GOOD HOPE – At a recent meeting this month, the Village board members discussed oil and chip maintenance to the streets and roads around town which could cost $28,000 to $30,000 this year.
During the ensuing discussion, Mayor John Connor stated that the village has about $28,000 in its motor fuel account now, and suggested that the street and road maintenance should be deferred until next year to see how the conditions of the roads change, because currently the conditions of the roads in town are considered to be in good shape.
Connor said that the largest increase in cost to oil and chip roads is the price of oil. Oil has gone up by at least one-third or about $5,000-$6,000 which would indicate that a significant return on investment in terms of labor and material costs would be recouped only if the roads were in a state of disrepair from motor vehicle usage and changing seasonal weather patterns as they affect the roads.
The other concern, Connor said, was that in previous years neighboring towns and townships shared the material cost of oil and chipping for road maintenance, but some of that has since changed. However, there is some possibility of other neighboring townships, which also sometimes repair country roads and streets, that may be able to work with the Village to help and thereby alleviate some of the financial burdens.
In other news, the village board approved funding for up to $300 to purchase cement mix bags at an approximate cost of $10-$12 per bag, for about 25 bags total, to replace the sidewalk at 200 S. Ash Street. A mobile cement mixer will also be rented for this project, but the rental cost was not disclosed at the time of this recent meeting. Mayor Connor said that money could be saved by the Village doing the concrete work themselves rather than potentially contracting with a bidder for the work.
The Village board members also approved funding to repair the red 2014 Ford pick-up truck for $1609.44 to replace valve covers at about $400, and then another set of gaskets and a second timing chain plus the labor.
A request for funding made by the Sodbusters Committee was approved by the Village board for up to $300 for mulch, porta potties and whatever the electricity costs would be based on usage during the annual festival on June 5-7, 2025.
