Stillwater roads: D-

NewsPress Editorial Board

April 07, 2008 10:50 am

— Stillwater has a tremendous infrastructure debt. Roads, sewer and water are all in need of attention. The report card for Stillwater’s roads bears a weak D. How much to improve that grade? Millions.
Money from the city’s miscellaneous streets fund is dedicated to the Westbrook Addition this year. Developed privately, according to city standards, the addition’s roads have fallen apart.
If the City Council is going to find a way to get an upper hand on the city’s growing infrastructure debt, solid standards will be needed for public improvements to be accepted by the council.
Opposition will come, and probably has already, for the increased cost of construction that will result. Those developers are part of this community and must realize they are building Stillwater’s future. Higher standards should be embraced by all and the council should make it a priority in the upcoming year.
Talk of new standards has been off the city’s radar through the election season. Budget time is coming soon and will require long hours of attention. And summer would be a perfect time to investigate upgrading requirements for public improvement standards for the better good of Stillwater.