Prolific Pothole Problem Debated As Motion Passes
“There comes a time when the road can no longer be repaired by (the) potholes (repair crew),” Bevan Harlton director of engineering City of Moose Jaw
By Robert Thomas
The state of Moose Jaw’s notoriously rough roads and hiring private contractors to assist with pothole repairs was a hot topic at Monday’s regular meeting of Council.
The discussion was precipitated based upon a notice of motion by Councillor Dawn Luhning who was requesting a report to be prepared about having private contractors, help out the lone City pothole repair crew.
Councillor Luhning said her motion was precipitated by her own personal driving in the city, as well as the large amount of citizen complains to her about the poor conditions of mini Moose Jaw roads.
“I don’t think I’ve gotten more complaints this spring, or I’ve gotten more complaints this spring than I ever have about the state of a roads than I ever have,” Councillor Luhning said.
One of the repairs to potholes done the spring - MJ independent file photo
“It seems like the same potholes are in the same spots. And it’s been at least five weeks since I first asked (director of engineering) Mr. (Bevan) Harlton when the pothole employees and the crew were going to get out and do the work on the road,” she said.
Councillor luhning said she requested the report to see if private contractors could not help out with pothole repair to get the City “back to the basics” of what their responsibilities were - core infrastructure.
“They may be, and I’ve got an indication from Administration, our employees are spread too thin,” she said about hiring private contractors to help get the work done quicker.
Councillor Luhning carefully stated the poor road conditions was not because City employees were not doing their jobs. But they likely needed help.
Administration’s Response
Director of Engineering Bevan Harlton stated that so far the pothole crew had repaired 2,339 potholes.
Engineer Harlton pointed out many of the roads the City was now patching up were deteriorated beyond the point we’re simply fixing potholes was the solution .
“I think anecdotally what’s happening in Public Works is that pothole repair is happening on locations that should become capital repairs,” he said.
Capital repairs, in the case of roads, is where the roadway is completely re-paved at the same time possibly repairs made to the underlying structure.
“The reality is there comes a time when the road can no longer be repaired by (the) potholes (repair crew).”
He pointed out that there was several locations in the city where there had been extensive pothole repairs but the condition of the road warrants major repairs with capital work.
Harlton said he would be able to bring a report to counsel in October about how to better coordinate capital repair of roadways.
Roadways would be repaired with more costly capital investments, he said.
Harlton said he did not have the estimate in front of him when the pothole repairs would be completed, but admitted it was a subject that likely wasn’t “explored too much.”
The reason being is due to the winter and winter road work that more potholes are created.
Council Discussion
Councillor Heather Eby, who seconded Councillor Luhning’s motion, did she supported intention of the motion, but preferred to wait until budget time before making a decision.
Such a move would allow Council to look at the whole program when it came to road conditions.
“I feel if we approve this now those things need to go to tender and we’re getting into August and September realistically. I feel I will be more inclined to support a change come budget time,” Councillor Eby said.
She said the responsibility to receive report potholes belonged to Moose Jaw‘s residents as the City didn’t know where all the potholes were.
“I don’t expect City of Moose Jaw employees driving around doing an inventory of the potholes.”
Council was told that the City’s priorities are too sweep the streets paint the traffic lines and crosswalks. Once that work wraps up on approximately July 1st those crews will be reassigned to pothole repair.
From July 1st the pothole repair crews will double from one crew to two crews.
Council was also told that already half of the $500,000 budget set aside for pothole repair has been spent.
Councillor luhning commented on Councillor Eby’s comment by pointing out that bus routes are a priority when it comes to pothole repair, but that 13th Avenue NW (on a bus route) still had not been repaired.
“It is undrivable,” she said about 13th Avenue NW before mentioning other roadways that had not yet had potholes repaired but were on bus routes.
“I’m really struggling to see where the potholes have been filled around the city when two of the bus routes I drive…nothing has been done.”
She said that the City could continue doing the status quo repairs but in the end nothing was going to improve unless they looked at contracting out some of the work to get it done.
Councillor Luhning said she didn’t want people coming to Moose Jaw and the first thing they say is how bad the roads are.
“All I’m asking is we consider doing it a different way. Because if we keep trying to do what we’re doing, it’s not working in my opinion.”
Support For Councillor Luhning’s Motion
Councillor Jamie Logan said the condition of Moose Jaw’s roads was nothing unique compared to other cities in the region. All had problems with the roads due to the lack of funding and finding people to do the work, he said, he said.
“I don’t think there’s any harm investigating where this will take us,” Councillor Logan said in supporting Councillor Luhning’s motion.
He said that there was no harm in investigating the potential of contracting out some of the pothole repair - to work alongside City crews - so that the work will be done earlier and not in July or August.
Councillor Crystal Froese said she would support the motion because “I’m curious to see what process would look like. Will it help our staff and get the potholes done quicker in our budget frame?” Councillor Froese said.
She said Council had to look at the overall state of Moose Jaw’s roads as there were deficiencies that might entail capital repairs.
Councillor Doug Blanc said he looked at the issue differently and it wasn’t just a case of contracting the work out.
Potholes repaired in a crosswalk on Main Street - MJ independence file photo
“In the case of potholes, I think you have to have somebody inspect it afterwards to make sure it’s done correctly,” Councillor Blanc said, adding “because you could have contractors out there doing ineffective work, doing substandard work. And we pay them.”
He said the motion wasn’t about a definite of hiring contractors this year, but rather just to look at the potential of contracting out and getting a report back.
Councillor Blanc said he supported the motion because it was “an avenue we can look at into the future.”
Councillor Kim Robinson said he supported the motion because it was a step to rectifying the pothole problem.
“It’s simple as we have a problem and we can’t fix it by doing what has been always done,” Councillor Robinson said.
The motion passed 6 - 1 with Councillor Eby opposed.