By Autumn Lorimer
Orem residents are ready to shovel $14.5 million into their cracked roads and pot holes.
City council members approved the multi-million dollar bond during a special meeting late last week. The bond will go towards repairing and reconstructing damaged roads and building sidewalks around the city.
The bond will increase Orem property tax 3.75 percent, or approximately $2 per month for every $100,000 of home valuation.
'I was very much in favor of this, even though it raised our taxes a little,' said Larry Myler, a resident of Orem. 'If we don''t pay the small increase now, the roads that are failing will cost us a lot more in the future than they will right now.'
Nearly 17 miles of roads are rated as 'failing' by Orem Public Works Department, such as Sandhill Road near Wal-Mart and 1600 North near University Mall. These roads will be reconstructed or repaired with the money.
'Some of the roads that look like an alligator''s back,' said councilwoman Karen McCandless. 'There are some things that we need to fix. We looked at all sorts of options before going to a bond, but there really weren''t any other good options.'
The issue was put on the Nov. 2 ballot to be voted on by the public and passed 63 percent to 36 percent vote.
'The citizens of Orem overwhelmingly accepted this and recognized the need to pass it,' said councilman Dean Dickerson. 'It''s a good thing and a necessary thing for Orem in order for the roads of the city to be kept up to optimum standard.'
City officials plan construction to begin next spring, but roads that require underground work will take about a year to prepare. In total, the project will span the next three to four years.
The bond will also pay for the creation of over 50 sidewalks within a one-third mile radius around schools.
'The sidewalks are a safety issue,' McCandless said. 'Right by my house, there are kids who walk in the road to get to school. We want to get those in so kids can get off the street.'