Progress & Industry: Brandon budgets $32.5M for infrastructure projects in 2019

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f there’s one word to describe Brandon’s 2019 proposed budget, that word is “projects.”

The $32.5 million budget – the largest the city has seen in recent years – includes water towers, a variety of road and infrastructure projects, a space needs study for City Hall and Public Works, development of well 8 and exploration of well 9, ash tree removal/treatment, welcome signs and a variety of parks and recreation-related endeavors.

One of the major expenses planned for 2019 is $9.7 million, which is earmarked for two new water towers – one on the east side of Brandon and the other on the west side. That figure is up from the $8.8 million that was plugged for the project in the 2018 budget but was put on hold after all water-related projects were halted.

Holly Boulevard, Main Avenue and Dogwood Street will all undergo total reconstruction next year to the combined tune of $5 million. 

“This is going to be major disruption,” warns Bryan Read, city administrator.

Holly Boulevard will be shut down for an entire month (timeline yet to be determined) for reconstruction of the railroad crossing. At the same time, city infrastructure (water and sewer) will be updated.

Main Avenue and Dogwood Street will also undergo total reconstruction. Read said city staff has met with all of the affected business owners. 

“We have told them the contractor will do the work in stages and that businesses, like the lumberyard, will have access at all times (to their business),” he said.

The development of well 8, exploration of well 9 and replacement of filter media add up to $9.7 million combined. 

Residents in the Sylvan Circle area will be excited to learn 2019 will be the last year of the multi-year complete reconstruction of roads and infrastructure. The city closes out the development on Sylvan Circle and Teton Avenue for $1.9 million.

“Then we move to Rushmore and the core part of town, the area from Holly to Aspen and Sioux to Splitrock,” Read said.

Storm sewer improvements will be made along Redwood and Sioux boulevards, and the water main looping project continues from the area of Blachowske Trucking west. Combined, plus the mill and overlay of Redwood Boulevard, are tagged between $3.3 and $3.4 million.

All of the above-mentioned projects will largely be funded by bonds.

A variety of park and rec projects are on the docket for 2019 that includes replacing the surge tank and boiler at the pool and an RFP to consider the feasibility of a splash pad, along with some capital reserve funds to support the endeavor. They have contracted the services of Hunsaker Counsilman Aquatics for Life.

Stoneridge Park will receive a picnic shelter and restrooms and the tennis courts at Aspen Park will be outfitted for pickleball. 

Structural changes will be made to the fishing pier at McHardy Park. The current retaining wall, which is bowing out from winter conditions and ice from Splitrock Creek, will be removed and the landscape will be sloped.

Rubber surfacing will be placed around the playground equipment at Sunrise Park and $100,000 has been reserved for the Brandon Valley Hockey Association on the condition the all-volunteer group moves forward with financing an indoor rink, estimated at $1.7 million.

Lastly, two more “Welcome to Brandon” signs will be erected at the city’s east and south entrance points, and electronic signs – another measure to keep the public in the know - are being considered for all four of the main entrances to the city.

A smaller ticket item in the budget is a space needs study for City Hall, the police department and public works. The city last considered a new space in 2009, when the former Pace Mfg. building was up for sale.

Staff-wise, a part-time front-office position is also included in the 2019 budget. Karen Keyser began in the position Jan 28. 

The council also plugged $50,000 for the treatment and/or removal of ash trees in the city. 

In yet another response to the public’s request for better communication, $25,000 was reserved for those measures.