By Chuck Ring (GadaboutBlogalot ©2009 – 2010)

Quote Freely From The Article – Leave The Pseudonym Alone

Well, maybe if a trend to tear up asphalt and other pavement types continues past the recession or whatever it is that is keeping everything to a crawl. Some municipalities and counties in different areas of the nation are not replacing damaged pavement with paving material.  Instead they are ripping up the pavement and retrofitting their roads with gravel.  Such government entities are citing the high cost of asphalt and other materials and the rising cost of paving materials (asphalt is quoted at $400 a ton) and what has become the prohibitive cost of maintenance, especially in areas that have cycling of extreme cold or heat for climate components.

Edgewood does not enjoy miles and miles of paved roads and during times of what passes for extreme rain or snow in the area, our gravel roads can become a perilous mess and a hazard to vehicles and a danger to the safety of children and adults alike.  This danger to life and limb can be especially true in the case of school transportation via school bus or private vehicle.  There are no easy solutions or even likely solutions to the condition of Edgewood’s gravel roads which might be forthcoming in the short-term.  This is especially true since a recent bond issue for road improvements and one for facilities construction failed.

Speculation as to the reason for the failure of both issues has ranged from the economy to a perceived lack of effort to educate the public on the need for the passage of the referendum.  Certainly there was no effort by a citizen committee to inform the public and there was some organized opposition to the the referendum.  Perhaps, it was assumed by those citizens in favor of the bond issues that others enthusiastically shared their views and there was little need to call for committees or other bodies of support.  Whatever the reason, the failure of the bond issue has ensured that there will be no new source of funding for road improvements unless stimulus or other monies can be found to supplement Edgewood’s  decreasing proceeds from gross receipts taxes.  Additionally, we do not know the full impact of the New Mexico State Legislature’s recent actions at the just adjourned special-session.

It is plain to see that Edgewood has roads which have not been accepted for maintenance or improvements and that citizens suffer because of the lack of both.  Whether or not, the old excuse (valid or not) of  the New Mexico Constitution’s stricture on donations of public monies will continue to get in the way of the Town’s maintenance or improvement of some or all of the roads remains to be seen. Certainly a solution will require some original thinking and change of direction.  Or, maybe it will require simple acceptance of what amounts to common sense responsibility and the citizens and the town can work together to get to an acceptable resolution.  I feel sure we can  all get out of the box and think around it, instead of in it.  Ideas and solutions will be welcome.

Meanwhile you can read what other locations are doing with their paved roads by clicking here.

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