W-B may buy machine reps say will fix potholes easier, faster, longer

WILKES-BARRE – City Council is considering the purchase of a machine that sales representatives claim will fix potholes faster and easier and produce a patch that will last longer.

Carol Volkenand of Highway Equipment, Drums, gave a presentation on the “Dura Patcher” at Tuesday night’s work session. The brochure she presented says the machine and the material it dispenses combine to be “the most cost-efficient method of road repair.”

Council was impressed enough to ask Volkenand and W. Craig Walter, northeast regional sales manager for the manufacturer, to give a demonstration at the Aug. 5 work session.

If the city opts for the Dura Patcher, Councilman Tony Thomas Jr. expects the city to realize significant savings. The machine costs $47,000 and is available through a contract with PennDOT, Thomas said.

“This process could save us half of what we pay for cold patch,” Thomas said. “And it won’t wash away the next day if it rains.”

Thomas said the machine would require less manpower and would allow for faster repair of more potholes on city streets.

In other business, Thomas urged city residents to attend Thursday’s meeting at 6 p.m. to offer input on the Luzerne County reassessment. City residents recently received their new property assessments as part of the countywide reassessment, but still don’t know how their city tax bills will be affected.

The city hasn’t decided whether to accept the new county figures. Hazleton, Nanticoke and Pittston – the county’s three other cities – have agreed to accept the figures established by 21st Century Appraisals Inc. The uncertainty affects only city tax bills. Wilkes-Barre residents’ property taxes for the school and county will be based on the new figures.

Leighton said the city is evaluating the new figures, but he is concerned about the city’s 2009 budget, which is due a month before the deadline for assessment appeals. The decision, however, isn’t up to the mayor; council must vote on whether to go with the new figures.

The 2008 city budget totals $37 million and the taxing rate is 73.63 mills. A mill is a $1 tax for every $1,000 of assessed value.

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