Volunteers cause a media swarm by fixing potholes on their own

A group of residents recently decided to take matters into their own hands and fill potholes that the city had yet to get to. Their action attracted a lot of media attention.
Photo courtesy of the Hamtramck Guerilla Road Repair

By Charles Sercombe
There are Do It Yourself projects, and then there is Hamtramck’s version of a DIY.
The city has been all over local and national media this week after several residents took matters into their own hands and began filling potholes when they got tired of waiting and waiting for the city to get to them.
It all began, like so many other Hamtramck-born inspirations, with a group of people having a few beers and talking about the city.
By now, most of you have probably heard the story: Jonathan Weier, 32, and some buddies were at a local bar complaining/wondering what could be done about getting potholes filled.
It didn’t take long to come up with a solution: Let’s do it ourselves.
“I guess the tipping point was when on Facebook I got feedback,” Weier said.
Namely, the feedback that got things going came from Mayor Karen Majewski, who gave her blessing.
“It was enough to proceed to do this,” Weier said.
Armed with $150, Weier and crew – who go by the name of Hamtramck Guerilla Road Repair — bought some pothole filler and took care of several potholes on Lumpkin.
They then set up an online fundraiser, with the goal to raise $5,000. At press time Thursday, several hundred dollars had been raised, including a donation by Mayor Majewski, who applauded the effort.
“I have no problem with residents taking projects like this — that everyone agrees need to be done and that make all of our lives better–into their own hands,” Majewski said.
“I’ve donated to their Go Fund Me campaign and I encourage others to help out as they can. It speaks volumes about their community spirit and sense of ownership of and responsibility they feel for Hamtramck. Hats off to them.”
Unfortunately, though, Lumpkin was next on the list for a city-hired work crew to spray fill the potholes – a technique that lasts much longer than the cold patch method the volunteers used.
City Manager Katrina Powell said she has talked with the volunteers to better coordinate repairs. And, technically, no one who is not authorized by the city should be making repairs to streets, Powell told The Review.
“The streets are city-owned (except those owned by the county), and should not be tampered with under any circumstances, without permission,” Powell said in email to The Review.
“We have a street paving plan in place, which consists of spray patching versus cold patching (which is a waste of money, as it lasts just a couple of months before it is worn away), and we are following it as quickly as possible. When residents throw cold patch, gravel, soil/flowers or anything else in the holes, prior to the spray patching, it costs the city more money, and slows down the repairs, because the contractor must remove any debris before it is spray patched. The city and its contractor are working as quickly as possible to repair streets that haven’t been touched in years, if ever in some instances.”
Weier said he regrets that he didn’t first “reach out” to the city, but the intention all along was to work as a partner with the city and “do the streets the city hadn’t done.”
Potholes and the general condition of the city’s streets has long been an issue for years, but this year it has become the Story of the Year.
This past winter’s severe freezing and ice created larger than usual potholes. Cold weather also hung on longer, which put repairs behind a few weeks.
On top of that, the city was dealt a month-long setback when the administration was ordered by a state-appointed Transition Advisory Board – which oversees all financial decisions – to rebid the project.
Not only did that delay repairs, but the company hired by the city, Highway Construction, can’t be here every day because of other commitments, said Mark Ragsdale, the Director of Public Works.
This issue also raised another concern that has been roiling in state government for the past couple of years: How to fund road repairs throughout the state.
It has become a political hot potato. Voters recently rejected a proposal to raise the gas tax, and now state officials are trying to come up with a funding solution.
Note to voters: You probably won’t like their option either.
The topic of funding road repairs is also on the mind of City Manager Powell.
“Someone higher up the food chain than I needs to put on their big girl/boy pants, bite the bullet and do what every other state does, and fund roads/repairs, by any means necessary,” Powell said in an email.
“Motor City? Not even. It’s embarrassing actually, that the state known for its ‘Big 3’ AUTOMOBILE companies, has some of the worst un-drivable roads in the country.”
And speaking of funding, there is a fundraiser for the Hamtramck Guerilla Road Repair group tonight (July 31) at New Dodge Lounge with admission at $10. If you go, don’t drink too much because the next pothole repair get-together is Saturday, Aug. 1 at 10 a.m.
Volunteers will meet up at 11549 St. Aubin.