Atco Road resurfaces
in Damascus

By DAVID JACKMAN

DAMASCUS — Suit Kote, the unsuccessful paver of Atco Road, has suggested yet another remediation. The paving company from Cortland, NY, suggested that the 1.7-mile road be covered with three and a half inches of coal mix on top of the existing deteriorating surface, with an additional sealer applied by the township.

Residents reacted angrily to the proposal by Suit Kote as presented by Solicitor Rich Henry at the September 17 Damascus Township Supervisors’ meeting that the roadway would cost Damascus taxpayers an additional $75,000 for recycling and $30,000 for resealing. The original recycling and repaving of the road cost in excess of $80,000 in 1997. In 1999, the road was recycled again, with the agreement that the town provide coarse aggregate, pay for some of the trucking costs and maintain the road with a wearable sealer surface.

“Why are we paying for this again, when we paid for it the first time?” Wayne Rutledge said. Rutledge played an audio recording from a March 16, 1998 meeting that indicated a two-year guarantee from Suit-Kote, saying, “It wouldn’t cost the town a nickel” for additional work.”

Retired engineer Donald Young, a Damascus property owner, discussed complications of using a coal mix, while resident Rolf Beck presented his own research on road paving by speaking to Suit-Kote competitors. Beck said he has sample evidence of an inferior emulsion used by Suit-Kote, along with photographs and videotapes to present a possible litigation case.

The supervisor recessed to executive session, and passed a resolution to form a committee with residents, town supervisors and the engineering consultant for the town, Jack Scheuer from Karam Associates in Clark Summit. It agreed to schedule a work session and review the results at a scheduled public meeting.

In other board matters, a Damascus blood drive will take place on October 12 at the lower driveway at the school from 12:45 to 5:45 p.m. “I’m appealing to [the community to] make Damascus proud,” said one area resident that will be working at the drive. The Damascus Township also needs volunteers to help with its recycling program, the second Saturday of the month, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the township building.

The board also approved payment of $250 to Dexter Construction for stockpiling anti-skid material from September 17 , 2001 to September 17, 2002 on approximately one acre of land adjacent to Route 652.