Roundabout Project Costs Underestimated

The Utica Council got down to business as usual, with one exception. The business that stood out from the rest is the funding for the Roundabout Project.

The cost of the Roundabout Project was reportedly underestimated. Now, there are concerns of where the rest of the funding for the project will come from.

Mayor Roefaro says the city needs an additional $600,000 of funds to replace the old infrastructure in Oneida Square.

Roefaro says the Roundabout Project is federally and state funded. Therefore, he says it will not cost tax payers any city money.

"Most of all but two of the council members were in agreement that this was a great economic development project. It was a project that we used our state and federal money that I went out and got a grant for. So, the bottom line is that this is a great economic project for the City of Utica and it warrants the money," said Roefaro.

Council Member James Zecca say this is the first time the Council has been presented with actual numbers. Mr. Zecca says he does not support the new costs because he says the city will be using federal Community Development Block Grant funds.

"$600,000 over costs... and $250,000 will be taken out of our CDBG funds to be used for this project that can be used for many other projects in our hard hit districts," said Zecca.

Concerned community members came out to voice their opinions. Lifelong resident Tim Trent says he has been following the project from the start.

I think it does not improve traffic flow at Oneida Square. I think it's going to deteriorate traffic flow," explained Trent.