By Lucky Kidd, Ad Astra Radio
HUTCHINSON, Kan. – Circle C Paving and Construction of Goddard was awarded the City of Hutchinson’s 2023 residential street maintenance project during Tuesday’s City Council meeting.
In addition to crack and chip sealing of non-arterial streets, roughly from 17th Street to Avenue D between Plum Street and K-61, it also includes a cape sealing of most streets in the downtown area south of 2nd Avenue, plus Walnut Street north to 5th Avenue, and crack and sand sealing of the Jim Martinez Trail.
While Circle C’s bid of just over $2.25 million was above engineers’ estimates, staff indicated that with inflation factored in, it is within reason. One other bid submitted came in at over $3.6 million. The work planned for the Jim Martinez Trail is being paid for partly through a trail Improvement fund as well as through the city’s Capital Improvement Fund.
Sales Tax Extension
The Council adopted an ordinance that officially puts in place a quarter percent sales tax extension voters approved in November. That vote extended the sales tax an additional five years through March 31, 2029.
The tax provides specified funding for infrastructure, Cosmosphere, Strataca, and property tax relief. For infrastructure, primarily streets, that tax raises over $1.2 million a year.
