We demand a change in the winter maintanance of Bragg Hollow Road.

For many years the residents of the Bragg Hollow portion of Halcottsville have been requesting that the highway department discontinue its use of red-clay sand on the winter roads. We were told that the practice was to be ended. But now, two years later, our roads are still covered with slippery, filthy, red muck. We appreciate the diligence taken to keep our towns' roads in good condition but in the winter months we suffer with inconvenience, danger and costly damage created by the practice of using this sub-standard material. It is our contention that this practice actually costs the taxpayer more by increasing road surface degradation and generating excessive labor costs.
Below is a list outlining the problems associated with this practice.

1. The fine red-clay particulate holds water in suspension the road surface creating a damming effect trapping an icy, slippery slush on the road surface while other roadways treated with alternative forms of salt/non-clay gravel have long since dried. This not only creates slippery conditions but may be damaging to the road surface itself.

2. The enormous quantity of material eventually collects in the shoulder. This dried red-clay dust settles on plant life, clogs drainage, permanently stains clothing, sticks to houses’ siding, fills up garages and driveways and creates huge clouds of dust which ifs breathed in by pedestriansand requires multiple passes of spring-time sweepers and excavators to remove. This expense would be largely eliminated with the discontinuation of the practice.

3. The red-clay also collects on and in our vehicles where it hardens and damages the wheels, brakes, undercarriage and bodies of our cars causing unnecessary expense to the owner.

4. The practice of using this red-clay is not universally used within the township. The Hamlets of Halcottsville and Arkville, and perhaps others, use non-clay alternatives alleviating the burden to those residents.

5. We have been told that use of this red-clay product is a cost saving measure. However, it actually may cost the township much more. Excessive and unnecessary plowing to push the muck aside damages the road surface while the spring cleanup generates huge additions to labor costs.

Therefore, We the undersigned demand an immediate discontinuation of this practice and an immediate switch to an alternative product such as that used in the Halcottsville Hamlet.