County highway staff seek bids for dump truck, outline multi-year chip-seal plan and equipment status

Highway officials asked Adams County commissioners to authorize seeking bids to build a tandem-axle dump truck for the pipe crew; commissioners approved the request.

Staff described progress on a series of road conversions to chip seal. Work under way includes cutting side ditches and prep on 400 South (between 550 and the Wells County line) and utility relocations on 500 South. The department outlined a multi-year plan to convert several miles of gravel roads to chip seal, subject to utility coordination and landowner agreements to expand rights-of-way in some places.

Maintenance inventory and equipment issues were discussed: staff reported a 100-ton salt delivery placed in the county salt barn and reminded commissioners the county mixes salt with small stone at a ratio discussed in the meeting (3 scoops sand to 1 scoop salt). Commissioners and staff also discussed six older “side-throw” plows that had failed to find buyers at auction and remain available; staff suggested retrofitting some plow units for alternative uses.

The board heard that the county will continue patching work while weather allows. No capital appropriation was made at the meeting; the only procurement vote was permission to seek bids for the dump-truck bed and outfitting.

Ending: Commissioners asked staff to continue work on the multi-year road conversion plan and to coordinate utility moves and landowner agreements before scheduling chip-seal operations.