'Don't they care about Staley Road?': Residents out of patience on needed repairs

By Karen Carr Keefe

Senior Contributing Writer

Staley Road residents expressed frustration and concern at Monday’s Town Board meeting over a lack of progress after four years of advocating for increased safety measures on their road.

Alice Carlson told the board that it has been tough to see other Island roads repaved while Staley Road is left untouched, crumbling shoulders and all.

“I’d like to know why West River (Road) is more important than Staley Road,” Carlson said. “The town can spend money on a nice top cover on West River, and Staley Road gets absolutely no attention. We can’t even get our potholes filled on the edges of the road.”

She and other residents have been lobbying for repair to the road’s narrow shoulders, a full repaving – not micropaving – as well as drainage solutions and safe crossovers. Last July, the state denied a request to lower the speed limit to 40 mph.

Over a four-year period, residents have taken turns attending Town Board meetings to bring forward complaints about speeding, heavy truck traffic to pharmaceutical companies at the west end of Staley, and the need to widen the road’s shoulders. They have said they can’t safely walk to their mailboxes, ride their bikes or even back out of their own driveways.

Town officials don’t deny the work is needed, but they have struggled to find ways to pay for it. They are awaiting word on applications to the state and federal governments for grants to complete the needed work.

“I can't even attempt to ride a bicycle to West River to ride on the Parkway,” Carlson told the board. “Why, what's happened to Staley Road? What's happened to this town? Don't they care about Staley Road – one of the worst roads?”

“You’re getting all this tax money from the pharmaceuticals, which, evidently, they are not interested in helping out any of the residents on Staley Road. Why don't they care about us?” Carlson asked.

During closing remarks from the board, several council members spoke up about the Staley Road issue in answer to Carlson’s plea.

Council member Jose Garcia said, “To the best of my knowledge, the schedule for repaving and the amount of money that it would cost for Staley Road was way higher than what West River (Road) was. … To use that money to try to fix Staley Road, it wouldn't get anywhere. It would be just a little bit of a fix and it wouldn't complete Staley Road.

“We don't have the funding yet – the hope is that we will – but we don't have it yet, so they have to do something with their budget. And they were able to complete West River in the interim, and that's what the highway superintendent explained to us when that came up for a vote.”

Garcia added, “I’m sorry you can’t walk or ride on Staley Road. I completely understand. I drive down and I look at it. I’m horrified by it, and I'm hoping we're going to find a solution for it. I completely understand your concerns.”

Council member Dan Kilmer concurred with Garcia.

“The problem is, we could actually ask why any road is being paved on Grand Island before Staley. And I think what it is, is the price tag for Staley is so big we've looked for outside help,” Kilmer said.

“We've talked, we've tried to get (financial help) from the federal government, the state government; so, I think we've all kind of hoped that someone would pitch in, including the pharmaceuticals. I think they've been far from stepping up to the plate.”

“So, I think in some ways, we’re also hoping that we can get some help on the expense of this road. It is it is very expensive to do the drainage and the shoulders.”

After the meeting, several Staley Road residents had more questions for Garcia, who had pointed out the state and federal fund requests for repair money are still pending.

Paula Sciuk said, “If we don’t get the money for the road, the road is going to continue to deteriorate, and that’s what’s happening.”

Garcia replied, “Then we make a move to bond this thing, and whatever it costs … we do it.”