CIB decision paves way for Centerfield road fixes
Centerfield gets $1.3 million grant and loan; Mayfield gets $15,000 for general plan updates
Robert Stevens
Managing editor
2-23-2017
SALT LAKE CITY—The Utah Permanent Community Impact Board (CIB) has awarded two Gunnison Valley municipalities funding for significant city projects.
At a meeting of the CIB on Feb.2, Centerfield City was awarded $1.31 million for street improvements. At the same meeting, Mayfield was approved for $15,000 to update the town’s general plan.
“Funding for essential projects like these [Centerfield’s ] street improvements shows how important the work of the Community Impact Board is,” said CIB member and Sevier County Commissioner Garth Ogden.
Centerfield’s project plan includes chip sealing 11.85 miles of city streets, and pulverizing, reshaping and double chip sealing 3.8 miles.
The city had been doing a yearly small-scale chip sealing on the city streets that were in the worst shape, but because it did not have funding to do a complete job, Centerfield leaders say their roads are severely deteriorated and need major resurfacing.
“Centerfield has had poor roads for as long as I can remember and I have been here for 30 years,” Centerfield Mayor Tom Sorensen said. “We have had a goal to try and get some money to replace them and bring the roads back to where they needed to be.”
Sorensen said the city had applied for CIB funding, and had been turned down twice, but this year was their year.
“We hope to get started just as soon as we get some warm weather,” he said. “We are going to accept bids within the next month.
According to the CIB application, Centerfield requested a grant of $975,000 and a $335,000 low-interest loan. The city estimated the total project cost at $1,475,000.
The CIB approved funding for $1.31 million but with a 50-50 grant-loan ratio, instead of the majority of the funding coming as a grant. The CIB will grant Centerfield $655,000 and loan $655,000 at a low interest rate.
To accomplish the project, the Centerfield will contribute $165,000 from the city budget to make up the difference between CIB funding and total project cost.
Sorensen says he hopes the project will be complete by the end of the summer.
Mayfield’s $15,000 grant was approved so the town could update its general plan. The town made its funding request to the CIB with a matching $15,000 of its own in order to meet the project cost of $30,000.
Mayfield Mayor John Christensen says the town leadership wants to update the general plan to ensure the town’s growth happens in a way the citizens want. The update will address zoning issues, such as where businesses can be, among other topics, Christensen says.
