By Joe Bachman

Efficiency seemed to be the slogan for the city’s street construction team this year.

After a review of all street projects completed, the city made out with a surplus of approximately $1.4 million dollars due to continually staying under budget.

This spanned 33 projects and included sanitary and storm sewer construction, water main construction, street construction, and highway rehabilitation. Street construction on 3rd Ave. from W. Grand Ave. to W. Jackson St., and work on 1st St. North from Spring St. to Poplar St. turned out the biggest surpluses — saving the city over $400,000 on those projects alone.

Upcoming projects for next year include water main repair from Washington St. from 8th St. North to 12th St. North, and work on 1st St. North from Poplar St. to the North City Limits.

“This year in our construction process we did things a little bit different as far as our pre-construction notices for the public,” said Public Works Director Joe Terry, who wanted more residents to get involved in the decision making process. “All in all, it was very well received”

Terry also stated the focus of working with others in the community helped figure what types of projects are immediate needs versus wants.