Motorists who regularly grumble about the poor condition of many of Butler's more-traveled streets should forgive the choice of streets that will be resurfaced by way of a $62,800 grant from the city redevelopment authority.

Since there is a stipulation that the money in question be used in low- to moderate-income neighborhoods, the city doesn't have total say in directing that the money be used for streets that might be more in need of work in other more-prosperous neighborhoods.

The streets to be resurfaced with the $62,800 are South Chestnut, West Quarry and Shore streets and Hazel Avenue. If any money is left over, it will be directed to other streets.

Although three of the streets — Shore, Hazel and West Quarry — have low daily traffic volumes, South Chestnut usually is well traveled.

What can be said about the choice of streets to be addressed is that they are in the vicinity of work anticipated under the West End Revitalization Project.

Still, the city is badly in need of street repairs throughout its boundaries, and the street-repair work that will be carried out this year doesn't even scratch the surface of what needs to be done.

As has been reported previously, the only city-financed street work planned this year is resurfacing of a small portion of South Monroe Street between East Cunningham Street and what will be the new South Monroe Street Bridge.

City Councilman Joseph Bratkovich, in a telephone interview Tuesday in which he discussed the choice of streets targeted in response to the redevelopment authority grant, reiterated the need for a four-year, $500,000-a-year street-repair commitment.

But he's a realist in terms of the uncertainty of putting such a program in effect. He realizes he must try to get two additional city council votes to include the program in upcoming budgets.

On the street-repair front this year, Bratkovich failed to gain support for any significant objectives and, thus, much of the city will remain a bumpy, potentially damaging ride for motorists.

Bratkovich acknowledged that motorists passing through just about any part of the city encounter conditions that are contrary to the image that the city would like to project.

During the city council's most-recent budget-preparation exercise, motorists in the city were treated to the excuse that most city resurfacing would have to be shelved in 2009 because of the high cost of winter road maintenance materials for the past winter.

Indeed, those posed a financial challenge. But no community would accomplish anything if they refused to juggle funds as a result of an unforeseen expense.

Speculation currently is justified as to what excuse might be put forth for 2010. Judging from the past, the possibility of Bratkovich getting a council streets commitment should be regarded as remote if not impossible.

But Bratkovich should better use his council vote as a bargaining chip for his department's needs. Surely other council members will need his vote at times to push through their priorities.

The bottom line is that motorists, however begrudgingly, should forgive the streets decisions of 2009. But city taxpayers, who are tired of the constant pounding that their vehicles experience on local streets, should become increasingly impatient with the lack of progress on getting Butler's streets up to par.

The street-repair work planned is something, but not much.

Residents should start speaking out more loudly against the visible deterioration that erodes this community's goal of projecting itself as a progressive city.