By Cody Begaye

Sun Correspondent

The Gallup City Council approved a five-year Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plan during the regular meeting on Sept. 11.

The State Department of Finance and Administration requires governments to develop an ICIP as a means of defining development needs and identifying funding sources. The ICIP is also used in funding government projects by analyzing proposed capital outlay bills during the State legislature sessions.

Public Works Director Stanley Henderson provided a list of tentative projects for legislative funding:

• East Nizhoni Boulevard Reconstruction Project
• Public Safety Building Construction Project
• Senior Center Construction Project
• Coal Avenue Commons Construction Project
• Police Vehicles Procurement
• Indian Hills Ball Park Lighting Reconstruction Project
• Playground Of Dreams Reconstruction Project
• Calle Pinon Storm Drainage Improvements Project

District 4 Councilor Fran Palochak requested a stretch of West Aztec Avenue be included in the ICIP. She said the recurring floods on that street during monsoon season is a safety concern that must be addressed.

District 3 Councilor Yogash Kumar seconded the shift in focus to Aztec Avenue. He said the Calle Pinon storm drainage system can be tabled in exchange.

Mayor Jackie McKinney said the senior center construction project should be one of the higher priorities, and suggested work on the Octavia Fellin Public Library be added to the list as well.

The council ranked the projects by the order in which they should be addressed. The East Nizhoni Boulevard Reconstruction Project was named highest priority. The public safety building, Coal Avenue, police vehicles and Aztec Avenue drainage projects were also listed in the top five.

Mayor McKinney said over time, the council will do all they can to ensure each project receives the attention it warrants.

“We’re going to fight for them all,” he said.

The item was approved with a 5-0-0 vote.