New Streets, Wet Streets

Paving Franklin Avenue
New Streets, Wet Streets
The June 5, 2006 Council Meeting was called to order at 7:49 by president Robert Seelie.
Quite a few rows of seats were occupied by friends and coworkers of Eugenia Gorski to recognize her retirement. Council passed a resolution introduced by Mayor Thomas George praising Gorski's long and valued service in the city's health department. George said, "she has always been a special person to us at city hall. She has always been ahead of the curve and taken the initiative.
In response, Gorski said "I choose to live in the community that I love, Lakewood."
In a verbal report from the public works committee council member Ryan Demro (ward two) complimented the administration on the sidewalk repair program. "The administration has a good plan that the residents understand and we are pleased with it," said Demro.
Council member Kevin Butler (ward one) then read a letter requesting cooperation to save the Hall House. Saving this historic home is still part of the planning for a parking lot at Detroit and Edwards. Butler hopes that between the city, the owner of the private lots, and the Lakewood Historical Society that a plot can be found to place this structure. Neighbor Michael Gill said " These historic homes are an asset and I hope that you will do what you can to save the Hall House."
Last Wednesday, shortly after 1:00 PM the emergency warning siren sounded. It was a prelude to three inches of rain in under an hour. Heard on the police scanner was a patrolman describing a manhole cover on Clifton being blown four feet into the air. Another officer on the Warren Road I 90 overpass asked if Lakewood could shut down the Interstate due to the sudden flooding. When the rain finally stopped it took until 5:00 for the traffic and the water to drain out of Lakewood.
Left in the aftermath were flooded basements. Public Works Director Tony Beno said that a comprehensive report was being compiled to add to the data base necessary to upgrade the sewers. Human Services Director Dottie Buckon said that the city's Health Department had basement clean up advice on the city website. Mayor George said that the long range sewer improvements mandated by the federal EPA would go a long way to solving basement flooding.
Business then switched from wet streets to new streets. Beno wanted council to drop Robinwood Avenue from this year's street repair program and add Roycroft Avenue. The future plans for Lakewood High School which borders Robinwood indicates that postponement of repairs is advisable. It will be recalled that in January City Engineer Dennis Albrecht presented a comprehensive street rebuilding plan based on objective engineering criteria. Council member Michael Dever (at large) asked Beno if Roycroft was the next street on the long term plan. Beno replied that it was and that the plan which council and the administration had worked together to achieve was being maintained.
Residents might have observed a flame and smoke belching paving machine on several Lakewood streets. This behemoth is resurfacing five streets this year and is using a process and machine that was invented here in Cleveland.
It's called hot in place asphalt recycling and is done by the Benedetti Paving Company from Bedford. Al Benedetti, son of founder and inventor Angelo Benedetti described the process to the Lakewood Observer.
The front of the machine is a heater fueled by propane. The heat and flames make the old surface soft. This old pavement is then ground up with a circular auger gear and brought up into a rejuvenating tank. In this tank the old blacktop is combined with new polymers and other additives to bring it back to a new condition. It's then laid down from the back of the machine to be rolled out as a new coat of asphalt.
"My Dad invented this process out of necessity in 1969," said Benedetti. He had to finish a job at the beginning of winter and ran out of new asphalt. So, he heated up the old, ground it up, and relayed it. The customer was satisfied and we went on to fabricate this specialty machine which we manufacture here in Bedford. We sell them all over the world."
Besides the benefits of recycling and minimum disruption to residents there is a cost saving. According to Beno, the city is saving about $700,000 this year by using this method as compared to the deep grind and overlay method.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:51.
Reported by Stan Austin- Lakewood Observer City Council Reporter
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Volume 2, Issue 12, Posted 2:02 AM, 06.10.06