Board sets sites on fixing potholes

Saturday, March 17, 2007

Warmer temperatures of late are a delight for residents in one Putnam County town, but the spring-like weather is playing havoc on local roads.

The subject of potholes, or chuck holes as some people call them, greeted members of the Bainbridge Town Council earlier this week.

Town Council President Mike Smith told fellow council members Naomi Barker and Richard Cope that he recently took a drive through town and did not like what he saw.

"The one down on Main Street seems to be holding up all right," Smith said of previous attempts to repair holes. "The one on Cherry Street didn't look to me like it was holding up too good."

Board members remembered a price for repairing potholes that they were quoted last year at this time -- which was $2,000 a day, plus the cost of the stone. They wondered if it would be the same this year.

The town's other option for repairing the holes is to use coal patch, which would presumably be less expensive but doesn't hold up as well as other methods.

Serving to muddy the waters, Town Clerk-Treasurer Jason Hartman told the council he had received notice that the state highway department is planning a project in the area this year, which could delay repairs on Washington Street, which is the north-south road that intersects U.S. 36 at the town's only stoplight.

With that, Smith suggested that a company be contracted to repair the small holes.

He also suggested having a road engineer from Wabash Valley Asphalt come and inspect the roads to let the town know of any future problem areas.

Meanwhile, the council learned of problems at the community center parking lot. Reportedly, the parking lot has not been professionally sealed in three years and the striping used to designate parking spaces has been fading too.

To stripe the parking lot the way it currently is would be $286.

To have the parking lot professionally sealed would cost $1,300.

Smith suggested that when the road engineer from Wabash Valley Asphalt comes to look at the roads, he could look at the parking lot too.

In other business, the council:

* Approved the appointment of Michelle Kiger to the park board.

* Learned about the repair costs for the snow removal equipment.

* Approved the appointment of Todd Bray to reserve deputy in training. Bray will be deputized once he has passed his 40 hour training.

* Learned that the property annexation for the new park will be discussed at next month's meeting.

* Learned that Clean-Up Day is May 5.

* Approved the IACT Roundtable to use the community center for its dinner.

The council meets regularly every second Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. in the community center.

The next scheduled meeting is set for Wednesday, April 11.

This meeting is open to the public.

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: