Infrastructure panel discusses guidelines for selecting projects
In the first series of committee meetings for an anticipated capital project sales tax, infrastructure took a full view Tuesday of how to qualify projects.
The county appointed members to five committees to make recommendations to the capital project sales tax commission, which will draft a prioritized list of projects to by funded by the 1-percent sales tax, also known as a penny tax. The list will then go on November’s ballot for a popular vote.
The five committees include economic development, infrastructure, parks and recreation, public safety and quality of life.
The county has been receiving applications since late last month.
In anticipation of the application process closing Friday, infrastructure committee chairman Charlie Herndon, who recently led the civic center committee for the county, proposed the creation of a desirability index and rating system to help vet the projects.
“We use this quite a bit in the construction business,” Herndon said. “It’s just more of a mathematical matrix to get where you want to be.”
County Manager Toby Chappell said he anticipated a relatively small number of applications for the infrastructure committee but the projects will likely come with rather significant price tags.
“You’ll see lower quantity, but you’re going to see very expensive projects,” Chappell said.
County Engineer Rossie Corwon said lower quantities will lend to a more thorough review of the projects.
The committee discussed various areas where the projects could be evaluated, such as affecting economic development or solving a chronic problem.
Others include creation of job opportunities, facilitating future growth, ability to leverage additional funds in the future, impact on other projects and any negative impact to the environment.
Cost as it relates to value and the ability for a project to be self-sustaining will also be heavily weighed.
“When we evaluate these projects how you’re going to fund that project and how you’re going to sustain it is very, very important,” Herndon said.
The committee will create a prioritized list of recommended projects for the commission to review.
Applications will be accepted until 2 p.m. Friday. Updates and amendments to the application will be accepted through 5 p.m. Feb. 16. For information, visit greenwoodsc.gov.
Contact Colin Riddle at 864-943-5650 or follow on Twitter @IJCOLINRIDDLE.
Originally Published by Index-Journal on:Jan 26, 2016
By COLIN RIDDLE criddle@indexjournal.com
Article Link: https://www.indexjournal.com/news/infrastructure-panel-discusses-guidelines-for-selecting-projects/article_ee143bf7-34d2-5355-ae26-e43ad457eb7e.html