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Commission hears public frustration over potholes; public works outlines seasonal repair limits and techniques
Summary
Residents pressed the commission about potholes, collapsed sewer lines and apparent uneven attention across wards. Public works explained seasonal constraints, the use of mastic and hot‑patch techniques, crew sizes, and that local pavement plants typically do not open until mid‑April, limiting full resurfacing work.
Numerous speakers used the March 16 public-comment period to press the Bay City Commission about road deterioration, potholes and a specific sewer collapse; several residents said street conditions were driving residents away and asked why city crews focused repairs in some neighborhoods and not others.
Commissioner Coakley and other commissioners asked the city’s public-works representatives for details. Public‑works staff (Bob Dion) told the commission the department had been applying stored blacktop from its pole barn and experimenting with a tar-based mastic product—applied with portable heating and a mastic machine—that has been effective in colder months for temporary repairs. Dion said crews have been out “as long as weather can permit” and noted the city has about two four-person crews for patching work and about 10 staff in the street department.
Dion explained that permanent resurfacing is constrained because local pavement plants in Bay City and Saginaw typically do not open until mid‑April and heating the material in cold weather is costly; the department had used a combination of cold patch, heated hot patch, mastic and a zip machine to make temporary repairs. Commissioners asked whether hazardous holes are ever barricaded; staff said they do and that police reports and app submissions help direct crews.
Commissioners and staff acknowledged the city is falling behind on long‑term pavement needs and discussed the updated five‑year plan for infrastructure improvements and the limits of current budgets; Commissioner Dueweke said available funding is well short of what would be required to bring all streets to an adequate state.
The commission did not take a new funding vote at the March 16 meeting but requested continuing reporting and a forthcoming Transportation Asset Management (TAM) presentation from engineering to present project priorities and timelines.
