A new method for determining "pavement projects" in Lexington is moving forward. It got a full discussion Tuesday before council’s Environmental Quality and Public Works Committee.
The debate at city hall often focuses on determining conditions of local streets and then determining how much money goes to each council district. Environmental Quality and Public Works Commissioner Dowell Hoskins-Squier says almost $13 million will be divided over the next year. She says, in the past, council members have had full discretion in determining how to spend money in their district, “Moving forward, the administration will build a five year capital improvement plan for major arterials, minor arterials, and collectors. And that responsibility will not be on the council members.”
Council members will still select local street projects. Not everyone is pleased with suggested funding for paving. Council member Jennifer Scutchfield believes her district is being slighted because of prior efforts to address road condition problems. “My district is paying taxes, but yet, they’re getting less. So, I guess I should have done a really bad job in paving and then I’d get more funds,” argued Scutchfield.
Hoskins-Squier responded by saying there are more roads in other council districts in poorer condition. Plus she added there’s significant new development in the seventh district.?
