Public Works Committee Approves Road Funding

The City County Council Public Works Committee is approving more than $15 million for the Department of Public Works to help it recover from a harsh winter.

Of the approved funding,  $8.3 million is for repairing and resurfacing roads.

Originally, DPW wanted the funds to go to thoroughfares that were the most traveled and considered the worst of the worst. Democratic committee members took exception, because they said most of those were in Republican districts.

So, the money will now be distributed across the county.

Republican Councilor Jack Sandlin voted against the proposal, because he wanted to move forward with the original plan.

"To change the list and inject the politics of it, I think is not something we should be doing for the people of our community," said Sandlin.  "I understand the needs in the neighborhood, absolutely understand it.  I have them in my district, but I'm here sitting on this council to look at the greater need of all of the residents in Indianapolis and find a way to come back and fix all those of those other things that need to be fixed.”

The committee also approved $7 million dollars to pay for unanticipated snow removal expenses.

The funding proposals now go to the full City County Council for consideration.