Hagerstown is planning to buy a crack sealer to prolong the life of town streets.
The Town Council authorized Town Manager Chris LaMar to buy a machine that will seal cracks in streets after quizzing him about it on Aug. 8. LaMar told the council that the machine, which puts tar in cracks, would keep rainwater from seeping in and damaging streets, adding three to five years to a street’s expected life.
He has priced used machines for sale at between $51,000 to $58,000. It costs about $5,000 to rent a machine each time the town needs to make such repairs. He thinks nearby towns might want to rent the machine from Hagerstown for their own streets.
In other business, LaMar said he has been looking at replacing a town-owned information sign on East Main Street, near Precision Wire Assemblies. He is considering a sign with lighted lettering. The wooden sign there now has plastic letters that are put up by hand. The Hagerstown Lions Club paid for that sign in the late 1980s.
He also reported that the town has interviewed a candidate for building commissioner. The Plan Commission was to meet with the candidate this month and make a recommendation to the town. The current commissioner is retiring.
The council also approved a low-interest $22,000 loan from the town’s economic development revolving fund to Abbott’s Candies for infrastructure, machinery and business equipment. At 2-1/2% interest, the loan is to be repaid over 10 years.
The next council meeting is at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 5, postponed one day because of the Labor Day holiday. The public may attend the meeting in Town Hall, 49 E. College St.
A version of this article appeared in the August 16 2023 print edition of the Western Wayne News.