Winter arrived, in full force, putting road construction on temporary hiatus. The Auburn City Council is taking advantage of this lull to determine how remaining funds should be disbursed among remaining projects.

But deciding which projects require immediate attention depends on whom you ask.

A recent proposal focused on replacing roadside curbs; however, the council was not receptive.

The measure was reworked to include parking lot expansion and paving. But the city roads need more than a fresh layer of black top.

Nucor Steel Co. has asked the city to investigate the possibility of widening specific intersections to accommodate the wide turning radius of tractor-trailers; a project over and above available funds.

But the question shouldn't be how much money is left; rather, how much money is needed. It seems strange to allocate funds before establishing a detailed plan of action. I have an eerie feeling that over $150,000 is going to be spent on whatever plan happens to fit within the confines of that budget.

I'm sure that there are enough small projects to drain the existing pot, but that doesn't mean we should.

I believe that road issues should be addressed in order of severity. It is my understanding that the city will receive a grant over the next few years, and that eventually all problems will be attended to.

In the meantime, it makes more sense to assess the damages and develop a budgeted course of action in advance, not as we go along.

I appreciate the deliberation on the part of the city council.

I would hate to see money spent replacing curbs on roads buckling and breaking under years and years of harsh winters, heavy traffic and constant repaving.

I also understand that it is hard to set money aside, especially in an economically depressed area where there is always a prevalent need. But tailoring a proposal around existing funds is exactly why the city roads are in such desperate need of repair.

I'm not saying that our curbs don't need attention, or that parking shouldn't be expanded.

But I can't justify fixing a curb when a tractor-trailer can't swing a right without three cars having to reverse out of the intersection.

Bottom line: the city of Auburn is facing years of roadwork. Let's slow down and do things right.

Estabrook's column appears Mondays and she can be reached at estabrookcarole@yahoo.com