BUENA PARK : Bond Crisis May Delay Some City Projects

The City Council is considering delaying some public works projects because of the county bond crisis.

But Mayor Don R. Griffin assured residents that the city has never relied on the county pool for day-to-day operations.

“You, the citizens, can expect to receive all regular and emergency services such as police, fire and paramedic services as usual and without diminished response or performance,” Griffin said during a council meeting Monday night.

Buena Park had $28 million invested in the county pool, and officials are still in the process of finding out what the ramifications might be for the city, Griffin said.

The largest project that might be delayed is a $9.5-million reconstruction of Dale Street that includes an overpass for the railroad tracks, Public Works Director Donald K. Jensen said after the meeting.

The city’s share on the Dale Street project is $4.2 million, which was scheduled for May. The state would pay the rest.

The council also delayed a vote on buying an $18,000 vehicle for water-meter readers.

Griffin told residents that the city has always taken a conservative stance toward investment. As a result, he said, the city did not borrow money to invest in the pool and did not invest any city employees’ compensation or retirement money in the county, he said.

“While this crisis is of great proportion to Buena Park, it should not impact the city’s ability to provide services to the community,” Griffin said.