Roads are focus of budget talk

One thing everyone agreed about at a recent meeting: The condition of Springfield’s roads is only getting worse.

Published December 7, 2011 in the Rutland Herald
Roads are focus of budget talk

By SUSAN SMALLHEER
Staff Writer

SPRINGFIELD — One thing everyone agreed about at a recent meeting: The condition of Springfield’s roads is only getting worse.

At a budget workshop Monday on the town’s proposed $1.6 million capital budget, members of the town’s Budget Committee said the condition of the roads was deteriorating. Last year’s approved capital budget came in at $1.2 million.

The lion’s share of the capital budget traditionally goes into major road construction, and for the past several years major roads, such as Park, Union and Summer streets, have received some attention.

Last year, Public Works Director Harry Henderson requested a $4 million bond to rebuild and repave a long list of poor roads, but the Springfield Select Board rejected the proposal.

This year, Henderson is seeking about $400,000 toward replacing old equipment and $600,000 toward repaving and road reconstruction.

Although he didn’t request the $4 million bond, there was little doubt he felt that a large infusion of cash was needed to stem the deterioration.

He said Pleasant Valley Road and Spencer Hollow Road both needed major rebuilding. He blamed overweight trucks, such as logging trucks and oil delivery trucks, using the roads in the late spring, for the majority of the damage.

The town posts those roads every spring against the heavy trucks, but enforcing those regulations are the real issue, Henderson said.

“The roads in this town are a disgrace,” said Budget Committee member Marilyn Thompson, noting drainage was so poor on her road, Woodbury Road, that it is “covered in ice” most mornings.

“How do we fix this?” she asked.

“The list Harry has provided is $4 million, and we don’t have $4 million,” said Kristi Morris, Select Board Chairman.

Select Board member Terri Benton said the town was falling behind in replacing aging highway equipment as well, but the key question was one of finances.

“Are you willing to pay for it?” she asked the 12 members of the newly reorganized budget group.

“There are roads that are atrocious,” said Benton, agreeing with complaints from several budget committee members.

Henderson said the town’s dump trucks and plow trucks needed to be replaced, along with a sidewalk tractor and the town’s snowblower, among other equipment.

Springfield has 126 miles of road, with half of those roads gravel, Henderson said. The town also has 37 miles of sidewalks.

But he noted since he became Springfield’s public works director more than 10 years ago, the cost of asphalt, installed, has close to tripled, from $31 to $90 a ton.

Town Manager Robert Forguites said a 10-year, $4 million bond issue would cost the town about $650,000 a year, with $250,000 in interest alone.