A Seal Master representative told Logan County Fiscal Court members that a crack-sealing program can preserve pavement, reduce potholes and stretch paving dollars.

The presenter, who described himself as a former public works director, said the material and equipment are offered in a package: one pallet of crack fill, one week of machine use and training for county staff. The price given to the court was $3,037.50 per pallet; the presenter said one pallet typically treats about three miles of average roadway and that each additional pallet carries the same per-pallet price.

Why it matters: county road officials said paving dollars are limited and preservation approaches such as crack sealing and chip sealing can slow deterioration and reduce the frequency of costly repaving. The presenter urged officials to start preservation on the best roads and work backwards through the pavement inventory.

Details provided to court

- How it works: the machine blows out and cleans cracks, fills them with a rubberized material that vulcanizes cold, and overbands the seam to reduce water infiltration that leads to potholes.
- Timing: presenter recommended spring or late fall for county projects to take advantage of cooler pavement temperatures; he advised against hot summer applications that prolong cure time under traffic.
- Crew size: a three-person crew can operate on low-traffic/cul-de-sac roads; a five-person crew is recommended for through roads requiring traffic control.
- Pilot-size and productivity: the presenter said one community used nearly an entire 75-box pallet in a single high-productivity day; typical expectations vary by road condition.

Questions from court members addressed availability (Seal Master has multiple units operating in Kentucky), training for county road staff, and where county crews should apply the treatment first. The presenter reiterated that preservation should focus on roads that are still in good condition rather than ‘‘gluing junk back together.’’

Ending

Court members thanked the presenter and said they would inspect demonstration sites and review the price/package for potential inclusion in upcoming work plans.