By Connie Footman,Special to the Sun Journal

DURHAM – Selectmen did not award a paving contract Tuesday night after hearing that two roads done last year by current low bidder Pike Industries have developed problems.

Road Commissioner Cliff Larrabee said Swamp and Cedar Pond roads, which were done by Pike Industries last year, broke up “pretty bad” after the winter, and Cedar Pond Road looks like it was 10 years old. He hired a firm to perform several tests on the pavement, and it was determined that there was not enough asphalt in the tar.

He contacted Pike, he said, asking them to make it “right.” Rather than putting a 1- to 2-inch overlay over the whole road as Larrabee wanted, Pike offered to make several spot repairs. He told selectmen that would not hold up.

Larrabee said he had never had problems with Pike before, and recommended that selectmen hold off awarding this year’s paving contract for two weeks until he can meet with Pike and try to work out an agreement.

Looking ahead to winter, Larrabee reported he had received two estimates for winter salt delivered: $46.93 per ton from Morton and $48.48 from International Salt of New Hampshire.

He said International’s salt is stored outside and the sand would come from its stockpile outside, while Morton’s is stored inside and does not get wet.

In addition, he noted, he would try to get Morton to deliver loads of salt direct “off the boat” instead of after it is moved to its stockpile for a better price.

Selectmen voted go with Morton.

Emergency Management Director Deborah Larrabee reported the new generator at the town office was “up and running as of Aug. 13” and will come on automatically every Thursday at 3:45 p.m. for testing. The generator was purchased through a federal Homeland Security grant.

September is National Emergency Preparedness month, and Larrabee plans to meet with people who live in flood-prone areas of the town. She will be handing out disaster planning guide booklets. She also plans to have state and county law enforcement officers on hand to explain procedures when flooded roads are closed.

The town has received $44,769.65 for the April rain damage, which does not include administrative costs. The sum of $43,135.13 will go toward roads, and $1,634.52 will go to the Fire Department, Larrabee said.

In other business, assessors approved nine tax abatements totaling $7,046.13 and authorized the tax collector to send three supplemental tax bills totaling $4,927.65.

Copy the Story Link