Progress Made with Penny Tax

Department of Public Works (DPW) director Emery Penner and his streets department were heralded throughout the Saratoga Town Council meeting October 15 for their recents efforts all over town.

According to Penner, on two projects alone — Greater Road and South River Street — his team and contractors put in 1,400 feet of 12-inch water line, chip sealed four miles of roads and mended 9,000 feet of streets with mill and overlay to the tune of $4 million of work.

“We [streets department] dug up roads and put in roads and came in 3/4 of one percent over budget,” said Penner. “We did not have to reduce the scope of work and got everything done that we wanted to. [We’re] pretty happy with the way everything went on those two projects.”

These projects are tied to those that were listed on the ballot for the 2019 One Percent Specific Purpose Sales and Use Tax (6th penny tax). Saratoga planned to replace several streets within town including Spring Avenue from River Street to 4th Street and 13th Street from Bridge Avenue to the town limits.

$2.5 million of the 6th penny tax, $700,00 of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, and $800,000 in Impact Funds (Ekola Flats and TB Flats, Gateway West) were utilized according to Penner.

Longtime Saratoga resident Sally Patton lauded the work done on the streets all over town as she is an avid walker.

“Thank you all for going after the ARPA money and fixing Spring Street,” said Patton. “That I can walk around and not fall in a hole is amazing to me. Thanks needs to go to the staff (DPW).”

Stacy Crimmins from the Never Forget Park committee also chimed in with praise for the DPW and town council.

“I want to thank town staff, department heads, streets crew, and everyone involved in Phase One construction with the curb and gutter and parking lot pad [at Never Forget Park],” said Crimmins. “Exciting to see how far we have gotten and we appreciate all of the in-kind work from the town on behalf of the community.”

According to Crimmins, Phase One of Never Forget Park is complete and more work will be forthcoming. Action around the park will include landscaping, flag poles, benches, sidewalks, sod, amenities and the parking lot.

“I (Crimmins) am pleased to announce the Land and Water Conservation Fund grant we’ve been working on for two years has been granted,” said Crimmins. “$556,400 has been received as a 50/50 match and we will hold a public meeting to get feedback and plan work days for in-kind support. Thanks to all of the town crew because it is looking really nice over there.”

The next projects around Saratoga involve large sewer rehabilitation and continued street hot spot repairs.

“The next battle (for DPW) involves replacing sewer lines under the river in two places,” said Penner. “The first sewer line will be near the First Street Bridge and the second will be from the hot pool to the Saratoga Hot Springs Resort.”

The DPW and the town council and staff will continue to work on funding and improvements in the upcoming months.

The next Saratoga Town Council meeting will be at 6 pm November 5 at Saratoga Town Hall.