· By Travis Czech
Fix the Water First
Fresh asphalt looks good. But if the ditching and culverts underneath are failing, we have not fixed the road—we have covered up the problem.
Around here, water and frost will find every shortcut we take.
Fresh asphalt looks good. But if the ditching and culverts underneath are failing, we have not fixed the road—we have covered up the problem.
It is like painting over a water stain without fixing the leak. It looks better for a while, then taxpayers pay for it again.
My approach is simple: fix the water before laying the asphalt.
Before each road project, the Township should rank nearby culverts and drainage problems, replace the highest-risk ones first, and complete that work as part of the same project.
Starting with the 2027 road program, publish the priority list before construction season, complete what the budget allows, and report back in the fall.
This is not a new department or a blank cheque. It is doing the work in the right order.
We cannot rebuild every road in one year. We can make sure the roads we do rebuild last.
Fix the water first. Build the road once. Get better value from every tax dollar.