City Unveils New, Aggressive Pothole Plan

The City of Indianapolis has announced an advanced, aggressive plan for attacking potholes. At Mayor Greg Ballard’s direction, the City is creating a plan to utilize private contractors to come along side AFSCME #725 union crews to assist with pothole repair. In addition, the City is working with local asphalt plants to get access to hot asphalt earlier than usual.

“Mayor Ballard has made it clear that our priority at the Department of Public Works (DPW) is to make the streets safe for travel,” said David Sherman, director of the Department of Public Works. “His direction is for our team to be as proactive as possible and this aggressive approach will help Indianapolis residents and commuters as they travel our streets.”

Asphalt plants typically close during the cold weather season as demand declines. With the increased demand from the City for both pothole repairs and RebuildIndy construction projects, we have been working with the local plants to see if they can open early. Having access to hot asphalt means that the repairs made by pothole crews will last longer. Typically during this time of year, the crews use a cold asphalt mix that works as a short-term fix until the asphalt plants are open.

This is in addition to the City’s efforts last weekend and this week with a pothole blitz that sent out extra crews daily to repair potholes.

The freeze-thaw cycles of Indianapolis weather cause potholes to be formed, sometimes overnight. DPW crews are working diligently to address them as quickly as possible.

Residents and commuters are encouraged to let the City know when a pothole is spotted. To report a pothole, please visit www.indy.gov/pothole. Potholes can also be reported by calling the Mayor’s Action Center at 327-4MAC.

SAP TO SYRUP AT INDY PARKS

Did you know that it takes about 50 gallons of sap to make one gallon of maple syrup? Or that real maple syrup is fat free and has the same amount of calcium as whole milk? Visit Holliday Park and Southeastway Park on Saturday, March 5, for a celebration of one of nature’s sweetest treats!

Families will discover how to turn maple sap into sweet maple syrup, plus learn how Native Americans collected sap, what the early pioneers did to turn it into syrup and how modern-day syrup farmers are able to make enough syrup to satisfy every person’s sweet tooth. Children and adults can try their hand at drilling a tap-hole, treat their tongues to a taste test and even create a maple souvenir to take home.

Dress for the weather and join us anytime at Holliday Park, 6363 Spring Mill Road, between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Cost is $5 per person and includes a pancake and sausage breakfast with real maple syrup. Pre-registration is required. To sign up, or for more information, please call the Holliday Park Nature Center at (317) 327-7180.

Or go to Southeastway Park at 5624 South Carroll Road, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Cost is $4 per person and pre-registration is required. To sign up, or for more information, please call Southeastway Park at (317) 861-5167.

For as little as $350 a month… you can own your own home!

YOU’RE INVITED!

No need to RSVP!

Home ownership Program Orientation

for Habitat for Humanity of Greater Indianapolis

For as little as $350 a month…
you can own your own home!

Fountain Square Library*
1066 Virginia Avenue
-Tues., March 1 @ 5:30pm

You are invited if you fit the following criteria:

NEED: Have lived in substandard, overcrowded or unsafe housing, paying excessive rent, not accessible to people with
disabilities, or government subsidized housing. Do not own their own home and will be a first time homebuyer.

RENTAL HISTORY: At least 18 months to 2 years of good rental history and needs to be a resident of Marion County

INCOME: Steady employment earning a limited income for 2 years and/or verifiable Social Security or SSI income for 2
years that will meet our income requirements.

CREDIT: Must not have any judgments and any bankruptcies must have filing dates of discharges greater than 2 years.

WILLINGNESS TO PARTNER: Complete 450 hours of work-equity in homeownership education classes & home
construction.

*This program is not sponsored by the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library

Partner with us in working towards owning your own home!

Notification of Feb. 23 Cultural Trail public meeting

As you know, construction will soon begin on the Southeast Corridor of the Indianapolis Cultural Trail - A Legacy of Gene & Marilyn Glick. Please join us on Wednesday, February 23 at 6:00 p.m. at the Fountain Square Theater Building for a public meeting where you'll learn the latest updates from ICT organizers on the construction schedule. Also, representatives from contractor Hunt Paving Company will be there to introduce themselves, take questions and meet residents and business owners from the area. The meeting is open to the public and everyone is welcome.