Road Committee Letter 02.08.12

To the residents of Bradford:

As budgets are finalized and residents turn out for Bradford’s annual Town Meeting, we’d like to provide you with some facts about important warrant articles for the Highway Department. We feel strongly that with accurate facts, you will be able to make a more informed decision when you vote.

The first article concerns the purchase of a new grader. We support this warrant article for the following reasons. Our current grader, a 1986 Dresser, has been in need of repair for nearly two years, but unfortunately, parts are no longer available for it. Dresser graders have not been produced since the 1990’s. Road Agent Jeff Remillard consulted with the company that purchased Dresser in November of 2010, and was told a new motor and transmission would cost upwards of $30,000. By the time funds were approved at Town Meeting the following March, the parts had been completely phased out, which is not unheard of in a 26-year-old machine.

The list price of the new grader was $401,000. The trade-in value of $25,000, plus additional municipal discounts, put the final price at $272,700. To further offset that cost, a grant has been awarded to the town in the amount of $68,000, and will be put toward the first year of repayment on the machine. Combined with the funds already approved by voters for the repair, which have not been spent, the estimated impact to the town will be a total of $175,000. There will be no tax impact this year, which we feel will give residents another year to recover from the recent economic slump. Next year’s expected tax impact will be about 14 cents per thousand, and will continue for the next four years.

With so many gravel roads in town requiring year-round maintenance, we feel this is well worth the investment in our infrastructure. Since the grader is equipped with a snowplow and wing, we will get the benefit of being able to use it during snow removal operations, as well as for spring and fall grading.

Another article concerns road reconstruction. Currently, four roads are targeted for improvement or reconstruction: Main Street, Old Warner Road, Greenhouse Lane and Howlett Road. The decision on which roads to target was not made arbitrarily, or by one person alone – Road Maintenance software from the State of New Hampshire was used as a guide, as well as input from the Board of Selectmen and this committee. Main Street is of particular concern because the new sidewalk grant only covers a five-foot strip of pavement to be laid out on each side of the road, which will leave old, cracked pavement in the middle. In addition, Howlett Road is a concern because of drainage issues – runoff from this road leads directly to Lake Massasecum.

Last year, two contractors provided pricing for the reconstruction of Old Warner Road alone, from Route 114 to Ring Hill. One estimate came in at $430,000 and the other at $450,000. Because of economic conditions, Road Agent Jeff Remillard was able to secure a volume discount for asphalt for all four roads as a package, for the price of $375,000, which includes the entire reconstruction of Old Warner Road. This is basically equal to getting two roads – Greenhouse Lane and Howlett Road – paved at no cost. Greenhouse Lane is deteriorating rapidly, and will receive a two-inch shim and overlay of asphalt, and the deteriorating asphalt at the bottom of Howlett Road will be removed and the road will be re-paved from the Route 114 intersection to the top of the hill, which is 2,000 feet. If residents amend this article and opt to pick and choose which roads should be addressed, this package pricing will go away, which will essentially jack up the price and cost residents more money. We can’t imagine anyone willing to pay more for the same services in the future when we have a substantial discount at our fingertips.

The Budget Committee has created a separate warrant article to appropriate funds for Main Street only, which we don’t feel is in the best interest of the town. To pay $140,000 for paving for a road that we can pave for $97,000 is simply a waste of taxpayer dollars. Prices for material will not decrease in the future, so please think carefully before putting this off.

We believe the road plan is solid, sensible, and that our tax dollars are being managed in an efficient manner. We are taking advantage of grant money and are trying to do our best to offset taxes as much as possible, while still maintaining the infrastructure of our town. If you have any questions, any member of the Roads Committee would be happy to answer them. Road Agent Jeff Remillard can be reached at the Highway Garage at 938-5916.