City resurfacing project starts in May

By Jessica Ruffcorn

Dayton Chronicle Reporter

DAYTON–Public Works Director Ryan Paulson presented a map and discussed plans on how best to use a $2 million grant to resurface most of the roads in the city.

The resurfacing project will use a process called Otta Seal, a surface treatment that uses a medium of rock that interlocks with each other like hot mix. Otta Seal can look like gravel after immediate installation, but over time the black oils will work up, creating the appearance of a normally paved surface.

On the map, sections in red represent the roads that will receive the treatment. The green sections represent current gravel roads that will be paved and treated only if the bids come in at or below engineering estimates.

A call for bids for the will be issued soon, with an expected start time in late May, and completing the project in early September. Paulson said that he plans to learn from the Third Street project and inform citizens early about work that will impact them. "I want to create mailers that will go out to everybody," said Paulson. "I want to put leaflets in the bills. I want to put it on social media. I am going to make door knockers. We are going to try and keep everybody informed as early as possible starting with maps."

In other business, the city council approved resolution 1534 to recognize the new Parks and Rec District for the pool. The approval of Van Whysong to the Historic Preservation committee, and of Jerry Keiser to the Planning Commission.

The mayor reported that the council continues to work through their council policies and procedures to update them, that there is no current update on the litigation case against the city-by-city resident Theresa Eier, and that there will be another workshop planned for March 19.

Public Works director Ryan Paulson also updated the council that when Charters pole attachments were granted to be demolished, the city's sound system was attached. Public works is looking to try and get this back up before Dayton Days. The remote meter reader changeover is continuing progress. The department rebuilt the second street gravel road through the park, and they now ask citizens to observe the five mile per hour speed limit.

Paulson also stated that he will be announcing animal control issues. "We had a dangerous dog designation for the animal incident back in January. That dog has been removed from the city. We have, unfortunately, another one coming down the line. It is probably a good thing to report to the community when we have a dog that has attacked someone and hospitalized someone, so that is something I am going to start reporting on," said Paulson.

He is working on obtaining a $5 million grant towards the wastewater treatment plant project. An application to work on sections of 4th Street to make them ADA compliance has been started. And the fishing pond is filling back up, and he is working to plan a city-wide kid fishing derby in April.

Both audits for the city were scheduled to be finalized last week. And all city council members have been given city official emails to use for council business. These new email addresses can be found on the city website.