Road Repair

The Baldwin Borough Council is reviewing a preliminary list of 29 Baldwin streets and 30 total borough spots that are in need of some sort of road repair.

The borough's 2013 budget shows $800,000 allocated for such repair (up $50,000 from 2012), but the estimated cost to repair all 30 spots discussed at Tuesday night's council agenda meeting is over $3 million, meaning that not every troubled spot can likely be corrected this year.

The list includes 15 spots each in north and south Baldwin:

Instead of completely repaving each of these places for long-term restoration, the borough could save money and extend the life of existing pavement by merely seal coating, or "tar-and-chipping," troubled spots, borough engineer Larry Souleret said.

"There are some municipalities using it to spread their paving dollar out," Souleret said of seal coating. "The state does it a lot."

Said Councilman John Ferris about that possibility, "You buy yourself a good two years."

And Souleret said, "Maybe five or six (years)."

Borough Manager John Barrett said that Baldwin might be able to afford to repave each of the regular north Baldwin roads (Bour Street, Edward Drive, Hazelhurst Avenue, et al.) if the council decided to only seal coat the alleys (Carrie Way, Dryer Way, Gem Way, et al.).

The council will make a decision on which roads to repair—and the quality of that repair—at a future borough meeting.

Is there a spot not on this list that you think belongs? Tell us why in the comments section below, and feel free to upload images of bad roads to this article's address by clicking on one the green "Upload Photos and Videos" buttons above. Please add a caption to each image.

Public Hearing for Ryan Homes

Representatives of Ryan Homes, a developer of residences in north Baldwin's Breckenridge Highlands complex, will appear in front of the Baldwin Council at a special meeting on Jan. 15 at 6:30 p.m.

The Ryan reps will argue to have their "setback" for five future Breckenridge homes reduced to 15 feet. Setback is the amount of space required in the borough between a structure and the street that it sits along.

The borough's Planning Commission has rejected Ryan's request.

Read more about this topic here.

The special meeting will be held in the council chambers of the borough municipal building along Churchview Avenue. The meeting is open to the public, and should circumstances dictate, it would be moved to the municipal auditorium of the same building.

Mayor Absent

Baldwin Mayor Alexander R. Bennett Jr. was absent from Tuesday's meeting.

Baldwin Council Expected to Set Borough Millage at 5.41

Read here.

Click here for more Baldwin Borough news.

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