City department heads listed a number of big-ticket items as priority projects for the next fiscal year, during a month of weekly meetings that concluded last week to identify and prioritize such “capital requirements” over the next five years.

The projects included an upgrade of the sewage treatment plant, a new citywide computer system, three new garbage trucks, new water lines to Rock Creek subdivision and a new police communications system.

Overall, about a dozen city managers listed approximately $17 million in capital projects needed for their departments during the fiscal year starting Oct. 1.

“We really need to know all parts of that number,” said Stan Grubin, chairman of the Five-Year Capital Requirements Committee during an initial meeting of the committee last month, referring to $6 million budgeted over the next three years for upgrading the sewage treatment plant. “I don’t think we know enough.”

During the month-long process, department heads brought their list of capital projects to a committee appointed by the City Council, which included participation by several council members, as well as citizen committee members, some of whom have served on the city's strategic planning committee and currently serve on the Financial Advisory Committee.

For more on this story see the July 7 edition of the Fairhope Courier