ESTERHAZY — Keeping up with maintaining roadways is an endless job, but a couple additional tools will help make the task easier to manage in Esterhazy.
Acting Director of Operations Ron Ferris had approached council with quotes for a plate packer and walk-behind concrete saw. Crack sealing work is slated for this week, but the packer and saw would be essential tools receiving a lot of use very soon.
From his research, Ferris informed council that the used price on a plate packer was $2,200 with new options coming in at $3,350 and $3,500. As for the concrete saw, he secured a deal sufficient to the needs of Public Works.
Councillor Randy Bot made motions to approve the purchase of a concrete saw for $2,400 from United Rentals and allocate up to $3,000 for Ferris to purchase an appropriate packer.
Bot also asked about the possibility of planning out streets that need roadwork, which Ferris replied has already been done. He’s developed a map of areas in town, using a traffic light system to denote areas requiring various levels of attention.
“Red is terrible, yellow is iffy and then green is good,” he explained, adding “There’s quite a bit of yellow, and there is some red.”
In Bot’s view, the roadways are a priority that needs addressing immediately.
“I think we have to start thinking about putting as much as we can towards paving this year because I don’t think I’ve ever seen our roads this bad,” he said.
A meeting with Public Works to explore the issue is set for April 8.
