by Dennis Dalman
Sartell officials are receiving lots of complaints about potholes, especially on pock-marked 12th Street.
Fickle weather during this so-called spring have made it difficult to fill them all, and the snow-and-rain mix, plus the freeze-thaw, freeze-thaw conditions for months, have made the potholes worse (and deeper) than ever.
The pothole issue was discussed at the April 24 Sartell City Council meeting. Sartell Public Works Director John Kothenbeutel said there are other related reasons why filling the holes is not up to snuff quite yet. Every October, the city orders 20 tons of gravel fill. The city ran out of that and had to order another 60 tons. In addition, the oil used in the patch machines arrived late to the city because of supply-and-demand problems.
Kothenbeutel said every city is experiencing those issues that cause delays in pothole-patching work. He also noted pothole-riddled 12th Street is due to be entirely resurfaced, obviating the need for pothole patching.
