Multiple projects updated, discussed during Public Works report

By Jeff Wendt
Mail

The Cave Creek Town Council heard a quarterly report from Public Works and Engineering Director Hal Marron during its Oct. 20 meeting.

Several key updates were provided by Marron during the presentation.

According to Marron, public works crews successfully responded to recent heavy storms, including a significant 3.82-inch rain event on Sept. 16, classified as a 200-year return interval for a 3-hour storm. The Cave Creek Wash peaked at approximately 3,500 cubic feet per second during that storm, and the town parking lot experienced heavy flooding up to vehicle running boards.

“Our public works crews were out there just about the time that the rainfall stopped and they had the roads open before they left that night and then came back the next day to finish the job,” Marron said. “So they responded very well and we were very appreciative that they were able to get that done.”

Marron then talked about some of the new equipment that was purchased over the past few months, including a 2027 International 3-ton roll off, a 2027 International 4,000 gallon water truck and a 2026 Vermeer wood chipper. All three purchases replaced aging vehicles that had seen significant time in repair shops.

“All of those were in the shop and so we have the new vehicles that are working well to provide the services for the town,” Marron said.

The Public Works Department completed a number of paving projects throughout the quarter.

Paving projects completed included:

• Ridgeway Drive — Arroyo to Tanya — plus Tanya Drive

• Cape Creek Road, southbound from Carefree Highway to the Town limits

• 72nd Street

• East Rockaway Hills Drive

• Sunset Trail

Cape seal projects were also completed at:

• New River Road

• Linda Drive — 2 segments

• Carriage Drive

• Surrey Drive

• 72nd Street

“These projects all raised our pavement condition index up,” Marron said. “So we’re getting closer to what we’re trying to hit for a goal.”

Marron then discussed the three projects that are in the fiscal year 2027 budget, which include:

• Schoolhouse Road, which has three portions — From Cave Creek to Grapevine, from Grapevine to Fleming Spring, and from Fleming Springs to Seattle Run

• Echo Canyon Drive, from Rockway to Flemming Springs

• 26th Street, from Joy Ranch to Saddle Mountain

Mayor Robert Morris questioned Marron on lessons learned from a previously failed repaving project on Schoolhouse Road.

“They tended to go with a thin overlay like a 1 inch overlay,” Marron said. “Well, if you read the MAG (Maricopa Association of Governments) requirements, you can’t go less than two and a half or it won’t bind. You end up with too thin of a section. You have 3/4 inch gravel in a 1-inch section and it breaks apart and so it just comes off in big chunks.

“And that’s what we’re experiencing on Schoolhouse,” Marron added. “That’s what we experienced on Cave Creek Road. And we end up with these huge potholes after rainstorms. And so what we’re doing now is we’re going in, we don’t put in less than 2 1/2 inch or less than three inches. We try and go for three inches if we can. And that way that’s the size of the minimum size of a lift of asphalt according to MAG.”

Marron also talked about median enhancements and how his staff is pleased with the growth and development of plant materials following the recent rain events and have engaged with EarthCare to maintain the medians during the growing period.

Finally, Marron updated the council on the application process for MAG grants for roads.

“They (Arizona Department of Transportation) had some changes that they wanted to make in the design,” Marron said. “Those should be going back in. I talked to the consultant today. Those changes are going back in today. We are approaching the getting the environmental clearance for the project, then we can do the one consolidation that we need to do with a right a way issue that we have.

“We had one area where we found that we have 50 to 110 feet except for one area we had 21 feet,” Marron added. “Why? Don’t know. But again when you dig into history you find weird things. We’re designing the road to fit in the 21 feet and then we’re getting a 10-foot easement from the people, but we can’t approach the people until we get environmental clearance.”

Jeff Wendt
Reporter | Phoenix/Cave Creek

jwendt@iniusa.org

Meet Jeff
Jeff Wendt started at Independent Newsmedia in January 2023, after 25 years working for Gannett and The Arizona Republic. Started as a high school sports scoretaker, worked up to reporting high school sports and then became an associate high school sports editor in 2002. Also worked in the Design Studio as a copy editor.

Community: Jeff serves on the Board of Elders at his local church.

Education: Arizona State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication

Random fact: Attended Game 2 of the 2001 World Series.

Hobbies: Playing video games (yes still the kid in me), watching reality TV, playing poker.