Officials craft 10-year road plan

Comprehensive proposal to cost $17 million, funding options sought

Paving the way for road improvements in Kirtland continues to be a bumpy ride.

Although no major road work has taken place so far this year, Mayor Kevin Potter said help is on the way.

“Our city engineer and service director have worked up a preliminary yet comprehensive road program that seeks to not only rehabilitate (or) repave 20 miles of city roads, but will also include a long-needed maintenance plan and schedule that touches every mile of our city’s roads over the next 10 years,” he said. “This will assure residents that city-funded assets will be cared for properly for many years to come.”

About $17.4 million is needed to implement the plan during the next decade, city Engineer Doug Courtney said. Discussions on financing options will be taking place in the coming weeks and months, Potter said.

The road situation has been a rocky one in the years since, even after residents passed a new fiveyear, 2-mill levy in 2014.

The eight-page draft document was created using a 2018 analysis by CT Consultants, based on pavement condition ratings. Top priorities include Springer Drive, Booth Road, Springer Circle and Wisner Road.

The last citywide comprehensive paving program ended about 25 years ago.

The road situation has been a rocky one in the years since, even after residents passed a new fiveyear, 2-mill levy in 2014. That amount was the most then-mayor Mark Tyler and the city administration believed the public might support at the time, former councilman Doug Davidson said.

“The council and anyone with a sharp pencil could see the need was greater than the request,” Davidson said. “Despite that, we needed to get started after about eight years of minimal paving.”

City officials had pledged

to pave at least half of the community’s 70 miles of roads within the levy term.

However, the first road to be improved turned out to need not only resurfacing, but also a total reconstruction, and things went downhill from there.

“By the second and third year of paving, there was no plan acceptable to certain members of council for whom it was a campaign issue from the start,” Davidson said.

Last year, Davidson, elected mayor in 2016, attempted to bolster the general fund by pursuing a replacement police levy as well as a renewal of the road levy. Council voted down the legislation 4-3.

Potter, among the dissenters, called the police levy “a road levy dressed in a police uniform.” He was elected mayor in November after campaigning, in part, on developing and implementing a road improvement plan.

So far this construction season, the Public Works Department has done some patching and crack-sealing.

“We plan on completing a partial rehabilitation of Emerald Glen in 2020,” Service Director Joe Fornaro said.

Meanwhile, local businessman Tom Christopher has organized Kirtland Business Council, a group of like-minded business owners with goals of seeking a solution for the roads issue as well as creating a more “businessfriendly” atmosphere in the city.

“Our business engine can and will innovate ways to help raise the funds,” Christopher said.

“We love this community. We love our neighbors and patrons. Together, we can and will scale this mountain,” he added.

Potter called it an exciting time in the community.

“We have an active and gelling City Council, talented board members, and a new team of dedicated and competent leaders in engineering, legal and public works,” he said. “I feel like the foundation is really being set for some good things to come.”