DUMMERSTON — Roads Foreman Lee Chamberlin brought good news to the May 10 regular Selectboard meeting: The highway department has a $34,000 budget surplus this fiscal year, and winter weather is likely over, so no more plowing and sanding is necessary.
Chamberlin and Selectboard Chair Zeke Goodband attributed the surplus to having one highway crew member out on medical leave and a lower-than-expected price for diesel fuel.
“Lee is trying get projects done that aren't in the budget,” Goodband told The Commons, noting they are all safety improvements.
Chamberlin gave the Selectboard a rundown of what he intends to do with the excess funding. The Board approved of his plans, and gave him a list indicating the order in which to complete them. Most projects address visibility and erosion concerns.
First up is the ledge on East-West Road near the covered bridge. Chamberlin noted there's a puddle that forms on the road, and he would like his crew to remove some of the ledge to increase the shoulder “to get the water off there,” he said.
This project requires a hammer and excavator rental, and Chamberlin's estimated cost for the work is $5,000.
Next, the roads crew will work on the ledge at the intersection of East-West Road and Green Mountain Camp Road, using a hammer/excavator combination that costs $2,000 per day to rent.
Bunker Hill is next. Chamberlin wants to remove some tree stumps and fill, and do some sloping, toward the bottom of Bunker Road. He said this will improve visibility and may involve placing riprap on the hill to curtail erosion. Without the riprap, the project would cost approximately $1,200.
Miller Road where it meets East-West Road also needs some stump removal and visibility improvements, Chamberlin said. This will cost about $850.
Hague Road near East-West Road needs better visibility, and Chamberlin plans to remove some ledge using an excavator and hammer at $2,000 per day.
Other small projects Chamberlin wants to work on are tree removal on Dutton Farm Road and the Bunker Hill culvert.
“We'll still probably have a surplus after the projects are done,” Goodband said, and that money could get rolled into next year's highway budget.