Jason Nevel
The State Journal-Register
Sep 02, 2013
Often overlooked for the past decade, the condition of alleyways in Springfield is getting closer scrutiny. In the past year, Springfield Public Works Director Mark Mahoney said the city has implemented a two-pronged approach to restoring alleyway order in Springfield.
For the first time he’s aware of, Mahoney said, the city has developed a rating system for alleys — similar to what’s already in place for streets — to determine which are the worst. The rating system is in addition to an ongoing crackdown on home and business owners who don’t maintain alleys bordering their properties.
Since June, city inspectors have issued roughly 500 citations for overgrown grass, debris and solid waste. Violators who don’t heed the cleanup warnings can be fined up to $250.
The city typically relied on a resident or alderman calling the public works department about a pothole or someone fly dumping in an alley, he said. With the new rating system, Mahoney said, the city can develop an annual maintenance program for alleys that should allow the city to better stay on top of the problem.
This fall, repairs on some of the shoddier alleys is slated to start, along with continued patching of potholes when need be. Some of the overlay work will be contracted out, Mahoney added. “We wanted to come up with a system for alleys, similar to streets, where we do work every year,” he said. “But it all comes down to funding and priorities.”
Rating system
Last winter, engineering technicians began reviewing Springfield’s 960 alleys, Mahoney said. The technicians broke down the alleys into four categories: oil-mat (663), asphalt (218), rock (71) and concrete (8). The alleys were given a grade of poor, fair, good or very good. Fifty-two percent got a fair grade, 34 percent good, 12 percent poor and 2 percent very good.
***(In the interest of space, this article has been edited from the original.)
In Ward 7, Ald. Joe McMenamin said there are a number of alleys in poor shape. Before city crews patched up the double-alley, interurban right of way near Walnut Street, McMenaman said potholes nearly the size of a small couch had formed.
Pat Davlin, who lives in the 1700 block of Walnut, said it got to the point where motorists had to drive on the grass, cutting into the green space residents used for planting gardens. He and other neighbors have had to lay down rock in potholes in order for their vehicles to be able to pass through.
Enforcing alley rules
Perhaps more troubling than potholes, McMenamin said, the most frustrating problem with alleys is overgrown weeds, and in some cases, trees. In certain alleys in Ward 7, McMenamin said, it’s impossible to drive your vehicle through without having weeds brush against the side of it. Those overgrown weeds also invite an opportunity for crime and make the area appear more run down, he said.
One resident who lives on South State Street said she complained for months to the city about overgrown weeds at the back of her neighbor’s property. City crews finally came out last week to cut down the weeds, which she estimated had grown 10 feet tall. The woman, who asked not to be named, said the weeds attracted rodents, which in turn interested hawks.
Skip Costa, owner-manager of Roy’s Alterations & Custom Tailors for 32 years, across MacArthur Boulevard from the former Kmart and soon-to-be Hy-Vee, said he’s had issues for years with the alley behind his business. Costa said cleaner alleyways give a better first impression to customers, who often use the alley to get to his business.
* 218 asphalt alleys rated: 9 percent poor, 56 percent fair, 26 percent good and 7 percent very good
* 8 concrete alleys rated: 13 percent poor, 50 percent fair, 12 percent good and 25 percent very good
* 71 rock alleys rated: 21 percent poor, 44 percent fair and 35 percent good
Source: Public Works Department
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What city ordinance has to say about trimming trees and shrubs
Joe McMenamin for Ward 7 