Hi everyone,
Please see the email/information below from Tom Pratt, Chairman for the Citizens for Roswell's Bonds.
Over the years we have all thought about how nice it would be for our kids and the Roswell Rec programs to have turf fields to play on. Well, that opportunity has arrived!
Roswell voters will decide on November 6 whether to approve $14.7 million in bonds for recreation improvements, public safety and transportation for our community. If approved by voters, the bonds will fund a number of projects across the City, including:
- Synthetic turf fields (up to 4 fields) - $2 million
- Holcomb Bridge/400 Interchange improvements - $6 million
- A replacement of Fire Station #4 - $1.5 million
- Eves Road multi-use path and bike lanes - $1.2 million
- Holcomb Bridge multi-use trail (segment 4) - $1.5 million
- Adult Recreation Center upgrades including a therapeutic pool - $2.5 million
The City's tax rate will not increase because of the bonds.
It is very important that as many people as possible are made aware of this oportunity to improve our City.
Please forward this e-mail on to as many contacts as you can to inform them of the bond issue. The impact this bond will have on the City of Roswell and its athletic programs cannot be overstated. More information can be found at
http://www.roswellgov.com and from the attached PDF.
Thank you for your help in educating the citizens of Roswell.
If you have any questions, please let me know. If any of you would like to help with the awreness campaign, let me know that as well.
Thank you for your help.
Regards,
Tom
Chairman
Citizens for Roswell's Bonds
Roswell Referendum Fact Sheet
Roswell voters will decide on November 6, 2012 whether to approve $14.7 million in bonds for
transportation, public safety and recreation improvements for our community. If approved by
voters, the bonds will fund a number of projects across the city, including:
-
Holcomb Bridge/400 Interchange improvements - $6 million
-
A replacement of Fire Station # 4 - $1.5 million
-
Eves Road multi-use path and bike lanes - $1.2 million
-
Holcomb Bridge Road multi-use trail (segment 4) - $1.5 million
-
Adult Recreation Center upgrades including a therapeutic pool - $2.5 million
-
Synthetic turf fields (up to 4 fields) - $2 million
Property Tax Rates Will Not Increase
Property tax rates will not increase because of the bonds. The City is able to make these
investments in the community within the current property tax rate.
Because of the City’s conservative fiscal policies over the years, it has been awarded a AAA bond
rating. What this means for the City is that Roswell can borrow money at very low interest rates.
By incurring debt to complete this small list of projects, the City is taking advantage of the time
value of money, which means the interest on the money we are borrowing is cheaper than the
inflation on the cost of construction to build the projects.
According to the requirements of the bonds, the projects must be 85 percent complete within
three years. This means the projects being paid for by the bonds will be completed within three
to five years of the bonds being issued.
The Projects
Holcomb Bridge/400 Interchange improvements - $6 million
These improvements are a continuation of the City’s efforts to improve traffic flow and safety at
this busy interchange that handles 70,000 cars daily. This step involves a series of projects that
will further improve mobility and safety.
Fire Station # 4 Relocation - $1.5 million
The City of Roswell needs to replace fire station #4 which is currently located at 1601 Holcomb
Bridge Road and services all homes and businesses within a 2 mile radius of the station. The
current station is in poor structural condition and does not meet the current needs of the fire
department. It was built in the early 1980s when fire trucks were much smaller and lighter.
Today’s fire trucks are larger, weigh more, and do not easily fit into the older building. The
station will also provide more useful space for the day-to-day operations of the fire crews
assigned to that station.
Eves Road Multi-use Path & Bike Lanes - $1.2 million
This project will develop a complete street, connecting neighborhoods along Eves Road to River
Eves Elementary School, the Post Office, the Chattahoochee riverfront and the back entrance to
East Roswell Park. This project is part of the Roswell Loop – a trail system connecting City
schools and parks.
Holcomb Bridge Road Multi-use Trail – $1.5 million
The construction of this multi-use trail will connect the Horseshoe Bend subdivision to Holcomb
Bridge Middle School and its facilities. Residents will be able to walk to the school once the trail
is completed. This project will also connect City trails that are already in place and will
eventually connect to Garrard Landing. Residents will also be able to walk or ride their bicycles
to shopping, the middle school, and East Roswell Park.
Adult Recreation Center Upgrades - $2.5 million
This project will add a therapeutic indoor pool to the City’s Adult Recreation Center located at
830 Grimes Bridge Road. The City will offer aquatic, therapeutic, health and wellness programs
primarily to Adult Recreation Center participants. The therapeutic pool will enhance and
complement the existing fitness programs offered at the Adult Recreation Center.
Synthetic Turf Fields (up to 4 fields) - $2 million
The City is looking to replace up to 4 grass soccer/football/lacrosse fields with synthetic turf.
Synthetic fields will allow the City to provide a safe playing surface and a more consistent
schedule of outdoor athletic programs with less program interruptions because of field
conditions due to weather. The fields also cost less to maintain and have an environmental
benefit in that they do not require chemical treatment or watering. Synthetic fields will also
allow Roswell to host athletic tournaments which will have a significant economic impact to the
community.
On November 6, the ballot will read:
_____ YES _____ NO SHALL GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS IN THE AGGREGATE
AMOUNT OF $14,700,000.00 BE ISSUED BY THE CITY OF ROSWELL, GEORGIA TO
FINANCE THE COST OF ACQUISITION, DESIGN AND/OR DEVELOPMENT OF REAL
AND/OR PERSONAL PROPERTY FOR TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS
INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT PURPOSES INCLUDING TRAFFIC MITIGATION,
FACILITY DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT, PEDESTRIAN AMENITIES, INTERSECTION
IMPROVEMENTS, SIDEWALKS, MULTIUSE TRAILS AND SAFETY RELATED STREET
IMPROVEMENTS; TO FINANCE THE COST OF ACQUISITION, DESIGN AND/OR
DEVELOPMENT OF REAL AND/OR PERSONAL PROPERTY FOR RECREATIONAL FIELDS
AND PARK FACILITIES TOGETHER WITH FURNITURE, FIXTURES AND EQUIPMENT
RELATED THERETO; AND TO FINANCE THE ACQUISITION, DESIGN AND/OR
DEVELOPMENT OF A FIRE STATION TOGETHER WITH FURNITURE, FIXTURES AND
EQUIPMENT RELATED THERETO?
For more in-depth information on the November 6th referendum, please visit
www.roswellgov.com/bonds
