Some residents will face thousands of dollars in new taxes as the city council approved a road reconstruction project in the Westwood area on Monday night, amid resistance from locals and council members.

The council approved the project in a 6-3 vote, with Mayor Adam Stockford, Councilman Ray Briner, and Councilwoman Cindy Pratt in opposition. 

The project spans much of Ward 3, encompassing Westwood Drive, Sumac Drive, Picardy Place, Azalea Court, Corona Circle, Scenic Drive, and Cold Springs Circle, in addition to Westwood Street from Cold Springs Circle to Lewis Street and Highland and Glendale Avenues from Westwood Street to Bacon Street. 

Residents packed into city hall to voice support and opposition of the special assessment district, which would help fund the project, and will be aided by bond sales. The $6.5 million reconstruction project will ultimately cost residents in the Westwood area up to $5,000 over 10 years for each parcel of land owned. 

Councilman Bruce Sharp compared the current state of the roads to that of a third-world country. Several residents said the roads’ poor design and maintenance had caused frequent flooding and expensive repairs. 

“Within 200 yards of our home, there have been five properties that had to spend thousands upon thousands of dollars to correct surface level flooding that got into our basements,” Westwood resident Ed Swanson said. “In our case, it cost us $18,000 out of our pocket.”

Tom Stiverson, another Ward 3 resident, said he has lived in the area for 47 years and watched the road crumble.

“I’ve seen Sumac Drive deteriorate down to nothing,” Stiverson said. “Right now, we would be better off with a dirt road. Then, if it rained, it would at least be smooth.”

Assistant Professor of History Jason Gehrke said the roads pose a safety hazard to children.

“I have five children. The first day we moved into the house we bought, my daughter wiped out on her bike,” Gehrke said. “We also drive through a crater every day to work.”

The $6.5 million project includes complete road reconstruction, sewer, storm drain, and utility work, according to City Engineer Kristin Bauer. While the special assessment district will cover about $420,000 of the project’s total cost, City Manager David Mackie said the city would cover the remaining $6.5 million by issuing bonds.

The bond issuance resolution to authorize the city to sell bonds to fund the $6.5 million road reconstruction project passed 8-1, with Stockford in opposition. 

City Clerk Katy Price said she received 18 letters opposing the special assessment district and five in favor. Critics of the project said the assessment is an immoral and unfair tax on a public good. 

Assistant Professor of Philosophy Ian Church said the special assessment district would put a real financial burden on his family, as he owns two and one-third lots of land.

“We are just not in a position to pay that lump sum, and the prospect of having to pay that much with 6% interest isn’t any better for us,” Church said.

Scott Wiseley said the amount of traffic in the Westwood area creates unique circumstances. 

“Come sit for a day in our neighborhood and see the amount of traffic that runs through there,” Wiseley said. “I just cannot wrap my head around why we would need to pay for all of that when we aren’t the only ones using it.”

Mackie said the city would only complete the project in stages over 20 years if the special assessment district failed.

“I understand many people are paying taxes and say ‘where do the taxes go?’” Councilman Bill Zeiser said. “But as the city manager outlined, the city’s share of the taxes is not that much, and then of that share, which is a relative pittance, 65% goes toward police and fire.”

Zeiser said he supported the special assessment district because the city exhausted all alternative means of funding the project. Ultimately, he said, he could not withhold his vote in good conscience knowing of the road conditions. 

Stockford said he voted against the district as residents said they believed they would get their streets fixed when they voted for a road improvement levy in 2021. Charging a special assessment on top of the levy, he said, would burden taxpayers more.