Residents raise safety concerns about potholes, narrow streets and sideswipes

A resident, Kevin Keller, told the commission that potholes, uneven pavement and roadway dips on Smithville Road and nearby blocks have created hazardous driving conditions and that winter weather will worsen the risk. He also reported repeated sideswipe damage to parked cars on narrow neighborhood streets and asked the city to study solutions.

Keller said delivery and commercial vehicles sometimes pass too close to parked cars on narrow streets, increasing sideswipe risk; he and his wife have had vehicles sideswiped while parked. He also described curb paving that has reduced road crowning and caused yard flooding during heavy rain.

Commissioners acknowledged narrow streets are a citywide challenge and noted staffing and design constraints. Commissioner Turner suggested a traffic study, restrictions on parking or enforcement to reduce inoperable vehicles that consume on‑street spaces. City staff said narrow streets are common across Dayton’s built‑out neighborhoods and that they have been reviewing best practices; a unit has been working to remove inoperable vehicles and provide compliance notices.

The city manager said Smithville Road repaving is scheduled across the 2026–28 program years because reconstruction needs are substantial; staff agreed to follow up on specific neighborhood drainage and paving details.

The exchange was described by residents and followed by staff commitments to follow up, not by enactment of immediate policy changes or new enforcement orders during the meeting.