The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1939-1949, 1949-09-30
WEEKEND
VIEWPOINTS
BY ] w. HANSON
Editor. The CourieY.R Reporter

Kennewick's street problems
likely will be dealt with more
specifically in the future. That
is the hope that seems justified
after hearing the story of a re-.
organization move by the city
council on that important part
Of our city's business.
A new system of handling all
street repair and building prob.
lens has been worked out by the
councils street committee, which,
certainly is along the lines of
improved efficiency. The new
system calls for daily progress
reports from the city superinten.
dent to the streets committee, the
primary aim being a better UNI.
Outstanding all around of what
has been done, what is being
done, and what needs doing.
Councilman Fred Bunch who
has taken the leud in the re.
organization. says the duly
report plsn will give the street
committee up.to.t the minute
information on the stutus Of
oil projects as to progress of
the work and costs. and also
estimates on costs to come.
Other members of the commit.
tee ore councilmen Lawrence
Scott and Vernon E. Beull. The
street department is the larg.
the city government. A budget
OF $4,000 has been set up to
cover the cost of street repairs
and improvements during the
year 1850.
The present council has been
In office since last January 1.
When the first session was held,
the handling of street repairs
and improvements was on a hit
or-miss basis to some extent.
Problems had arisen so rapidly
that no council could keep in
step with the new needs. To
say this is no reflection on the
old council. 1t was like having
war flare up unexpectedly. AT.
ter nine months of thinking and
dealing with street problems,
we probably can look forward to-:
More streets cut through the
present dead ends. More prompt
action where repairs are needed,
more paving and repaving, and
quicker response to the com.
plants of the residents of the
community. That is a big order
but there is no reason why it all
can't be achieved with this bet.
ter street department system.
Here are some things to think
about in connection with the new
system: -. s..
There won't be enough money
to build all the streets that need
building In 1850. Some will have
to wait until the following year.
There are about 60 miles of
streets In the city now, which is
several times, the mileage of a
few we1rs Ego. Regardless on
how hard the department tries,
not all Of the repairs are going
to be made as soon as everybody
would like. Mr.. Bunch tells us
that b1acktop lasts about five
years. That means that with 60
miles of streets in the city, the
repair bill will run high and will
require much of the time of the
city's street crew. But the city
now has more equipment. It has
a grader, more trucks, and more
men to handle the machinery.
A year ago most of the work was
done with shovels. +
Bunch, Scott, and Beall will
hold street meetings once a
month to discuss every angle of
the street situation. All this on
top Of the discussion that takes
place at the, regular meetings
Of the city council and mayor.
Already plans are shaping UP for
a .120.foot boulevard running
from Plymouth road in the West
highlands to Gum street along
10th street and for streets con-
Meeting Kennewick avenue with
the Garden Tracts at points west
of the irrigation canal. Also plan.
ned is the widening of Fruitland
street from Front street to the
schools, which is a street i'm.
provement sorely needed. g.,