Snowflake Public Works Superintendent Terry Cooper expressed concern at the Sept. 23 town council meeting that local traffic will find a detour route around the Seventh Street South reconstruction project to avoid delays.

After listening to his proposal, the council approved funds to overlay the detour route.

The council approved the reconstruction project Sept. 9. The construction area is from the Jake Flake Crossing at the Cottonwood Wash eastward to approximately 900 feet east of Centennial Boulevard, and extends south on Centennial Boulevard for approximately 150 feet from Seventh Street South, which will partially close the intersection of Seventh South and Centennial Boulevard.

Two weeks later, Cooper advised the council that the current condition of Eighth Street South, a likely detour route, is not conducive to increased traffic volumes and proposed that town staff apply overlay to that section of Centennial Boulevard and to Eighth Street South applying 1½ inches of hot mix asphalt to that section of road. Cooper said that the existing base is in relatively good condition to support such an overlay.

He further requested that council approve approximately 250 feet of Centennial Boulevard south of the reconstruction project, which would require additional pavement materials and drainage improvements at the intersection of Eighth Street South and Centennial Boulevard.

The total length of the project is approximately 2,600 feet or one-half mile, and he estimated the cost at approximately $50,000 for materials.

Cooper said that they budgeted $60,000 this year for miscellaneous overlays.

Vice Mayor Jason Whiting asked if the materials would be purchased locally.

Cooper said that they would.

The council approved the expenditure of up to $50,000 for drainage and street improvements to segments of Centennial Boulevard, West Eighth Street South and South Sixth Street West.

In other business, the council approved Resolution No. 14-14, adopting a policy and procedures for purchasing from the mayor and members of the town council. The resolution states that the council could purchase without using competitive public bidding procedures if the amount of a single transaction does not exceed $300 and that the total transactions with any individual do not exceed $1,000 throughout the fiscal year.

Town Manager Paul Watson explained that this is an annual requirement under state law.