Saenz angered over delayed street projects

BARSTOW • After being informed at Monday’s City Council meeting of the delay of five street projects that should have started Nov. 9, Councilman Tim Saenz was skeptical that any of the projects on Barstow’s capital improvement list would be finished by the end of this fiscal year.

Saenz also said Tuesday that he didn’t buy the argument that it’s too cold to start the delayed projects. Cooley Construction Inc., the Hesperia-based company hired by the city in October, recommended the projects be postponed until spring when it would be warmer to pave.

At the meeting, Ron Rector, Barstow’s community and economic development director, said after the company made its recommendation to postpone the projects, the city sent a letter Friday telling Cooley to proceed. In response to the city’s letter, Cooley requested to extend the projects to Spring 2010 because it’s too cold to complete them, according to Rector.

The reason for the company’s initial recommendation was that there temperatures aren’t warm enough for the asphalt to bond properly. The projects, which were held over from last year, include streets in the Lenwood Road area as well as a portion of Main Street in Downtown Barstow.

According to Saenz, even though it may be too cold at night to pave the roads, temperatures during the day are warm enough. The California Department of Transportation’s temperature requirement for laying down asphalt is between 50 and 60 degrees, Saenz said, adding that he works in construction. Concerns about the cold weather should have been brought up during the bidding process, he said.

At the meeting, Saenz said one of his goals during his term on the Council is to create a 10 to 15-year strategic plan for Barstow’s roads. He said he would look at funding mechanisms, including a bond or, as a last resort, a tax, to get all of Barstow’s roads repaired.

“Our streets are in an emergency state,” he said. “If we’re looking at attracting businesses, (poor streets) says we don’t know how to maintain them.”

Contact the writer:
(760) 256-4123 or jcejnar@desertdispatch.com

City Council recap for Nov. 16, 2009

Among items discussed at Monday’s City Council meeting:

Veteran memorial park foundation created • The Council gave its blessing to Councilman Willie Hailey Sr. to establish a non-profit foundation dedicated to establishing a memorial park for Barstow’s veterans. Hailey said he consulted with local veterans groups, including the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign wars, who have said that rather than putting a memorial on an existing park, they want to establish a new park. Another idea the group came up with is establishing an engraved brick program so every veteran would have his or her name on the memorial.

Hernandez reappointed to Planning Commission • The Barstow City Council unanimously reappointed Carmen Hernandez to the Barstow Planning Commission. Hernandez was appointed to the commission in January 2006, according to Rector. Her new term will last until Dec. 31, 2013.