With their go-ahead vote, Rockford aldermen seal the deal authorizing more than 200 million dollars worth of city-wide infrastructure projects for 2010 through 2014.

The list includes some major undertakings like re-constructing West State and South Main Streets and the Morgan Street bridge. But it was smaller repairs to neighborhood roads that held the capital plan in limbo for weeks. The original proposal included a 37 percent cut to next year's neighborhood streets program, causing concern.

"I think it's important that we fulfill our promises we made when we passed the sales tax that a lot of funding would go into the residential streets," says Rockford Alderman Carl Wasco.

To do that, aldermen chose to cut some sidewalk repairs and a bike path upgrade. Plus in their most controversial move, they're redirecting 600 thousand dollars designated to repay bond payments for buying homes in the Keith Creek flood zone.

The city owes 10 million dollars total for those payments and Mayor Larry Morrissey is concerned about where else the money will come from. Aldermen say they have time to find another revenue source and they're waiting on federal grants to repay the debt.

"I was afraid that the federal government would say gee if you can come up with that money on your own, perhaps you don't need this and we'll send it to another city," says Rockford Alderman Nancy Johnson.

Aldermen also moved ahead with a new contract to train Rockford firefighters as paramedics. OSF Saint Anthony's Hospital and Rockford Health Systems will now split the training. SwedishAmerican Hospital did it the past several years. But they lost out this year for failing to include Equal Opportunity Employment documents in their application. Still some aldermen disagreed with disqualifying the hospital.

"Employers of that size can't get away with not being compliant. So sometimes I think common sense takes vacation," says Rockford Alderman Bill Robertson.

Every new Rockford firefighter must have emergency medical training and become certified as a paramedic within five years of joining the Department. OSF and Rockford Memorial will also provide ongoing training for current firefighters. Aldermen say residents will see no change in our level of service.

Returning to the capital program, the city must go back to taxpayers in 2012 when the one percent sales tax increase expires. Aldermen believe they're more likely to support extending the tax if they see improvements in neighborhood roads.