Report: 33% of Blackberry Twp. roads in poor shape
The Blackberry Township road district would have to spend at least another $500,000 a year - quadruple what it currently spends - to keep its roads in "fair" condition, on average, according to an engineer's report.
If it wants to move up two levels to "very good," it should be spending $1.1 million on road maintenance, said Chris Ott, an engineer from Engineering Enterprises Inc. of Sugar Grove. The township board hired the firm to analyze the condition of 52 miles of centerline paved roads. It split the $14,000 cost with the road district.
The study was done to support the road district's request for more property tax money. In April, voters will be asked to raise the limit on the tax rate by 14 cents, to 32.5 cents per $100 of equalized assessed valuation. If the measure is approved and the district levies the maximum, tax bills on a $200,000 piece of property would rise about $93.34.
It is the fourth time in 12 years there has been a ballot question. The last time, in 2013, 65 percent of those who voted said "no."
Rodney Feece, the highway commissioner, said he has about $150,000 a year available for road maintenance, which is enough to repave about 1 mile of road per year.
According to the report, nearly 33 percent of the township's paved roads are in "poor" condition, and 31 percent are rated "fair." None fall into the "very poor" condition.
Engineers took in to account the age of roads, the types of roads, maintenance history and types of deterioration present, such as potholes, cracking, depressions and degraded shoulders.
The majority of the "poor" roads are in the Mill Creek subdivision, which was built beginning in the mid-1990s. Engineering Enterprises recommends that roads be repaved at least every 20 to 25 years. And even if the tax increase is approved, the engineering firm wouldn't necessarily recommend fixing the worst streets first, Ott said. The money would be better spent extending the life of pavement on other roads that are in better condition, initially.
"I don't want to have substandard roads in the township any more than anybody else, and I don't know what other way to go about this than to have a referendum," Feece said. "I know everybody is taxed out of their mind - I am, too. But I think it is a fair question to ask ... If their road isn't bad right now, they will be that way."
One resident spoke at the meeting. Ray Fugiel asked if the township could do anything to prevent garbage trucks from coming down some streets, as they put heavy wear on the pavement. In the unincorporated areas of the township, other than the Mill Creek subdivision, residents contract independently for garbage pickup. So on his street, he sees six or seven garbage trucks coming through, he said.
Township Supervisor Fred Dornback and Feece said they want to have the township contract with one hauler for garbage pickup, but voters would have to approve that.