cooperative project with Jefferson City to make improvements along Capitol Avenue from Adams to Lafayette streets.

City officials said the work in the three-block corridor would include new and repaired sidewalks, curb and gutter work, new street lighting and pedestrian improvements at intersections.

The hope is a refurbished link between the downtown area and the historic Missouri State Penitentiary (MSP) would spur redevelopment along the corridor.

At Tuesday's commission meeting, Eastern District Commissioner Jeff Hoelscher and Western District Commissioner Kris Scheperle said the costs for items other than those tied to the street construction was what made them balk at giving the originally requested amount.

"There's $575,000 in here for electrical work," Scheperle said. "I think that may be overkill."

"The funds we give are for roads, not lighting and benches," Hoelscher added.

The two commissioners agreed they liked the design of the project and appreciated that it considered input from residents.

A request for approval has already been introduced to the City Council with the belief the County Commission would follow suit so a contract could be awarded in April and work start in May, possibly finishing by October. The Council could take a final vote on whether to move ahead with the work at its meeting Monday night.

The county and city agreed in 2012 to pay $300,000 each, with the money to come from half-cent sales tax funds.

Under the current plan, the city would pay $819,208, partially funded by the last half-cent sales tax fund for MSP redevelopment. There's also $84,567 in transit funding for things like benches at bus stops as well as bike/pedestrian enhancements in the area.

Commissioners said Tuesday they were concerned rising costs for the work on Capitol Avenue would take money away from other promised projects, such as a retaining wall and sidewalk improvements on East High Street.