We’re already a week into June, and street departments around the state are still dealing with the after effects of a brutal winter and early spring.

In Perry, Public Works Director Jack Butler says his department has been in a constant war against potholes since it’s been warm enough to address them, with rain continually holding up progress. “I don’t remember how many times we plowed snow this winter, but it was nonstop after about the middle of January. And you know, the plows just beat them (the roads) up. And then the freeze-thaw cycle was bad this year, so yes it opened up a lot of potholes. We’ve made multiple trips to Des Moines to get the hot mix, and we’ve still got more to do, again if Mother Nature ever wants to shut off the spigot here for us.”

Butler adds, this year they’ve been able to use a new hotbox to transport the asphalt, which he says has made pothole patching much easier. He points out that the equipment simplifies the distribution of the mix, while also being much bigger than their old one so they make fewer trips. Butler reminds people that if they see any potholes in need of fixing, they can make a call to Perry City Hall at 515-465-2481 to get the issue addressed.