Road Work Stalled

Street maintenance planned for Marsh Avenue in Ellisville is going to be delayed as the city finds ways to deal with a growing cost of business.

Earlier this year, the city council planned roughly $940,000 of construction on Marsh Avenue, which is about five blocks north of Manchester Road stretching past Clarkson and Hutchison Roads.

Although that project along with other capital works has been delayed, Mayor Matt Pirrello said it will be reconsidered.

"By virtue of it being on the schedule, it automatically will enter back into the picture for the 2012 budget," Pirrello said Wednesday. "Whether it gets cut again or moved again, that's a whole nother story."

The decisions comes as the city hosts for feedback about the upcoming budget, which has prompted controversial debates on topics such as proposing a city sales tax and permitting for a Walmart Superstore.

The cost for the Marsh Avenue "street replacement" had been estimated to be $940,000. With the city's engineering budget slated for a reduction next year of roughly $174,00, or 37 percent of this year's projected funding, that work is likely to be set aside in favor of less expensive capital projects.

The city council is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 15 at to present next year's complete budget.

Mayor Pirrello, council members and city staff first will meet Saturday and next Wednesday, however, for its last two .