Commission approves milling payment for Horton/Sixth project, seeks fixes for bumpy overlay

Commissioner Tracy Dancer and the Fort Scott City Commission approved payment for the milling subcontractor on the Horton Street/Sixth Street improvement project at the Nov. 19 meeting, while holding open the question of how to repair sections of the newly overlaid pavement that exceed Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) surface-tolerance specifications.

The vote cleared the outstanding milling invoice but left the city’s engineering firm and the asphalt contractor tasked with proposing corrective work. "If there's a negotiation and an agreement to fix what needs fixed, then, like you said, per spec, maybe you shouldn't have to pay for that," said Jason Dickman, city staff project lead during the discussion.

Why it matters: Residents and drivers have reported uneven ride quality along the newly completed overlay. City engineers and contractors told the commission the milling work met the project specifications but that the overlay’s finished surface had areas that exceeded KDOT tolerances. Commissioners said they wanted options…