July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Patching may get easier (11/13/2008)
Portland Board of Works
By By RACHELLE HAUGHN-
Filling potholes in Portland should be much easier for city employees this winter.
The city plans to purchase a machine that warms asphalt to about 70 degrees, making it more pliable and easier to patch holes and cracks during the winter.
Portland Board of Works members met this morning and approved the purchase of a cold patch box for the street department. The water department also will be able to use it to repair portions of streets damaged during waterline repairs.
The machine will be purchased from Northern Equipment, Plymouth, at a cost of $15,351. Quotes also were submitted by Brown Equipment, Fort Wayne, $15,500; Jack Donheny, Northville, Michigan, $17,305; and W.A. Jones, New Haven, $17,719.
Jeff Harker, street and park department superintendent, said the asphalt currently is kept in a heated bay in the winter. But when street department employees try to use the material, it isn't very warm and comes out in chunks and is difficult to spread.
He said there are more potholes in the winter because water gets under the streets. When it freezes the asphalt bubbles up and is driven over by vehicles. The cars then break up the pavement.
Before voting, mayor Bruce Hosier said, "I think, quite frankly, it makes a lot of sense," to purchase the cold patch box.
Harker said the box, which will be pulled behind the city trucks on a trailer, is expected to be in within 60 to 90 days. However, he is hoping it will come in sooner.
In other business this morning, board members voted to adjust a Portland plant's sewage bill.
Coca-Cola Bottling Company, 1617 N. Meridian St., was closed for 10 days during September for construction. During that time, someone forgot to turn off the plant's automatic sampler, which samples the business's wastewater to check for suspended solids and the concentration of oxygen in the water. Samples are taken once an hour for 24 hours.
Since water was not being discharged from the plant during the shutdown, the sludge and scum in the pipes was being sampled, which is much more expensive than testing wastewater. The city charges the plant for the sampling as part of its water/sewer bill.
The original bill was $11,823.23 and was reduced to $6,467.88. After the meeting, city clerk-treasurer Linda Kennedy said the deputy clerk-treasurer adjusted the bill and she was not sure what formula was used for the adjustment.
Also today, board members voted to have a Mishawaka company conduct routine maintenance on one of the water department's wells.
Doug Jackson, water department superintendent said the wells and pumps need to be inspected every five years to check for problems. It has been five years since this well's last inspection.
Peerless Midwest will conduct the maintenance at a cost of $9,500 to $22,956, depending on the condition of the well.[[In-content Ad]]
The city plans to purchase a machine that warms asphalt to about 70 degrees, making it more pliable and easier to patch holes and cracks during the winter.
Portland Board of Works members met this morning and approved the purchase of a cold patch box for the street department. The water department also will be able to use it to repair portions of streets damaged during waterline repairs.
The machine will be purchased from Northern Equipment, Plymouth, at a cost of $15,351. Quotes also were submitted by Brown Equipment, Fort Wayne, $15,500; Jack Donheny, Northville, Michigan, $17,305; and W.A. Jones, New Haven, $17,719.
Jeff Harker, street and park department superintendent, said the asphalt currently is kept in a heated bay in the winter. But when street department employees try to use the material, it isn't very warm and comes out in chunks and is difficult to spread.
He said there are more potholes in the winter because water gets under the streets. When it freezes the asphalt bubbles up and is driven over by vehicles. The cars then break up the pavement.
Before voting, mayor Bruce Hosier said, "I think, quite frankly, it makes a lot of sense," to purchase the cold patch box.
Harker said the box, which will be pulled behind the city trucks on a trailer, is expected to be in within 60 to 90 days. However, he is hoping it will come in sooner.
In other business this morning, board members voted to adjust a Portland plant's sewage bill.
Coca-Cola Bottling Company, 1617 N. Meridian St., was closed for 10 days during September for construction. During that time, someone forgot to turn off the plant's automatic sampler, which samples the business's wastewater to check for suspended solids and the concentration of oxygen in the water. Samples are taken once an hour for 24 hours.
Since water was not being discharged from the plant during the shutdown, the sludge and scum in the pipes was being sampled, which is much more expensive than testing wastewater. The city charges the plant for the sampling as part of its water/sewer bill.
The original bill was $11,823.23 and was reduced to $6,467.88. After the meeting, city clerk-treasurer Linda Kennedy said the deputy clerk-treasurer adjusted the bill and she was not sure what formula was used for the adjustment.
Also today, board members voted to have a Mishawaka company conduct routine maintenance on one of the water department's wells.
Doug Jackson, water department superintendent said the wells and pumps need to be inspected every five years to check for problems. It has been five years since this well's last inspection.
Peerless Midwest will conduct the maintenance at a cost of $9,500 to $22,956, depending on the condition of the well.[[In-content Ad]]
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