Plymouth Street Superintendent Jim Marquardt addressed a request to make improvements to an alley in the 200 block of Webster Avenue during Monday night’s Board of Public Works and Safety meeting.
Ellen Gaines asked to have improvements made to the alley that was paved years ago but is no in need of attention.
Marquardt said the alleyway is very rutted with some holes but he doesn’t feel the city should be paving alleys. He said there are alleys around town that are much worse. The Street Superintendent said he could patch some of the holes but that would be about it.
Councilman Jeff Houin took the time to drive down the alley and said, “Is it feasible, or would it make sense to turn it back to a gravel alley?” He said it’s bumpy but it’s an alley and you shouldn’t be driving down it too fast. Houin continued, “It doesn’t seem reasonable to just spend the money to pave and maintain asphalt in an alley.”
Superintendent Marquardt said maintaining a gravel alley is cheaper and easier. Taking this alley back to gravel would require them bringing in a loader or a small excavator and peel out the asphalt and the place milling and limestone on it. He said it would take 2 to 3 days to complete that kind of job.
Councilman Bill Walters said he also drove down the alley and said, “It is bumpy but realistically not a whole lot worse than some of the streets and streets should have a higher priority for maintenance and an alley.
Councilman Houin suggested patching some of the holes and bringing a cost estimate of changing the alley back to a gravel alley.
Marquardt said he would speak to the lady and see if patching would suffice or would changing it back to gravel be an option.
