Madison Messenger - May 2nd, 2021

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May 2, 2021 - MADISON MESSENGER - Page 7
Mt. Sterling makes plan to repair major potholes
By Kristy Zurbrick
Madison Editor
The village of Mount Sterling is making
plans to repair major potholes and make improvements
on Clark Street.
Last year, village staff patched minor
potholes and will continue to do so this year.
To take care of the larger and deeper potholes,
the village plans to contract with A.J.
Asphalt out of Columbus.
At the April 26 council meeting, Andy
Drake, council member and street committee
chairperson, reported that A.J. Asphalt
recently submitted an updated estimate for
the repairs. The estimate is $39,000 to repair
32 potholes.
Drake said the village has money left
over from last year that was earmarked for
major pothole repairs, but it is not enough
to cover the $39,000. The street committee
is going to prioritize the potholes from worst
to best and discuss whether to do what they
can with last year’s allocated money, ask
council to approve more money to take care
of the whole project now, or ask for more
money at a later date.
The pothole project focuses on streets the
village controls, but potholes are a problem
on State Route 56, too. Village leaders are
looking into what can be done with the state
controlled route.
“We’re going to see what we can do about
using highway moneys. That’s a bit more of
a significant construction project. As everyone
who has gone down 56 can tell you, (the
potholes) are pretty big,” Drake said.
“We are playing Whack-a-Mole a little bit
with the potholes on 56, but today we want
to get in a position where we have a game
plan for doing that and make sure they go away and they go away
permanently.”
The village also plans to slightly widen Clark Street at Main
Street and add a curb to prevent semi-trucks from driving through
a residential yard. They are contracting with A.J. Asphalt for this
work, too. The village is splitting the cost with BST which has a facility
off of Clark Street.
The village wants to have A.J. Asphalt do the pothole project (village
controlled streets only) and the Clark Street project at the
same time. This would eliminate a second trip to Mount Sterling
for the company and, therefore, cut down on costs to the village.
Once village leaders decide how they want to move forward with
the pothole work, they can set a timeline for the pothole project and
the Clark Street project.
In other street-related news, the street committee is putting together
a plan for installing stop signs on High and New streets.
“We’re receiving a lot of complaints about speeding, cut-through
traffic,” Drake said. “The stop signs are on order and we will move
forward as soon as they come in. It’s really gotten bad, and we need
to do something about it as soon as we possibly can.”
The village also plans to install signage to prevent through truck
traffic on New Street, Rosewood Avenue, and other streets in town.
Additionally, the village has set aside funding to gravel unpaved
alleyways. The street committee has ranked the alleys from worst
to best to prioritize the work.
The next street committee meeting is at 8 a.m. May 5 in council
chambers and open to the public.
New personnel
Council voted 4-2 to appropriate funding for a second full-time
street/utility worker and to hire Aaron Follrod to fill the position.
Council members Andy Drake, Melanie Fritz, Becky Martin and
David Timmons voted “yes.” Council members Craig Hix and Jay
Pettey voted “no.”
In-person hours at town hall
Council member Becky Martin asked if there are plans to have
the town hall staff return to full-time, in-person hours.
For a long time, Misty Vance, the utilities clerk, and Courtney
Bricker, the fiscal officer, worked remotely as a result of the pandemic.
In recent months, Vance has returned for some in-person
hours at town hall, first one day per week and now three days per
week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday), working from home the
other days. Bricker said she is pretty much back in-person full-time.
Martin said residents have expressed confusion about the hours
the utility clerk’s office is open, with it changing from closed, to one
day per week, to three days per week.
“With things opening back up more and more...for consistency,
it’s just something maybe we should consider soon,” she said.
Mayor Marci Darlington suggested the question be addressed at
the next water/wastewater committee meeting, which is set for 9
a.m. May 5 in council chambers at town hall.
Drug Take-Back Day
The Madison County Sheriff’s Office held a Drug Take-Back day
on April 24 at town hall. Four deputies and Sheriff John Swaney
were on hand to collect unneeded and expired medications for safe
disposal.
“I was down there, and it was a good turnout,” said council member
David Timmons.
The Sheriff’s Office plans to hold another Drug Take-Back day
in August.
Going extra mile to deliver meals
During National Volunteers Week, Madison Health celebrated their employees who deliver Meals-On-Wheels
to residents in London. The Madison Health team covers routes three days a week and has been participating
in this program for four years. In 2020, the Madison Health team delivered approximately 1,500
meals to 54 clients. Pictured with many of the Madison Health delivery team members is Leah Baird, Life-
Care Alliance Meals-On-Wheels coordinator for Madison County.