HOWELL — The Township Council has introduced a bond ordinance that will, if adopted, provide for a series of capital improvements in the municipality.
According to the ordinance, the council will appropriate a total of $6.29 million and issue $5.95 million in bonds to pay for the work. The council will provide a down payment of $345,268 as the balance of the costs.
The ordinance provides for the replacement of three SUV-type township vehicles, with a total appropriation and estimated cost of $84,000. The purchase of a new ambulance is estimated to cost $160,000.
The Police Department will receive vehicle laptop computer replacements, advance authentication radio equipment, master logging recorder replacement, a fingerprint interface program, a private network for vehicles, paging interface, dispatch chairs, dispatch storage lockers, closed circuit television system replacement, a radio communication project and replacement holsters. The total estimated cost of the police upgrades is $1.02 million.
The fire bureau is in line to receive a fire extinguisher training system at an estimated cost of $16,000.
The ordinance seeks the acquisition of equipment for the Department of Public Works, including a heavy-duty truck, a road sweeper, a roadside mower with a longreach arm, a front-end loader, a hot-box recycler, an automobile diagnostic scanner, and a plotter and cutter sign machine. The total appropriation and estimated cost for this equipment is $1.22 million.
Various municipal buildings are expected to receive improvements that include heating, ventilation and air conditioning controls, television upgrades, automatic doors, upgrades on doors and locks, the stabilization of the former municipal building, carpet replacement and improvements to the senior center. The total appropriation and estimated cost for this work is $194,200.
The ordinance provides for the acquisition of new furniture at a cost of $11,000.
Finally, the ordinance is seeking to complete engineering projects, including the Blake Drive drainage project and various road, curb, intersection and sidewalk improvements. The appropriation for this work is $3.58 million.
A public hearing on the bonding ordinance is scheduled for July 15. The council may vote to adopt the ordinance following the public hearing.
— Taylor M. Lier