Aldermen voted 5-3 during a recent Committee of the Whole meeting to approve $20.5 million in improvements for city streets, sewers, sidewalks and alleys in need of repairs over the next three years.
During the meeting this week, the aldermen deadlocked in a 4-t4 vote and failed to pass a measure that would have included an additional $14.6 million for less urgent sewer repairs over that period.
With that impasse, Mayor Paul Jung said he would vote in a full City Council meeting Sept. 15 to break the tie in favor of the additional improvements, which he said could be done at a lower price during street reconstruction.
Of the $2 million allocated to the most critical sewer reconstruction, residents in the area of Perry Street between Graceland Avenue and River Road, and Oakwood Avenue between Center and Lee Streets, could expect to see significant decreases in flooding problems, he said.
Citywide reductions in flooding could not be expected from the infrastructure plan, officials said.
Funding proposals for the less critical sewer repairs included an increase in the sewer user charge that could increase water bills by 25 percent for many customers.