BROOKFIELD TOWNSHIP, Ohio - Brookfield Trustees are looking into how to pave more township roads that some say are almost impassable. 

 

Currently roads are paved around once every 40 years.

 

Some folks who live in Brookfield  have been complaining to trustees about the conditions of  township road. One man invited the road superintendent to walk on them as he does on his daily walk.

 

"Our roads are in bad shape. We have never passed a road levy in Brookfield Township ever. We are living off the general fund and certain road and bridge funds to use money," Trustee Dan Suttles said.

 

There is only around $40.000 in the general fund budget that can be used to pave around 45 miles of road, and since it costs about $135,000 to pave one mile of road so that general fund money can't even pay to have one mile paved.

 

A 3.5 mill levy would bring in about $187,000 thousand dollars a year.

 

The cost of doing nothing could mean much higher costs for paving in future years after roads deteriorate further, potential accidents, and higher costs to drivers for car, SUV, and truck repairs.

 

"It's a maintenance issue. It's a perception issue. It's all of those things, but safety is the number one thing. This is not a luxury, this is a need," said Trustee Mark Ferrara.

 

Before trustees ask drivers to travel down a road of passing a levy they will hold public hearings and plan to have a map made, listing all streets in Brookfield Township and the year they would be scheduled to be paved.