Carefree Truth

Issue #333, July 14, 2014

 

 

 

D.J. Stapley presented the update on the Streets Maintenance project.  Carefree contains 120 lane miles of public streets, worth 38 million dollars.  The cost to mill and pave all them would be 12-14 million dollars, which is why maintaining them is vital.  This involves the use of asphalt patches, crack sealing, and the application of a preservative seal to rejuvenate the streets, as recommended by the Asphalt Institute of America. 

 

 

 

Street evaluations are based on defects, and maintenance is based on the condition of each section of road and the intensity of service (traffic).  Treatments are applied as needed, rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach.  Priority is given to Stand Alone streets with lower ratings, streets within subdivisions, Stand Alones with the longest times since the last maintenance, Town Center, and the arterial streets.  See the map on the slide in the video for more details. 

 

 

 

The total projected cost of the 10 Year Maintenance Plan is 2.8 million dollars.  The major projects that will have been completed in 2014 cost 2.3 million dollars.  The remaining projects will cost approximately $330,000, and the bike lane grant project will cost $220,000. 

 

 

 

Councilwoman Melissa Price questioned the cost of the bike lanes.  Mr. Stapley explained that they were originally designed to be just bike lanes and not slurry sealed, but because Carefree uses Maricopa Association of Government (MAG) specs which requires slurry seal on all new pavement, he asked that  the bike lanes conform to those specs.  This was approved and will be included in the grant.

 

 

 

Mr. Stapley requested that an additional $75,000 be added to the contingency fund for the current project.  Mayor David Schwan clarified that the funds may not be needed but the final costs will not be known for another few weeks.  He said it is better to explain the situation and ask for funds now than when the project is completed.  The Mayor explained that core samples were taken but that it is a costly procedure.  It was discovered that the roads in Carefree have between 2"-5" of asphalt.  When milling and overlaying sections, the asphalt must be replaced to the existing depth.  There are more 5" sections than was originally estimated, so more material is required.

 

 

 

Councilman John Crane asked who was responsible for the estimate.  Mayor Schwan replied that the estimate was based on the best information the Town had at the time, and repeated that core samples are expensive.  He added that they tend to prefer to show less contingency funding, as contractors tend to find a way to use all the money they see originally budgeted.  Carefree put in a 5% contingency; the normal is 10-15%.  Mr. Crane asked how much of the project was completed to date.   Mr. Stapley said it is approximately 2/3 complete, and the existing approved contingency money has not yet been spent.  Mr. Neiss added that less than 1/4 of it has already been billed.   Mr. Stapley said most of it will be completed by mid August, and that they are ahead of schedule.  

 

 

 

Councilman Mike Farrar asked if any streets would remain unpaved.  Mayor Schwan said that Celestial Road, the last unpaved road in Carefree, would be paved during this project.  The residents who live there now want it paved.

 

 

 

Ms. Price asked what happens to the contingency money if it is not used.  Mayor Schwan replied that is stays in the bank.  Mr. Crane asked how large the contingency fund is in the current fiscal year budget and was told it is $200,000, $12,000 of which was spent on the signal light at the crosswalk on Tom Darlington.  Vice Mayor Les Peterson pointed out that all roads will be brought up to standards; some just need a little more to accomplish that.

 

 

 

Mr. Farrar asked if part of the project involved re-coating the streets in the Town Center.  Mr. Stapley answered that it was done and will not be repeated until towards the end of the 10 year cycle.  It is maintained about every 5-7 years, as it receives a high level of service and has a high visibility factor. Major work on most other streets is done every 7-10 years.  The Council unanimously voted to approve the request for additional contingency funding for the project.    

 

http://vimeo.com/user18676056/review/100248175/aeb9f813e3

 

 

Lyn Hitchon

 

 

 

Prepared by Carefree Truth

Visit our website at www.carefreetruth.com

If you know anyone who would like to be added to the Carefree Truth email list please contact me, and feel free to share Carefree Truth with others on your list. See what businesses and services Carefree has to offer http://www.carefree-az-businesses-experiencethedifference.com/CAREFREE,_AZ_BUSINESSES%3A_EXPERIENCE_THE_DIFFERENCE/CAREFREE_BUSINESS_CATEGORIES.html at Please support our merchants. Visit our Carefree Desert Gardens website at http://www.carefree-desert-gardens.com/Carefree_Desert_Gardens/Welcome.html