Marshfield Common Council Approves City's Five Year Planning Document
Wednesday, May 9th, 2018 -- 9:04 AM
(WDLB) -Marshfield aldermen have signed off on the city's latest version of its five-year planning document--with original road and pool replacement funds left intact.With Alderman Pete Hendler absent, the Marshfield Common Council voted 8-to-1 last night in favor of the Capital Improvement Program that covers major projects from next year through 2023. The plan totals just over 33-million dollars, and nearly half that is earmarked for street work. For discussion purposes last month, Alderman Chris Jockheck had suggested taking 500-thousand dollars from the road budget in each of the first two years of the plan, and putting it toward the fund for a Hefko Pool replacement project. He backed away from that position last night--while still stressing the pool's importance. The 2020 portion of the C-I-P includes funding for a replacement for Hefko Pool. City Parks-and-Recreation Director Justin Casperson said the only reason the pool is not in next year's plan is because 2020 is the earliest a private and community-based fundraising effort could likely get going.
And he said there's been no formal architectural planning or design work on what a new aquatic center would look like. Right now, the C-I-P for 2020 includes two-point-eight million dollars in borrowing and three-point-four million in private donations. As for the city's current facility, Casperson said the 84-year-old Hefko Pool is showing its age. Casperson said crews are currently in the process of draining, cleaning and painting the pool--and it should be up-and-running for the summer season in roughly two weeks. City officials have noted that no formal fundraising process has yet been started. Rebecca Spiros was the only member of the Council to vote against the C-I-P as presented.
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