LOUDONVILLE — Vincent Drive residents raised concerns during Monday’s Village Council meeting about ongoing dust and gravel issues they said have damaged property.
Vincent Drive resident Rick Reese approached council with pictures from July 2 after a street sweeper coated his house in dust.
“I’m upset because it’s like living on a country road,” Reese said. “It’s constant dust with traffic going up and down the street. Please, just pave our road, you’ve paved the other streets in town here.”
The loose gravel on the roadway kicks up rocks and dust when the road sweepers go by. Residents are frustrated with additional maintenance required to keep their properties clean.
Residents said the road affects everyone. Older residents struggle to maintain their yards in the winter when salt trucks come through. Residents also said excessive gravel creates a safety concern for children riding bicycles on the road.
Village Administrator Garret DeWitt said discussions about what to do with the road began three or four years ago.
“Companies have come in and said the only real way to fix that street without having any future issues would be to rip the concrete out,” DeWitt said. “Their estimated cost of doing that was between $400,000 and $500,000.”
Some companies recommended using mortar-based technology for concrete repairs. The estimated cost was significantly lower, at about $57,000.
DeWitt said the village was not choosing the cheaper option simply to save money, but because the material was highly recommended and would provide a substantial cost reduction.
DeWitt said the village first tested the repair method on Campbell Street, and it performed well. After seeing no major issues, officials used the same treatment on Vincent Drive, but the results were not the same.
Council discussed a potential option to add an asphalt coating to the road, and residents appeared open to the proposal.
DeWitt plans to seek a cost estimate for the asphalt treatment recommended by a contractor.
Confirmation and oath of office for newest police officer
Council administered the confirmation and oath of office to officer Dalton M. Deel, the newest addition to the Loudonville Police Department.
Deel raised his right hand and recited the oath, promising to uphold and obey the Constitution and laws of the United States, the state of Ohio and the ordinances of the Village of Loudonville.
He shook hands with members of the council after his oath.
Deel previously served as a full-time officer with the Butler Police Department and spent six years as a Richland County Explorer participant in a law enforcement training program.
Council debates Ohio Route 3 speed limit
Council revisited the speed limit along State Route 3 when entering the village. Bill Huffman shared information from a recent conversation with an Ohio Department of Transportation engineer.
Huffman said the village has three options: increase the speed limit to 50 mph under state guidance, hire a consultant to determine the appropriate speed limit, or leave the speed limit at 35 mph, which he said could create issues with future ODOT funding opportunities.
Council members said they are hesitant to increase the speed limit because of the homes, businesses and high traffic the road experiences.
DeWitt said he would look into the cost of a traffic consultant before any decision is made.
