A project to improve Rodeo Road in Snowflake was unanimously approved last week by the town council.

“We want to make it more of a collector street,” said Town Manager Brian Richards.

He noted that staff members felt it “deserved some improvement. It’s more of a collector street.” Improvements on Rodeo Road would give access from State Route 77 to Centennial Blvd.

Right-of-way has been acquired from a property owner that will straighten out the blind curve, and there are two trees that can be removed.

“We felt like this would be an improvement to the community itself by allowing people to go back and forth between Highway 77 and Centennial,” said Richards.

The town has $350,000 in street maintenance materials, and staff estimated this would cost $175,000 if the town’s crew was used. The town has put in culverts and millings over the past year.

Mayor Lynn Johnson noted a conversation he had with Snowflake School District Superintendent Hollis Merrell regarding the traffic situation at Snowflake Junior High School, and the need to explore alternative transportation routes.

The mayor asked Councilman Cory Johnson, who is also a member of the school district governing board, to report on the governing board meeting held prior to the council session.

“We talked about the need to fix the problem at the junior high,” said the councilman, noting that at one time the district had busses going down Rodeo Road, but it was hard on the buses.

“I think it shows…that we’re serious about helping them (the school district) out,” said Councilman Johnson.

Staff recommended improving Rodeo Road with a 3” AC overlay using town staff at an estimated materials cost of $175.000. Work would commence toward the latter half of August when the softball season has been completed.

The total amount budgeted for maintenance materials in fiscal year 2018 is $352,000.

In other business June 27, the council unanimously approved a variance requested by Mountain Time Management, LLC to place a manufactured office building on its property.

The Snowflake Planning & Zoning Commission met the previous night and voted 4-0 to recommend approval of the request to the council.