Residents press board for full grading as Witches Woods details culvert repairs and lower salt use

At the Witches Woods annual meeting residents pressed the board for comprehensive grading and clearer schedules for repairs after reports from Ray Bonneau, who leads Roads and Right of Way.

Bonneau said crews cleaned 22 storm drains this year, made a temporary repair to a broken culvert on Crooked Trail Extension, and purchased a new pipe that will be installed when weather allows because the adjacent pond must dry out before digging. He said grading of roads is in the budget and that an improved salt/sand mix recommended by the new plowing contractor has reduced salt use to protect the lake and the environment.

Several residents described ongoing problems. “The stretch of Indian Spring Road has washboarding and no crown left,” resident Keith P said, urging a firm date for grading rather than piecemeal repairs. Rachel D identified ridges leading to her house already noted by John Albrecht and asked about two gravel piles at the Indian Spring Beach parking area; Ray explained one pile is for optimal road repair and the other is reserved for winter when the other pile freezes. Rich Baril argued roads need gravel for grading rather than scraping and noted drainage into ditches is inconsistent.

President Mike Moran and Ray Bonneau explained that unpaved roads are designed to slow traffic and that work will focus on sections with proven drainage or crown problems; some issues stem from uphill driveways that do not shed water appropriately. If the budget passes, the board intends to schedule the graded sections identified in engineering work previously paid for by the district.

Next steps: the board plans grading in identified sections pending weather and budget confirmation and will continue to deploy contractors and volunteers to address potholes and seasonal needs.