Schertz reports nearly 1,000 potholes repaired; $2.4M slurry‑seal and multiple reconstruction projects planned

City staff told the Schertz City Council Tuesday that crews repaired nearly 1,000 potholes during the October–December quarter, completed 1.68 miles of crack sealing and deployed a new pothole truck and lay‑down equipment to speed repairs.

The quarterly streets report outlined a slate of upcoming work: a roughly $2,400,000 slurry‑seal (SPAM) resurfacing program, targeted rehabilitation projects, and several reconstruction efforts where underlying soil or utility work requires a larger scope.

Presenter Robert Snowback (public works staff) displayed an interactive dashboard staff are developing that maps completed pothole, sidewalk and pavement repairs and includes before‑and‑after photos. Snowback said crews used a unique paving material (UPM) purchased by ton for pothole work and that staff are training crews to use field tablets to enter repairs directly into the system.

Snowback identified neighborhoods and streets with recent repairs or planned work, including Randolph/Lower Seguin Road, portions of Aviation Heights, Trainer Hill, Pfau Road, Lindbergh, and larger patches at 4120 Cherry Tree, Cibolo Valley Drive, Elbel Road and Exchange. He said the city has completed 1.68 miles of crack sealing this quarter and listed missing or noncompliant sidewalks concentrated in older subdivisions such as Aviation Heights.

On planned projects, staff said the SPAM slurry‑seal program will include North Cliff area work and the city is advertising a separate rehabilitation project (smaller mileage but more intensive on a per‑street basis) with bids expected to open Feb. 13 and a contract award recommendation in March. Snowback said the slurry‑seal program cost is about $2,400,000.

Staff told the council that Columbia Drive shows extensive base failures and rapid pavement deterioration caused by soil movement; the recommended response is full reconstruction rather than rehabilitation. Snowback estimated reconstruction would cost about $1,000,000 more than a rehabilitation approach — “about 50% more,” he said — and therefore the work will proceed as a separate project.

Other projects named in the update include Buffalo Valley South (construction contract awarded; water and sewer replacement with street rehabilitation expected this spring), a small sewer extension and street work on Bell North and other local streets, a planned Banning reconstruction (design authorization to be placed on the Feb. 4 agenda), and ongoing coordination on the Main Street project where utility relocation and undergrounding work are being aligned with anticipated water and sewer replacements.

Snowback also said a utility provider referenced in the presentation expects to begin relocation work this summer to enable Main Street improvements and that storm‑temperature and rain events delayed some prep work for current resurfacing contracts.

Council and staff emphasized the dashboard and interactive map as a public tool for residents to view work and submit repairs. No formal council action occurred; staff will return with bid documents, task orders and design authorizations as individual agenda items.