Hillsborough street department outlines projects, including Orchard Drive mastic pilot and South Wilson reconstruction

Dale Dahlke, who identified himself as a long‑time member of the Street Department, presented an annual departmental update that covered several ongoing and planned projects. He said the department has been staffing sanitation operations since Thanksgiving while hiring efforts continue, described a mastic application pilot for Orchard Drive to seal holes and cracks, and summarized recent curb and overlay work at the north end of town.

Dahlke outlined upcoming projects: South Wilson Street reconstruction is under way (removals began the prior week but rain delayed work), South Lincoln is scheduled to follow, and gas service relocations are occurring on South Lincoln to accommodate the project. He described the mastic process and the need to reapply in places over time and noted crosswalk visibility improvements using colored reflective materials around schools.

Council members asked schedule and scope questions (e.g., how much the Wilson project has been delayed by rain; Dahlke said about two days), and residents asked about paving gravel blocks such as Oak Street, which prompted staff to explain special-assessment processes and majority-consent thresholds. Dahlke invited council and residents to visit crews to see ongoing operations and maintenance approaches.