Residents voice concerns over Armory Road
By Theresa Replogle Contributing writer

Strasser

New phone system and computer router

The council approved leasing a new phone system from the Roeing Company. This system will be a key component in the switch to central dispatch Strasser said.

A new computer router is also being leased from Wyatt Communications.

The next meeting will be Oct. 6 at 7 p.m.

Dick Hawkins, representing eight neighbors on Armory Rd., addressed the Delphi City Council Monday night. Hawkins complained about the decision to chip and seal the road instead of paving it. Five other residents also attended the meeting.

Hawkins read a two-page letter asking for a "straight, honest answer." He said residents "feel that we were let down by the city."

Concerns were for the safety of children who travel the road each day, the poor quality of the workmanship, the amount of dust and noise that has been created and whether the council handled the decision in a responsible manner.

The letter indicated a concern for how Delphi would look to visitors from out-oftown who attend sporting events or visit the nursing home. Residents noted a possible negative effect for anyone looking to buy property in the city.

Hawkin's called for a police officer and signage to address the issue of speeders.

According to Hawkins, neighbors feel the street should have been a priority when the city appropriated dollars for repaving due to the proximity of the schools, sporting facilities, nursing home and medical clinic located there.

Hawkins said street commissioner Aaron Lyons swept some of the loose gravel with the street sweeper.

Milestone Contractors, the company that did the work, did not fill potholes before adding the chip and seal. Residents said there is water now standing in them.

There is also no sidewalk on Armory Rd. Hawkins told the council.

"We see kids almost get run over on a daily basis," he said.

He continued with cars cannot easily stop on the gravel. He also asked about speed bumps.

Council member Dan Sterrett said he could not remember whether the road was slated for paving, but he thought it should be paved since it was a school zone.

Council president Carolyn Pearson told Sterrett that she was "surprised as much as you when I heard it was chipped and sealed."

Mayor Randy Strasser explained he thought the decision to chip and seal the road was a good one, given the circumstances with which he had to work. He said it would have cost $120,000 to level, grind and pave the road. It was in such bad condition it was not possible just to reseal and put on an overcoat. Strasser said that with the Hoosier Heartland Corridor coming through, Armory Rd. would undergo a great deal of construction in the next three to five years. He said he did not want to spend much money on it for such a short amount of time.

Strasser said there was little justification for spending that much money.

"We are just trying to get into the next year," he said.

He added that something needed to be done with the road when it was in the former condition. Strasser also said the city was looking at a grant to build sidewalks in the area.

"We're happy to get out there and clean it up for you," Strasser told the residents.

Speed bumps were not permitted in an area with such high traffic and would end up causing accidents, according to Strasser. He added that he would be in touch with Milestone.

"I agree that the road was done poorly," council member Brian Garrison said. "But we only have so much money and a lot of bad roads. All we did was to save that road from falling apart."

"We'll look at finding more dollars to repave it," he concluded. "What we didn't expect was the poor, shabby job that we got for what we paid for."

City Ordinances

Ordinance 2008-6, the personnel handbook, was tabled. Council president Pearson had questions about some of the language. The council agreed to a work session to discuss this language.

The council passed ordinance 2008-04, concerning unoccupied structures, on its third reading.

The employee salary ordinance, 2008-7, was passed with the amendment of hiring only one administrative assistant.