Asphalt woes, a new Public Works superintendent and a commendation for heroism were among the items covered at the Cosmopolis City Council meeting Wednesday.

The asphalt on Fourth Street between A and B streets is in rough shape, sparking concerns from staff at the nearby Cosmopolis Elementary School.

“It’s probably the worst section of roadway in Cosmopolis,” said City Administrator Darrin Raines.

The city tried patching the asphalt, which didn’t last, and has taken to filling the holes with gravel. It’s beyond patching at this point, said Raines; the roadway needs to be ground down and new asphalt overlaid on it.

“It’s something we’ve needed to do for several years,” he said.

Cosmopolis School Superintendent Cherie Patterson voiced concerns about water seeping under the holes in Fourth Street pavement and damaging the recent $25,000 in work the school put into its adjacent parking lot.

“Water through the alligatoring asphalt undermines what we did,” said Patterson, adding she didn’t want to be left “wondering what we just spent $25,000 fixing” should the school lot be damaged.

She also talked about the public safety aspect of the deteriorated roadway. She said she counted more than 20 holes in the asphalt, and she herself rolled an ankle trying to get things out of her car one day.

“Anything you folks can do would be greatly appreciated.,” she said.

Raines got an estimate from Lakeside Industries for grinding and a new asphalt overlay, which came to $28,000. At this point, the city does not have the funds to pay for the repair; Raines said he plans to talk to City Finance Director Julie Pope and bring the item back to the council in April or May.

Public Works superintendent

Jeff Nations started his new role as superintendent of the Cosmopolis Public Works Department on Feb. 1, and “we have already seen a huge jump in productivity,” said Raines.

Raines still serves as Public Works director, but Nations’ position takes over the day-to-day planning, organizing and supervising of the department. This frees up Raines, as city administrator, “to focus on the city and his other work,” said Mayor Kyle Pauley.

Nations has been with the Public Works Department since May 2006. Prior to his work with the city, he “had extensive experience working in construction and industrial maintenance as a foreman and crew leader,” said Raines.

Commendation

During Wednesday’s meeting, Pauley read a “citizen letter of commendation” that detailed Kyle R. Brook’s efforts to render aid to a person injured in a “critical incident” on Feb. 12 across the street from his home.

A man in his 50s fell about 20 feet from a ladder at a construction site, landing headfirst onto cement, according to a letter from Deputy Chief of Police Heath Layman.

“Without hesitation, Kyle ran to the scene and began providing emergency first aid, providing direction to onlookers, stopping improper first aid techniques, stabilizing the head/neck of the patient and attempted to establish an airway,” Layman wrote. “Though the patient was in very grave danger from his injuries and bleeding, without hesitation or personal protective equipment, Kyle made physical contact and provided personal emergency care.”

The letter continued: “In a day and age when using a cellular phone to call 911 relieves people of their personal feelings of obligation to help, Kyle went above and beyond to save a life, and did so calmly and compassionately. Thank you to Kyle Brook for his help, compassion for a fellow human, and calm demeanor during an emergency in our community.”

Pauley presented Brook with the letter. As he left, Fire Chief Cody Bridges said he should pick up an information card about joining the volunteer fire department, and Brook obliged.