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Bloomington Developing Five-year Capital Improvement Plan

Michael Hill
/
WGLT

The City of Bloomington could have a final five-year capital improvement plan by the end of the year. Aldermen and city staff will work together in the coming months to finish up the proposal, which was presented in draft form during a city council work session.

This is the first time the city has put together such a plan. City Manager David Hales said economic downturn and the lack of master plans made it difficult to create a long-term budget in the past. He said Bloomington is now prepared to move forward and align with cities who use these plans.

"If you go in to some of these modern cities, you would see them having such a comprehensive master plan that is being updated each year," he said. "And now we're getting into that situation where, hopefully, later this year the council will adopt it."

Hales said the goal is to keep the city in the black when it comes to capital expenses such as streets and sidewalks, sewers, facilities and parks.

"Ultimately, the five-year plan has to be balanced," he said. "So it can't be $336 million if we don't have enough revenue to fund it. And that's, ultimately, where the council will do the heavy lifting.”

The city council will have to prioritize capital spending once plans are developed to clear up what money can be spent where. The first hour-long meeting will take place next month.

During the regular city council meeting, Aldermen voted to postpone a 10-month appointment to the Board of Police and Fire Commissioners. Geoffrey Tompkins, who left the Bloomington Liquor Commission in March, was the only applicant, but council members moved to postpone the appointment to allow up to 35 days for more people to apply for the vacancy. Applicants for the position must be Republican. The board requires two Republicans, two Democrats and one independent.

The council also approved an additional $25 thousand this year for the Route 66 Visitors Center at the McLean County Museum of History.

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