The Roanoke Rapids Public Works Department is asking city council for $500,000 to resume street resurfacing on city streets.
Public Works Director Larry Chalker told the panel during a budget work session Thursday there has not been a street resurfacing undertaking in nearly four years. “We could probably spend $2 million,” he said.
Chalker told council that Hinson Street, where public works is located, is coming apart, but added, “With the money we get we’re going to resurface the streets that need it the most.”
Council is meeting the various department heads at their buildings instead of having the meetings at the Lloyd Andrews City Meeting Hall. They met with the fire department Thursday afternoon.
Later in the meeting Chalker said, “There’s nothing in the capital line that we don’t need.”
In his capital requests the public works director is asking for $30,000 for the upgrade of the traffic signal at Seventh Street and Park Avenue, which is one of four the city owns. He said the light needs software and hardware updates.
He is asking for $445,000 for a pipe vacuum track which is used to clean catch basins and storm pipe drains.
The Roanoke Rapids Sanitary District will let the city use theirs.
The way the storm drain pipes and catch basins are currently cleaned out when the RRSD’s equipment is not available is through employees shoveling out the debris.
“That’s going to save dollars in the long run,” Councilman Wayne Smith said of the pipe vacuum truck.
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Chalker is asking for $240,000 for a new trash truck. The newest trash truck was bought in 2017 while the oldest was purchased around 2004. The city runs trash routes daily with Wednesdays being the lightest day.
There is a $65,000 request for a new leaf machine.
Chalker is requesting $200,000 for a knuckle boom truck, also referred to as a grappling truck. “We could probably get one for $100,000,” he said.
The problem with the truck is the boom gets worn out “and we’re constantly rebuilding them,” he said.
The public works director is asking for $100,000 for three F-150 trucks to replace three 1990 models. “The three we’re driving now are worn out.”
Another capital request is for $100,000 to replace a 1994 backhoe. “Every backhoe I have is down,” he said.
Renting one locally is $800 a week and the rental prices rise in larger areas of the state, Chalker said. “One-hundred thousand will probably buy a used one.”
Aside from the request for street resurfacing funds, Chalker is asking to unfreeze four positions in the street department.
The cost, with fringes, is $170,352.
The next round of budget sessions are scheduled for Tuesday, the first one at 8:30 a.m. in the first floor conference room of city hall and the second at 1 p.m. at T.J. Davis Recreation Center.
