Piedmont cancels fix-your-own-pothole event after residents lampoon idea on Facebook

Piedmont City Manager Joshua Williams thought he had a fun idea to generate community involvement amid the city's beautification efforts this month.

But after publicizing Pothole Purge Day on the city's Facebook page, it took just a few hours for Williams to cancel those plans.

Pothole Purge Day would have been this Saturday in Piedmont, a community of about 8,000 off the northwest corner of Oklahoma City. Residents were invited to meet up with Public Works Department personnel, receive training on how to cold-patch a pothole and be sent off with a bucket of their own asphalt.

"This was meant to be a positive community project," Williams told The Oklahoman. "Engagement, get out and meet your neighbor, you know. We weren't asking residents to reconstruct roads."

But despite Williams' best intentions, Piedmont residents lampooned the idea. Several asked if it was a joke, while others seemed angry at the premise, questioning why taxpayers were being asked to patch roads.

"It's just due to, I think, not really understanding the intent of what we're trying to do. With the negativity surrounding the event, I just think it's best to cancel it and look for other opportunities for community volunteerism and meet-your-neighbor opportunities," Williams said.

What is Pothole Purge Day?

In the original Facebook post, the city asked residents if they "have a pesky pothole that you just can't stand."

"Public Works will be on site at 164th and Cemetery Road to demonstrate and train you on how to lay cold patch! After a very brief demo, you will be a pro and they will fill up your bucket with material so you can take it with you to exact your revenge!!," the city wrote.

Cold patch asphalt is a pre-made mixture that can be applied to a road's surface without heat. It's a temporary fix intended for minor cracks and potholes.

The post drew dozens of replies, some of which asked whether it was a joke. Others asked if they'd get paid, or questioned who would be liable in case of injury or shoddy work.

The city initially clarified that everyone participating will be volunteers who sign a general liability waiver. Public Works employees would inspect the patches and fix them if necessary.

Eventually, however, the negative feedback was too much.

"You know, potholes (and roads) are a big topic in Piedmont. I just thought this would be a great opportunity to get the community involved, make the city better, and it just didn't take off the way that I expected it to," Williams said.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Piedmont cancels fix-your-own-pothole event after negative reaction