The Indian Trail Improvement District Board of Supervisors last week called for a reconvened meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 7 to address water control and road improvement projects, as well as a special meeting to decide the phasing of road projects.
The reconvened meeting will be at 5 p.m., prior to the special meeting at 6 p.m.
At the Jan. 24 meeting, ITID President Betty Argue said that paving 180th Avenue North near Osceola Creek Middle School and Frontier Elementary School has been a problem, and the board needs to discuss a long-term plan to address it.
“I personally think we need a workshop on 180th and other roads,” Argue said, explaining that she had talked with ITID staff about options that can be brought to the board.
She added that road improvements in the area need to be discussed, because right now the expense of improvements that benefit the entire district fall on one particular area.
“There are a couple general roads the entire district benefits from, not just that unit,” she said, explaining that there are two separate issues — paving, and how to pay for it. “It’s not fair for [Unit 4] to pay for something that benefits the entire district. We need to talk about this as a district. We need a comprehensive discussion.”
Argue called for community input on the topic to develop a plan of action.
Supervisor Carol Jacobs said the milling fill on 180th Avenue contains sand that renders it useless as a base for paving.
“We need to put the right stuff down, she said. “Right now, those millings need to go.”
Argue said that the district has not had a chance to put together cost estimates, and she recommended a workshop in a couple of weeks to come up with a plan.
Acting District Manager Rob Robinson said he will meet with ITID finance staff to find possible funding for the project. “We will come up with a couple of options,” he said, agreeing with Jacobs that the millings need to be removed.
Robinson added that the district waters the road daily before school gets out, which is a delicate operation. Too much watering causes the material to stick to passing cars and presents a problem at the crossings.
Robinson said he will prepare several options for the board to consider that fit into the budget, even if it has to be done in segments.
Several members of the public spoke on the condition of 180th Avenue, which runs in front of schools where children are exposed to dust from the road.
Argue said the board is taking the conditions seriously and trying to come up with a long-range solution. “I know it’s frustrating for residents, as well as for us,” she said.
Jacobs suggested using the district’s three dump trucks to dig up the existing fill, but Argue said that would be wasting materials and time without a comprehensive plan to restore the road.
In a quick estimation, Robinson said that taking out the millings on 180th Avenue between Orange and Temple would be about 3,500 cubic yards, or 234 loads, which with three dump trucks making eight or nine trips per day would take about 13 days.
“We can go outside, we have the means to do that,” he said, explaining that just with the three district trucks, the complete job, including replacing the fill, would take about 28 days.
Road rock to replace the millings would require about 5,200 tons to replace the removed material after compaction, which he estimated would cost about $40,000 to remove, and another $80,000 or $90,000 for replacement rock.
“We have some available, but we will have to prepare the subgrade,” Robinson said. “We have to stabilize and compact it. It will take some time.”
Argue asked whether the district can go into reserves to pay for the cost, and ITID Attorney Mary Viator said it can, but the fund would have to be replenished, probably with an assessment increase.
Argue remained concerned that Unit 4 would bear the brunt of the cost.
“[Assessments] will go up to compensate, and that still does not give a long-term solution that everyone shares the cost,” she said, asking for a consensus of the board to look at funding options.
Argue recommended a workshop to come up with a plan.
Supervisor Ralph Bair asked for an estimate for paving, and ITID Engineer Jay Foy said it would be about a $1 million a mile to pave the road.
“Paving over garbage does not work,” Foy said. “Preparing the road is necessary. If you’re not preparing, you’re just wasting money.”
Argue said they could use the special meeting to also discuss a water control plan, as well as the R2 road improvement plan.
Bair made a motion to arrange the special meeting on Feb. 7, which carried 4-0 with Supervisor Jennifer Hager absent.
