East Cleveland has some of the worst street conditions in northeast Ohio, and it has some residents wondering why the city pothole patching equipment isn't on the road.
Neighborhood activist Charles Holmes told newsnet5.com he learned from street department employees the city rolling machine and hot asphalt carrier have been missing for nearly a year.
While East Cleveland Councilman Nathaniel Martin tells a different story, he explained city workers told him the equipment can't be used because the trailer for the roller is missing.
Either way, Martin acknowledged the equipment, purchased new in 2010 for $50,000 under the Brewer administration, is not out on city streets repairing the numerous potholes that have been plaguing drivers.
"I've been asking about it and asking about it, and what they're telling us is that they have the equipment, but they need this for it work, and they need that for it to work," explained Martin.
"It has to be investigated. The investigation has to be not so much here, but it has to be the county or the county prosecutor, anyone. Someone has to pay for this if this equipment is gone."
newsnet5.com has calls into East Cleveland Mayor Gary Norton, who pledged to look into the situation.
