Public Works Director Gary LaForge presented pros and cons of hiring an in-house engineering tech to the Village board Tuesday.
Mayor Patrick Brown and LaForge have identified an in-house consultant to be an asset to the Village as the position would help with the workload, but also save the Village money. The Village spent an average of $150,000 on engineering consultants for projects over the years. Village staff predicts, the total consulting costs could reach $250,000 next year.
While the Village would still need to seek engineering consultants for large projects, LaForge believes an engineering tech under his supervision could take over inspections and small MFT projects.
LaForge also asked the board to consider phase two of the dark fiber connectivity which the Mahomet-Seymour School District took advanage of this year. The school district increased their bandwidth from 20-megs to 250-megs within the schools by tapping into the ICN Backbone network of dark fiber along I-74. This allowed for wireless connectivity at all schools.
The proposed phase two would take the existing fiber from the schools down Main Street, into the Eastwood Shopping Center over to the east side of the Village at I-74 and Prairieview Rd.
It will cost the Village $200,000 to hit 41 of the existing 60 connections. LaForge asked the board to consider floating the initial cost of the project, keeping in mind businesses will pay a one-time $10,975 fee to connect to the service.
LaForge cited the trouble Champaign had with the initial activation of the dark fiber connection. Businesses that paid into the service had to wait six to nine months before they received service.
If the Village board chooses to front the costs associated with the dark fiber activation, they will be reimbursed when the local businesses buy into the product. On top of the fee, businesses will pay a minimal monthly or annual fee for maintenance to the service.
The Mahomet-Seymour School District will also be reimbursed $72,000 of the $135,000 they spent during phase one.
As fall winds down, LaForge also discussed the success of the leaf collection program, although he cited there could be some adjustments made in future years.
With the addition of a new leaf vacuum, the Village has seen saving of $500/truckload to $300/truckload. LaForge said the addition of a second vacuum will save the Village more money, while also providing faster service to the community.
Leaf collection costs the Village $67,000 annually.
With the first snow falling around Nov. 11, leaf collection times and days were pushed back with the final date falling into the week of Thanksgiving this year. Sporadic and inconsistent leaf fall over the years, has the Village looking into ways to make the leaf collection process and procedures easier for Mahomet residents.
