Earlier this year, during the snow melt, Dorchester residents were up-in-arms about the conditions of their streets. Rightfully so. In March, we heard reports of cars getting stuck on heavily traveled corridors. That's unacceptable.
But opponents of paving promised things would get better with warmer weather and that our muddy roads would become a distant memory. They were wrong.
But opponents of paving promised things would get better with warmer weather and that our muddy roads would become a distant memory. They were wrong.
The Times has already given our ten good reasons to put the paving issue on the general election ballot. We strongly urge the village board to let the residents of Dorchester decide on the paving issue this fall. Even when presented with several other project choices, more than half (52%) of Times readers want paved streets more than any other town improvement, according to a recent Times poll.
But if words aren't enough, let pictures do the talking.
For those who didn't have the pleasure of driving on Dorchester streets this past holiday weekend, below is what residents and out-of-town guests had to contend with. Once again, cars were getting stuck on our village streets -- in July!
But if words aren't enough, let pictures do the talking.
For those who didn't have the pleasure of driving on Dorchester streets this past holiday weekend, below is what residents and out-of-town guests had to contend with. Once again, cars were getting stuck on our village streets -- in July!
As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. (Click on photos for a closer view.)
That's after 1.5 inches, so what happens if it rains 3"????
ReplyDeleteyou know they said at the meetings, people we not going to be happy when they started this, and it just so happened it rain quite a bit, its progress though some might not think so. Lets dont get bent out of shape, like at the meetings, its going to get worse to make the roads, better. We all done want to complain about the roads, the farmers deal with it so lets dont blame the town, its mother nature, get over it and let progress begin.
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to give a big THANK YOU to the Dorchester Fire Department for the wonderful street dance and fireworks over the holiday weekend. It was nice to hacve a street dance in Dorchester again. Look forward to next year.
ReplyDeleteThose roads look like that because they are grading out the ditches, there working on them give it time.
ReplyDeleteWould the street be any different if it had been under construction for paving, Dorchester Times is not being fair to the town fathers that are trying to make improvements, with the dollars available, until other issues are completed, someone has to put up the money to get paving rolling.
ReplyDeleteI see the times is back to only printing things, they want printed.
ReplyDeleteCongrats! You guys post a picture of a street that is in the process of being worked on for drainage improvements 2 days before the rain. Gee I wonder why it looked this way. Fresh dirt put on the streed with some rock to try and build the base up then 1.5 inches of rain on top of it and then every body drivinig on it for the
ReplyDelete4th of July. Nice job. Your negative propaganda knows no bounds.
The Village is trying to take steps to improve the drainange and crowning of the streets and you chastise them for thier efforts because it rained during the project.
Way to go Times keep up the good work! Hope your proud of yourselves.
I surmise two possibilities about the posts above:
ReplyDelete1.) There is high level of lead in the drinking water in Dorchester.
2.) The same inarticulate reader is posting the same comments over and over again.
apparently some of the people that post comments about the streets don't have this problem in front of their house. One road in town is impassible going either direction. One of those pictures is in front of my house. I couldn't drive my car sunday down my own street and had to drive through my yard and out the alley to get through town. As soon as they do the north side of my house I'll have to park in the alley, I sure hope it dont rain. The muddy road problem might not have been too bad if they would have LAYED MORE ROCK! than just one truck load. I understand what they are doing and I'm glad something is being done. But a thin layer of 1 inch rock isnt enough for the project at hand so to all the homeowners with these road conditions expect them to stay that way til a thicker base is put down.
ReplyDeleteThat is awful! Nothing ever changes when people in Dorchester want to get the roads paved. There is always some reason not to do so! I used to live there over 15yrs ago and it is a shame some people would rather waste their money on gravel then get the paving done. If I lived there still my mouth would not shut up until it was done!
ReplyDeleteWeren't you guys starting to pave about thirty years ago or something??? I know the state's slow but, man alive
ReplyDeleteGive the village a chance to make improvement before you critcize them for it. At least they are trying, and under these circumstances I don't think the muddy road could have been avoided no matter how much rock was laid. The rain was still going to get down to the dirt underneath and cause the rock to sink into the mud. The real test will be to see if they fix it after the rain. What happened on that street can only be expected with that much rain. Sometimes you just need to give the Village a break. They are obviously trying to make improvements to the streets.
ReplyDeleteThis looks worse than Appalachia.
ReplyDeleteThese people have had plenty of time! Just Do Something Already! People have to wash their vehichles extra now just to be able to leave only where they have to go. Some do not have a whole lot of choices on what end of the road they can travel on. Did anyone think of the electric bill for the water to be used washing their vehichles?! WHAT A SHAME! WASTING PEOPLES MONEY already with econmy that is here already.
ReplyDeleteTwo words ... not cool!
ReplyDeleteHas anyone checked into grant money that might be out there? I haven't taken a grant writing class, but would be willing to do so. I believe that there are already people in Dorchester that know how to find and write grants. That would take some of the burden off of the residents!!Would anyone be willing to go to classes with me?
ReplyDeleteI agree they are trying. This is a waste of money that could go toward paving. It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out to haul the dirt away not put it on roads that have no base to begin with. Also you need to use at least 3" rock to do any good. I guess we will have to buy 4x4 vehicles to live in town. My guess is after election this will be wasted money. Between the petition for paying and the new board members we will get paving 30 years late.
ReplyDeletethese pitures, are just here for the people who want paving, I would like it but, dont see it happening for a long time, be happy, its a start, progress, it make come slowly, but it progress, I will take it, and not BS about it.
ReplyDeleteEven if this road is being improed during this picture what is going to happen next winter and next spring and next>>> you get the point. FWD thinking is all that is going to solve this problem. It I assume is an eletion year just as it is in my city so the board members are not wanting to put a vote on the table to put a bond up for election, but they should be looking at other avenues such as Gap paving. Some tax payer will be mad, some tax payer are always mad.
ReplyDeletewhat is gap paving, does anyone know there was a meeting the other night, lots of people didnt even no about it.
ReplyDeleteIf you don't like the town move and take the times and its people with you!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteActually, Anonymous, my hope is that the people who want to consistently improve the town force you out into the pasture.
ReplyDeleteThat's all.
SOME PEOPLE ARE JUST SO RUDE!
ReplyDeleteThanks 80s grad -- you said it perfectly!!!!
ReplyDeleteif this town wants to grow it needs to get out of its conservative set ways and reach out to new ideas for this town. If this town doesnt let new ideas in it will die just like all the other small towns in the U.S.
ReplyDeleteThe first thing the town needs is someone who actually knows how to operate a road grater. One would think after many years of using one, he might figure out how to use it and keep the streets in good condition.
ReplyDeleteGrater??? where did you get your edumacasion?
ReplyDeleteand maybe if you didn't go around tearing up the streeddddts wisht them 4 wheelers on rainy days the streets might not look soooooo bad.
How about taking a look at the country roads after a big rain.. Don't forget about the rural citizens of Dorchester the maintainers completely forget about. The snow removal was done by the local, kind farmers and the road maintenance might as well be done by them as well too because the Dorchester maintainers do not have a clue what they are doing.. What a waste of my tax dollars. And I hear people are tried of getting mud their garage because of unpaved streets... boo hoo. Again.. think about rural citizens.
ReplyDeleteTo anonymous, on august 4, put your money where your mouth is, some of the maintainers guys as you said have work there for many years, you probably dont have that much years in where you work, I bet you didnt complain, when they open your road this winter, you must be very ungrateful person, maybe they should leave your butt sitting, for I am sure you have nothing else to complain about. Lets see your happy little butt go maintain those roads,I sure that we would laugh at your work, and see how good they come out. If you want to complain, call the county commisioners, and ask them why they dont hire another person to help with the roads, there are only 2 guys where there use to be 3 complain to the people who took them away, not to the guys who maintain your roads, anyone call tell your probably the guy that is always writing something about them in the crete news, shame on you.
ReplyDeleteLeaving in regards to August 5th writer.. I agree that there should be 3 maintainers, it has left more work for the other two, however, it still should not lessen their abilities to do a good job. If they are as good as you say they are, then why are so many complaining? It seems that you are not able to read, but the August 4th writer said that the farmers dug themselves out and you state that the maintainers should of just left that person snowed in.. well it sounds to me that the maintainers left the rural communities snowed in. I have also seen in the Crete News where a county commisoner said that many Saline county citizens are hard to please, well it is hard to please people when you can hardly drive on the gravel roads.
ReplyDeleteAgain I can read, but until you have worked in a road grater, you have or does anyone else no, how hard it is to maintain the roads, when they have so many miles to do. No matter what city or town, people are never happy with the roads, it will never change, you have to do the best, even if its not to everyone liking, Again it is not the maintainers job to get the gravel, take that up with the higher ups. Complain to the highway superintendent, these guys the road maintence workers do there best with what they have, no one gave them credit, for as everyone knows it was a bad winter, how soon people forget.
ReplyDelete