Amador County – The Plymouth City Council was on the road last week – literally. The council during its regular session gathered on Main Street in front of City Hall to look at what some called the worst road in town. The council was discussing street improvement projects for the upcoming construction season. Councilwoman Pat Shackleton said they decided that instead of just talking about the city’s worn streets, they would come out and look at the problems. Councilman Greg Baldwin suggested installing a “speed table” – a wide, almost bridge-like speed bump – to cross Main Street at the City Hall steps. He said it would help pedestrians cross and would remove the step up to the curb, while slowing traffic to 15 miles per hour. Mayor Jon Colburn asked City Engineer Roark Weber to get a cost estimate to repave Main Street from Landrum Street to Highway 49, and also chip-and-seal past Landrum. Weber said a 1999 report identified $332,000 dollars worth of “deferred maintenance” needs and $1.08 Million dollars would be “needed to bring all city streets into good condition.” He said “the 5 streets with ‘minus’ ratings were Quartz, Gerrans, Mineral and Pacific” streets. Since 1999, Weber said minimal street work had been done, except for a Safe Routes To School project and FEMA-funded repairs on Mill, Poplar and Empire streets. Weber said estimates would be lower if material costs were lower. Asphalt, once about $110 dollars a ton in now $70 to 85 dollars a ton. Finance director Jeff Gardner said the city got all of its Prop 1D funds, about $400,000 dollars. Weber said the Highway 49 and Main intersection project would be reimbursed, and the city should “try to get Caltrans to reimburse you so you are 100 percent in the black.” In public comment, Gary Colburn said: “Plymouth is a tourist trap, whether you like it or not. And all of our money comes from people going to the wine country, the gold country, the 49er Village and the Fair.” He said he shudders to think the city would spend money on a new pedestrian ramp or driveway, and would rather see it take the asphalt curve off of Main, to make it easier for the elderly to cross. Raymond Estey said “we chip sealed about 15 years ago” on Main Street, but Main has not been paved in 30 years, since before the 1970s, when a city water line was installed, through a cut in the asphalt. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Amador County – The Plymouth City Council was on the road last week – literally. The council during its regular session gathered on Main Street in front of City Hall to look at what some called the worst road in town. The council was discussing street improvement projects for the upcoming construction season. Councilwoman Pat Shackleton said they decided that instead of just talking about the city’s worn streets, they would come out and look at the problems. Councilman Greg Baldwin suggested installing a “speed table” – a wide, almost bridge-like speed bump – to cross Main Street at the City Hall steps. He said it would help pedestrians cross and would remove the step up to the curb, while slowing traffic to 15 miles per hour. Mayor Jon Colburn asked City Engineer Roark Weber to get a cost estimate to repave Main Street from Landrum Street to Highway 49, and also chip-and-seal past Landrum. Weber said a 1999 report identified $332,000 dollars worth of “deferred maintenance” needs and $1.08 Million dollars would be “needed to bring all city streets into good condition.” He said “the 5 streets with ‘minus’ ratings were Quartz, Gerrans, Mineral and Pacific” streets. Since 1999, Weber said minimal street work had been done, except for a Safe Routes To School project and FEMA-funded repairs on Mill, Poplar and Empire streets. Weber said estimates would be lower if material costs were lower. Asphalt, once about $110 dollars a ton in now $70 to 85 dollars a ton. Finance director Jeff Gardner said the city got all of its Prop 1D funds, about $400,000 dollars. Weber said the Highway 49 and Main intersection project would be reimbursed, and the city should “try to get Caltrans to reimburse you so you are 100 percent in the black.” In public comment, Gary Colburn said: “Plymouth is a tourist trap, whether you like it or not. And all of our money comes from people going to the wine country, the gold country, the 49er Village and the Fair.” He said he shudders to think the city would spend money on a new pedestrian ramp or driveway, and would rather see it take the asphalt curve off of Main, to make it easier for the elderly to cross. Raymond Estey said “we chip sealed about 15 years ago” on Main Street, but Main has not been paved in 30 years, since before the 1970s, when a city water line was installed, through a cut in the asphalt. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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