6th St., Lincoln Ave. work, City Hall improvements, water tower repainting planned
By Jalen Maki
Tomahawk Leader Editor
TOMAHAWK – The City of Tomahawk Common Council this week approved the financing for an array of planned projects.
During its meeting at City Hall on Tuesday, July 11, the council gave the thumbs up to a resolution approving a State Trust Fund Loan in the amount of $2.1 million to fund the city’s 2023 capital projects.
The Trust Fund Loan program is administered by the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands (BCPL), comprised of Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski, State Treasurer John Leiber and Attorney General Josh Kaul.
According to BCPL’s website, since 1871, BCPL has invested in loans to municipalities and school districts for public purpose projects, including economic development, local infrastructure, capital equipment and vehicles, building repairs and improvements and refinancing existing liabilities to reduce future borrowing costs.
“Today, BCPL is among the largest public investors in economic development projects and local infrastructure projects within the State of Wisconsin,” the website states. “Over the past 10 years, we have invested over $1 billion in communities throughout Wisconsin.”
The financed projects include 6th St. reconstruction, the replacement of a culvert on Lincoln Ave., police squad and Taser video equipment and the purchase of a used dump truck.
The repainting of the water tower off E. Birchwood Ave., as well as improvements at City Hall – focusing on the roof, furnace, air conditioning and backup generator – are also on the docket.
City Clerk/Treasurer Amanda Bartz this week said there are no start dates scheduled for the 6th St. and Lincoln Ave. work, but a meeting with the contractor, engineer and city staff was slated for next week.
The City Hall roof project will be bid out in the near future, and the city is currently waiting for the contractor to schedule the water tower repainting, Bartz added.
The city’s Board of Public Works discussed color scheme options for the water tower earlier this year. At that time, navy blue with a yellow stripe emerged as a frontrunner.