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Council asks public works for plan to spend next year’s road funds after review of resurfacing options
Summary
After receiving an updated roads report and resurfacing cost estimates, the council directed public works to produce options for allocating next fiscal year's road funding and to propose a prioritized plan.
Richmond — The Town Council directed the public works director to return with a prioritized plan describing how to use the funds currently allocated for road work in the FY 2025–26 capital improvement plan.
Public Works presented a multi-page report showing estimated costs for resurfacing, chip sealing and other pavement treatments across town roads. The report included sample per‑mile estimates for several surface options — from rubberized chip seals to full reclamation — and identified roads the department recommends for resurfacing or preventative treatments. Councilors asked questions about treatment lifespans, the interaction between drainage work and pavement repairs, and state cost‑sharing programs.
Councilors and staff discussed the state’s RoadRestore program, which now has permanent funding and offers municipalities a match (the state funds approximately one-third of qualifying projects and communities match the remainder). The council requested that public works identify projects that could align with the state's program and noted that grant timelines and matching requirements could affect which roads to prioritize.
At the meeting councilor Reynolds moved — and the council seconded and approved — a direction for public works to return with a plan and options for how to spend the town’s road allocation in the coming year. The motion also contemplated that two council members would work with the director and report back; councilors indicated they would coordinate logistics and, if needed, convene a workshop or committee meeting to review the recommended list.
Public Works said early estimates show a wide range of per‑mile costs depending on treatment type; the council urged staff to present costed options for single-mile and multi-mile projects as well as short-term versus long-term treatments. Councilors also requested that staff examine the possibility of combining small projects to improve procurement efficiency and cost-per-mile outcomes.
The council emphasized speed on planning, citing a statutory and budget cycle that requires proposals to be ready for grant and procurement deadlines. The council’s direction does not commit funds beyond the budget already adopted but sets the process the town will use to allocate the road dollars already in the capital plan.
