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Uploaded: Tuesday, February 17, 2009, 10:44 PM
Town projects benefit from federal stimulus dollars
Mayor hints that a Danville stimulus package is in the works
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by Geoff Gillette
On the same day that President Obama signed the federal stimulus bill into law, members of the Danville Town Council approved a resolution that will bring some of those dollars to work on two road projects.
At their Feb. 17 meeting, council members unanimously approved the resolution, which will bring nearly $1 million into Danville to help fund a road improvement project on Diablo Road.
Town Manager Joe Calabrigo said the council has been working on the resolution for the past several weeks in conjunction with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and the Contra Costa Transportation Authority.
The resolution authorizes the MTC to file an application with the federal government for funds to be released through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).
The transportation authority worked with representatives from local governments to put together a list of 23 projects in the county with a combined value of $39 million; $21 million of that cost would be funded by the stimulus package.
Because of the nature of the stimulus package, governments had to find projects that were "shovel ready." In other words, projects that could be awarded and begin in the next 90 days.
"They don't want projects that are going to sit on the drawing board," said Calabrigo. "They want projects that are going to create jobs."
The project submitted by Danville will improve Diablo Road from Green Valley Road to Avenida Nueva and Green Valley Road from Diablo Road to Stone Valley Road. The project cost, revised to show an estimated $960,000 in federal funds, is expected to come in at $1.039 million.
Mayor Newell Arnerich said he was pleased with the resolution and with the effect that the stimulus bill will have both locally and statewide.
"I think personally the package is going to help. This is going to be good for California," he said.
He added that Town officials are currently working on their own version of a stimulus package for Danville itself.
"We asked ourselves, 'How can we help?,'" said Arnerich, "and I think we've got some pretty good ideas."
Arnerich was unable to give details of how the proposed package will help the town during this economic downturn but said he is expecting to unveil it within the next few weeks.
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Posted by Katy M, a resident of the Danville neighborhood, on Feb 18, 2009 at 9:29 am Wow! Danville has ONE PROJECT for just $1 million!!! Have you checked out what San Ramon is getting?
Web Link
San Ramon, according to Stimulus Watch, is receiving $48,578,300 for nine (9) projects.
So where is Danville? I thought the Mayor was last seen glad-handing Captain Sully! We have more than one municipal need! If we don't have houses bing built and projects being planned for NON-RECEIPT of Federal funds, why do we need so many staff wandering around with a cup of coffee in their hands all day??
Check out that website and see what other tiny towns are getting. Sounds like San Ramon had many "shovel-ready" projects as well as great staff over there to provide the necessary staff work & support to make sure San Ramon is not left out. Unfortunately, Danville snoozed during this process!
Are you impressed with the leadership in Danville?
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Posted by Mike, a resident of the Alamo neighborhood, on Feb 18, 2009 at 3:15 pm Good for San Ramon! And I'm glad to hear that Danville is at least getting something from the stimulus package. Until Alamo incorporates, it has no standing to seek a penny of Federal funding. Our only hope is that our step-mother, Supervisor Piepho, will seek her fair share and then grant us some mercy. Since we only comprise 5% of her district, it doesn't look promising.
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Posted by dcam, a resident of the Danville neighborhood, on Feb 18, 2009 at 5:33 pm What a rip off - we have management fees stringing from Washington to Danville. PORK is very expensive money.
and
There is no such thing as a free lunch
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Posted by dcam, a resident of the Danville neighborhood, on Feb 18, 2009 at 5:40 pm On the other hand we would have gotten more if we paid more to our thief in Washington in campaign moneys.
Smells like payola money
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Posted by A Neighbor, a resident of the Danville neighborhood, on Feb 18, 2009 at 7:26 pm It would be nice to be able to fix El Pintado .... finally.
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Posted by pkhodayari@sbcglobal.net, a resident of the Danville neighborhood, on Feb 20, 2009 at 2:36 pm I hope some of the money is used to fix elpintado rd. Street is in a very bad condistion and very dangeras.
pari
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Posted by frank, a resident of the Danville neighborhood, on Feb 20, 2009 at 2:38 pm We hope with this money city would be able to fix El Pintado .... finally.
frank
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