Let's fix roads the right way

On March 16, the City of Elgin began repairing the potholes on Orchard Street that were caused by the past winter. The workers had a new red truck and matching trailer specially designed to carry the pothole patching material.

The repairing process consisted of dumping one or more shovels full of the patching material into a hole and then patting it down with the shovels. In a distance of about 215 feet they repaired 53 potholes in this manner and missed four. At the time I commented to my wife that this type of a repair would not last very long.

I don't know exactly how long the repairs did last as I was out of town until April 12. Upon my return I noticed that most, if not all, of the potholes were back and that the street was once again in dire need of repair. The street remained unrepaired until May 28 when it was again repaired in the same manner and I presume the same costs.

Hopefully, these repairs will last more than a month. If not, in my opinion we should do away with this inadequate temporary pothole repair method and do the job right. If it is too costly to do adequate repairs, the city of Elgin should just leave the street unrepaired until funds are available. The street was in disrepair anyway for six weeks after the previous job and no additional cost was involved until the May 28 repair.

Verne Jarrette

Elgin