Road Repairs Underway; Volunteers Lend a Hand

The Holden Street Department, along with the help of some hard-working volunteers, have been busy repaving roads and making much-needed street repairs throughout Holden.

Street department crew members, Ron Heinemann, Shawn Guinn and Ronnie Cantrell, were joined by volunteers, Mayor Doyle Weeks, his son Dewy, Lieutenant Steve King of the Holden Fire Department, and Council Member Julie Fields, to improve and asphalt Holden streets.
Mayor Weeks said the problem is the street department is short on personnel and so the others volunteered to help lay asphalt on city streets.

“We decided to assist, learn the process, and lend a hand,” Mayor Weeks said. “We, as elected officials, need to better understand the whole process.

“The trouble we have always had is not having enough street department personnel to do the job. This makes it take longer to get anything accomplished.

“Seeing the issues for ourselves helps us to better understand.” The mayor said a fourth street department employee will be hired to help with the big job of keeping up with street repairs.

He added, a lot of motorists continue to drive around the barriers meant to keep a work zone and personnel safe.
“We have a lot of construction going on throughout our city,” he added. “Give them room.

“Remember what the outcome will be. We’re building a better community for all. We have a lot of roads that need to be repaired and we’re working on it. It takes time.

“We have three guys to do all of our city road work. We are working on getting a fourth person hired. We (the volunteers) are just trying to help when we can to speed up the process.”

The group has been working on paving 10th, Niagara, 3rd, 4th, 14th and 16th Streets. They have put in some long days, starting at 7:30 a.m. and working until 8:30 p.m.

Significant progress has been made with the additional help of volunteers, and area residents are appreciative of the group’s efforts.

Remember, when you are driving on Holden streets to avoid work zones and give workers a safe space to do their jobs.