Street talk in Redkey

REDKEY — The need to repair roadways after a hard winter and wet spring with limited funds got the attention of town council members here Thursday night.
Also recent water main repairs and improvements, requiring street surfaces to be torn up, have further complicated the situation, leaving many streets and alleys in need of repair work this summer and only about $15,000 budgeted to do so.
Street superintendent Bill Tressler said Central Avenue has deteriorated to dirt and mud in some spots. Motorists have been trying to miss potholes and bumps by driving off the designated street onto the edges of the yards of nearby residents, he said.
Tressler said there is a 300-foot section that is extremely bad.
“The problem is — we don’t have any money to fix the roads,” town council president Jim Funkhouser said. He added that there were numerous other roadways in need of repair.
Redkey receives approximately $71,000 annually in Motor Vehicle Highway tax revenue from the state, but those funds are used for a variety of purposes in addition to resurfacing or paving new streets, clerk-treasurer Debbie James said this morning.
In addition to the $15,000 for paving work, the funds derived from gas and excise taxes pays for salt and sand to spread on the streets during snowy weather, fixing potholes, maintaining town vehicles repairs, purchasing gasoline for vehicles, the salary of the street department superintendent, and a portion of the town marshal’s pay,
Funkhouser recommended that council members look at Central Avenue, as well as several other locations where roadway repairs are needed.
“Let’s take a look at it. Maybe we can come up with some creative ideas,” Funkhouser said.
No member of the council asked James about details of the MVH budget during Thursday’s meeting.
In other business, Boyce Street residents Phil and Joyce Ellis noted that the end of their driveway needed resurfacing after water main repairs were done in that area.
Funkhouser and other council members said they wanted to personally inspect this area before the next town council meeting on June 16.
“I think we should fix what we dug up,” Funkhouser said, while noting that the town’s funding for such projects was very limited.
The Ellises agreed to Funkhouser’s request to have the matter tabled until the June 16 meeting with council members individually taking time to inspect the situation between now and then.
In other business Thursday night, council members:
•Approved the purchase of two new fire hydrants from Utility Supply Company of Peru for $2,395. These hydrants will replace two older hydrants near the wastewater treatment plant that are leaking substantial amounts of water.
•Appointed five new members to the park board. They include Jeff Shauver, Jeff Rose, Rene Snow, and Tony and Lisa Hough.
•Were informed that Memorial Day programs will be conducted on Monday, May 30 with help from Ridgeville and Union City American Legion members. Redkey resident Terri Heston said there will be a service at 8:30 a.m. at Claycomb Cemetery; another at the War Mothers Memorial in downtown Redkey at 10 a.m.; and the last at Hillcrest Cemetery at 11 a.m.
•Heard a report from Fire Chief Randy Young that the Independence Day fireworks display will be presented on the night of July 3 at Morgan Park. The rain date will be July 4, Young said. He added that there is an account at the Redkey branch of MainSource Bank if anyone wants to make a donation to help pay for the fireworks.
•Listened to a resident complain about vehicles driving 40 miles per hour in an alley in a neighborhood where several children live. Town Marshal Donnie James said the speed limit in that alley is 20 mph, and he would have police officers keep closer watch in that area. The situation is dangerous as well as aggravating, the resident said.
•Heard Funkhouser compliment local Girl Scouts for working to help clean up the downtown area last weekend as a volunteer project.
•Noted that trash will be collected one day late during Memorial Day week due to the holiday on Monday, May 30.[[In-content Ad]]