Many of us have grown tired of the long bitter winter with the many swings in temperature that have taken a toll on our county roads. The issues with pot holes in my district this year are among the worst I’ve seen during my time as a county legislator. The condition of county roads is something that I take seriously because it affects so many of my constituents on a day-to-day basis. The county administration should be doing more to prevent excessive pothole damage that needs to be addressed immediately.
 
Most recently, I received a letter from the Town of Boston Supervisor Jason Keding regarding the condition of Zimmerman Road. Residents and town officials pointed out that road is in such poor shape that drivers are seeking out alternate routes during their daily commute. No one in our community should be inconvenienced by roads in disrepair. I took Supervisor Keding’s letter directly to our county administration, and I hope it addressed sooner rather than later.
 
Additionally, I've been notified of similar issues with Back Creek Road. Two months ago, a school bus got stuck because the road wasn’t plowed. According to plow drivers, the road was too difficult to access that day. This is unacceptable. The safety of our children is extremely important, and if that doesn’t put the necessary pressure on the administration, I’m not sure what will.
 
I'm also hoping the county will address drainage issues this Spring and Summer. I've noticed there are drain inlets caving in on Omphalius Road in the Town of Boston, as well as Freeman Road and Armor Duells Road in the Town of Orchard Park. Poor drainage is a major factor in contributing to the distress on our roads by forming cracks and deteriorating the pavement. If we fix this now, we can prevent more headaches in the future.
 
While I realize these issues can’t be solved overnight, I’d like to emphasize that early this year we approved funding in our budget for county roads. The money is there, it’s just a matter of the administration’s priorities. I will do everything I can to make sure this funding is used to repair the roads that need our attention the most and I hope we can begin to see improvements in the coming months. In the meantime, I urge anyone who has concerns about potholes on a particular road to take advantage of our county pothole line. Potholes can be reported by calling 716-858-7966 or emailing potholes@erie.gov.
 
On the other hand, I am pleased to announce work has begun on the intersection at Route 240, Genesee and Sibley Roads in the Town of Concord. After a public hearing where many residents voiced safety concerns, it was decided that installing four-way stop signs would be the most effective approach to reducing accidents. I'm also told that once the intersection is completed, crews will finish repaving the area of Route 240 and Vaughn Street. While these are just a few efforts to increase safety on our roads, I urge everyone to always be cautious and slow down. It’s simply not worth risking your life or someone else’s because you are in a hurry.
 
 If you have any questions or comments about a county issue, please contact me at 858-8850 or john.mills@erie.gov.