Giant Pothole damages cars on Sixth Ave.
Jason Johnston
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Lisa Rhoads, the owner of Snip N’ Clip, drove over a giant pothole Monday night in front of T-Mobile at 1422 W. Sixth Ave.
Both of her 22-inch wheels were bent on the passenger side of her 2007 Chrysler 300C, Rhoads said. The hole was about three feet long and six inches deep. It was full of water because of the rain. She called the Emporia Police from the Tropical Sno parking lot at Wilson Street and West Sixth Ave.
Rhoads made the police report at 5:53 p.m., according to the police logs.
She said the city should be held liable because other cars were damaged by the hole.
“I’ve contacted my insurance company,” Rhoads said. “I’ll have to pay my deductible plus I have to pay for new wheels... It’s going to make my premium go up.”
Her wheels will cost her about $500 each to replace, she said. Her deductible is $500.
Emporian Tarrah Lattimer, who was in front of Rhoads, said she blew out her front passenger tire on her Nissan Maxima after going over the hole. Engine fluids also leaked from underneath her car.
Lattimer made a police report at 5:43 p.m. at Dairy Queen, 1708 W. Sixth Ave., according to the police logs.
Lattimer was driving between 20 and 25 mph, Lattimer said. She thought she was driving on the road when she drove over the hole.
“It’s an older car, so I just have liability on my insurance coverage on my car,” she said.
Standby personnel were working on two sewer-related issues when the call came in at 5:30 p.m. Monday about the pothole, said Ron Childers, the public works director.
“The police department actually was at the scene and put some barricade barrels on the pothole,” he said “Immediately after we got our sewer calls answered, standby (personnel) responded and coned the lane off where traffic could not get into it.”
The hole could not be repaired because of the rain, Childers said. The personnel barricaded the hole for the evening and diverted the traffic closer to the center lane. The hole was filled with asphalt on Tuesday morning.
Rhoads said Williams Automotive towed her car to Kansasland Tire & Service.
Kansasland Tire worked on three other cars that blew their tires after going over the hole, said Troy Dial, the store manager.
An employee from Peerless Tire Co. said one customer had hit a pothole near T-Mobile.
Lattimer and Rhoads said they both called City Manager Matt Zimmerman to file a claim.
Rhoads said Zimmerman told her to contact Don Anderson, City of Emporia’s Risk Manager, to file her claim.
Lattimer said Anderson told her that she had to get an estimate for her Nissan and to complete a claim form.
Anderson said a person must submit a claim through the City Clerk’s office before he can even recognize that there is a claim. The city has 180 days to address the claim.
Rhoads said she hopes more people come forward.
The City Clerk’s phone number is 343-4244. The office is also the Water Department.
spectator (anonymous) says...
"Rhoads said she hopes more people come forward."
Been a long, long time, but it seems that a LEO friend of mine told me that Kansas statute directed attention to reports in reference to holes this size e.g. MAKE A REPORT.
Face it, the city isn't going to make repairs unless it's a have-to situation. Look at the 6th street westbound lane near Lincoln, the Mechanic street underpass...I'm sure you know about a lot more.
All the city will do is throw some cold-patch in the hole but that darn sure would have been better than the canyon that Rhoads, Lattimer and others encountered.
December 22, 2011 at 9:33 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
But, but, but spectator, we have wonderful, new entrance rocks that should more than make up for all our poor infrastructure.
Buy more rocks! Fix more ball fields!
December 22, 2011 at 10:28 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
This falla under " Maintenance of City Infrastructure " an absolute necessity. Which, it would seem is not a priority on the City leaders list of " Needed/Necessary Things To Spend Taxpayer Funds " on. There are more important priorities ? Such as entrance rocks, construction of a sports center/complex, entrance rocks, etc., etc., !
The first thing people from " out of town " notice about Emporia is, the condition of the streets . I have talked to many people from " out of town " who know me. The first thing they ask me is when is Emporia going to " Fix " the terrible streets, not how beautiful or nice the entrance signs are, but how bad the streets are.
What can I tell them__ but the truth. " The City Leaders have other things to spend our and your tax money on, apparently good, well maintained streets are not an important, needed item .
I was in Chanute, Ks. last Saturday, a town of approx. 10,000 population and their streets are better maintained, taken care of than Emporia' s streets, a City of approximately twice the population .
WHY ?
December 22, 2011 at 10:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Hey, it's not that bad. I drove by every city commissioners house and those streets were in good shape. Now that we have more police hired, maybe they can station one at every pothole to direct traffic around it. Isn't that location where the KDOT KLINK project is going to happen?
December 22, 2011 at 11:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jasper007 (anonymous) says...
How about the tracks on E. 6th around Bunge? I've been complaining about them, but Bunge, The City, no one wants to admit who is responsible for them. Someone will slow down for them someday and get rammed by a trailer/truck coming out of Bunges, or even possibly a train.
Yes, Emporia's streets are a nightmare compared to some cities/towns...
December 22, 2011 at 11:28 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Didn't mean to be so flippant. Those who suffered damage should file a claim, but it probably won't do any good.
Maybe a well worded letter to the head of K-Dot letting them know the city isn't maintaining its roads?
December 22, 2011 at 11:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Merry_Carol (anonymous) says...
One of the things I really liked about Kansas when we moved here 17 years ago was the condition of the roads. Kansas had good roads. Let's keep them that way.
And Emporia, please, fix your streets. If you had the money for rocks that few people even notice coming into town, then you should have the money to fix the roads so the people you are trying to get to visit Emporia won't damage their cars while there.
Don't attract tourism until you can support tourism.
December 22, 2011 at 11:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
orlando (anonymous) says...
this is highway 50------does the state have any responsibility here?
December 22, 2011 at 12:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
booker5m (anonymous) says...
Emporia same old SNAFU !
December 22, 2011 at 3:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
spectator (anonymous) says...
Thanks, Create! I forgot all about The Rocks! Getting old.
December 22, 2011 at 5:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
We're all getting old, spectator. But those rocks should keep us fuming and young.
Well payroll tax cuts have passed. I was thinking about what that $40 would mean to people. Many have listed online what it would mean to lose that approx. $40.
While $40 pays for many things, in my case it pays for two haircuts, and that means I am contributing to one business here in town. Shop Emporia First! Plus tax.
December 22, 2011 at 5:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
This is an election cycle government handout tied onto the backs of future social security benefits. that $40.00 is actually $38.46 every TWO WEEKS for that grand total of $999.96 per year.
This tax cut was a one year deal to help rebound our economy. They thought that extra $38.46 would be spent on all kinds of doo-dads. It wasn't and it did not help the economy. Most either saved it or paid down their existing debt.
Now they want to extend it. At what cost to the social security systems future? Anyone want to bet that unemployment benefits are extended to cover 3 years of unemplyment benefits in 2012?
December 22, 2011 at 8:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
And those figures are based on $50,000.00 a year in wages. Who in Emporia, besides most government employees make that much a year?
December 22, 2011 at 8:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodoleboy (anonymous) says...
ANYTHING they give back to the middle class is a good thing. $1000 is a $1000. I just dropped $50 in your bar the other night Steve, because of that tax cut I don't feel bad about=)
And there are quite a few of us that commute that make quite a bit more than 50k a year, lot of Wolf Creek folk here, and people like me that work in KC.
I'm taxed enough, I'll take all the cuts they will give me.
December 22, 2011 at 8:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
thanks goodoleboy. every bit does help
That changed my mind :>).
December 22, 2011 at 8:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Oh and goodoleboy,
I hope you had a good time.
December 22, 2011 at 8:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodoleboy (anonymous) says...
wife and I had a great time, you ever stick late anymore? Would be great to have a beer with you.
December 22, 2011 at 8:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Glad to hear that. I'm usually only good for a couple of hours anymore, and not every day either. Old age and bad health, I guess.
December 22, 2011 at 9:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodoleboy (anonymous) says...
What days you normally stick around?
December 22, 2011 at 9:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Almost never there after 9 p.m. ------But Back to the pothole issue, There is a k-link project schedueled for somewhere close to that hole. But our city cannot just keep redoing the streets that are partially funded by the state. For too long our city has operated under a patch and go system of street and infrastructure maintenance. And now when we can least afford it, it is coming back to bite us.
Those who frequent this site know I am a huge anti tax hike person. But the city sales tax to fund the RDA and the pool is in effect until 2024. The pool will be paid off soon so that money will be freed up. Instead of giving even more to the rda perhaps that money could be used stictly for street improvements?
December 23, 2011 at 6:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Will definitely agree with you on that one, Steve.
I saw yesterday where some of the curbs that just went in this past fall on 12th Avenue have already begun to crack. Where they used the preformed stuff, fine, but where they did not...cracks.
December 23, 2011 at 7:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Off topic here, but justice has been done and deserves to be celebrated.
The attorney and the accountant from the estate of billionaire heiress Huguette Clark have been bounced for fraud! Yes! They will lose millions. Yes!
The estate will now be managed by a public official.
http://openchannel.msnbc.msn.com/_new...
So much for private enterprise.
Let me go one giant step further against private enterprise that doesn't seem to be working. Metal recycling companies should be disbanded. Throughtout the country, and this includes our own state and county, these businesses have done a very poor job of managing themselves because they are buying copper and aluminum from thieves. That makes them complicit in the crimes.
You can't tell me that these "recycling companies" are not aware that they are buying tons of copper wiring stolen from contractors. The stuff is brand new. Some of the wiring is being ripped from the walls of unoccupied homes.
From now on, let the state government become the depository for metals. Prices to go down, down, down, way down. This will prevent more thievery.
Businesses in Wichita, especially electrical contractors, have been absolutely inundated by these thieves. They deserve justice. Police say they don't have enough manpower to catch these crooks.
Something has to be done to prevent all this metal from being so attractive to thieves.
December 23, 2011 at 3:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
I found the following article about measures recently adopted by the state legislature regarding metal thieves. At last, it sounds like this may have some teeth in it. Let's give it a look see if the teeth will have some grip. Some metal dealers are not necessarily honest.
http://www.kansas.com/2011/03/30/1785...
These thieves need to go to jail for a long, long time, men and women alike. And kids too!
December 23, 2011 at 9:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
neighbor (anonymous) says...
Pothole- Most likely the result of one of the many water main leaks that have plagued 6th street over the years. A leak most likely washed out sub-soil as the water gushed out of the main. The City's band-aid repair work at the leak source didn't reveal the dirt erosion in other areas not opened with the backhoe. Dry weather allowed the subsoil to shrink down, heavy rains brought it back up, pavement collapsed. I would be willing to bet there has been a water main repair within 10-20 ft of the collapse.
Jasper, how about they build a multi million $$$ bridge over the tracks so they won't make you stop occasionally when the trains are crossing there 2-3 times a day too? If someone gets rear ended or hit slowing down at train tracks, it will happen as the result of the moron(s) behind the wheel of the street vehicles, it's will not be the train track's fault.
December 23, 2011 at 9:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
spectator (anonymous) says...
Neighbor, I do believe you're dead on target about the city's band-aid method of running the repairs. I am aurprised that the little Oklahoma earthquake aftershocks didn't rupture or simply crack many more of our real old water mains.
I have to disagree with your "...when the trains are crossing there 2-3 times a day..." comment. It seems that there are hundreds of trains every day and more at night. [Yeah, it's a tongue in cheek comment, that's why I said SEEMS]
Attend a City Band concert during the summer, Thursday evenings if I recall. A train nearly every 10 -15 minutes during that one hour. And that doesn't count the back & forth movement of the switching of the BUNGE bean cars.
And as far as 'morons' driving here, I travel Topeka, Kansas CIty and Wichita for my part-time job. Seems like they're everywhere.
And I am happy we have rocks that are letttered 'Emporia' so they won't get misplaced. Sure hope the folks in Emporia, Greece don't invade and claim the rocks.
December 25, 2011 at 12:19 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
neighbor (anonymous) says...
spectator- they were referring to the tracks on 6th St, the ones that are in fact only used 2-3 times a day. Yes there are over 100 trains a day go down the main-line tracks, but not down those spurs. My moron comment may have been a bit harsh, but I believe in saying what I mean. People these days are always looking for someone or something else to blame to deflect the attention away from their ignorant actions. When someone wrecks a car, the majority of the time it is the fault of the driver or drivers. As for the Rocks, they are a joke, one at the expense of the citizens of this rapidly dwindling town.
December 26, 2011 at 9:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
Totally off topic, but thought some people might be interested. I posted this in Reader Forums.
The predominately Republican Congress is opposed to tax cuts for the working poor and middle class citizen of the U.S., because they, themselves are becoming or are some of the richest/wealthiest/superwealthy in the U.S. and the makers of the country's laws, including tax laws, to boot.
And they want to keep themselves as well as their wealthy/superwealthy " Friends " in the top 1 or 2 percent of the wealthy/wealthiest Americans.
They are also among the group of wealthy/superwealthy Americans that are growing wealthier each day/year and this group is widening the gap between themselves, their wealthy/superwealthy friends and the rest of America's working poor and middle class .
But don' t believe me . Take a look at the following and see for yourselves .
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45793299/...
And this group are the ones that believe that they deserve even more tax breaks and are doing everything they can to see that they receive even more tax breaks .
Is it any wonder that the U.S. is in the mess/trouble it is in
December 27, 2011 at 7:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )