Council debates one-night pavement milling ahead of Blossom Time Festival

Chagrin Falls officials told council on May 11 that a one-night pavement milling operation is planned to taper newly installed curbing and reduce trip hazards ahead of the Blossom Time Festival.

Chief Administrator Robert Jamieson said the milling is scheduled Thursday evening through Friday morning and that areas adjacent to ADA crossings and driveways would be patched separately to ensure smooth transitions. “The primary concern driving the plan was eliminating trip hazards,” the minutes note as Mayor Tomko and staff emphasized coordination with the project inspector from Verdantas.

Councilmember Tim Rockey questioned whether the milled surface could lead to ponding given a rain forecast over the Memorial Day weekend and whether the tapered sections near crosswalks would meet ADA standards; he suggested patching with hot asphalt as a potentially more practical approach because the pavement will be milled again in a matter of weeks. Jamieson acknowledged the concern and said he would review whether an alternative approach is feasible; DeBernardo asked Rockey and Jamieson to coordinate offline.

Council also flagged an open void near Main and Washington that staff was asked to stabilize before the festival. The council directed daily oversight of the downtown work and planned a Friday site review with the project inspector, with the goal of completing work before the festival.