Commissioners approve LPA vouchers, hear highway update on paving, striping and pedestals

Davis County commissioners approved two LPA (Local Public Agency) payment vouchers Sept. 23 covering construction engineering for a bridge on U.S. Highway 50 and preliminary engineering for countywide bridge inspections. The board voted 3–0 to approve a voucher for $33,025.16 (80% reimbursable at $26,420.13) for construction engineering on the bridge over Covert Ditch on U.S. Highway 50 and a voucher for $30,096.56 (80% reimbursable at $24,077.25) for preliminary engineering on the countywide bridge inspection program. Chris from the highway department told commissioners the U.S. Highway 50 bridge is open but some final punch‑list work remains and that the county has not yet held pre‑final and final construction meetings. "There's a couple of little odds and ends that we're, we're gonna tidy up yet," he said. The highway director reported ongoing tiling work (about two more weeks to finish a planned 15‑mile tiling effort) and chip‑seal operations expected to finish in roughly two weeks. He said the county plans to fire up its asphalt plant on Oct. 6 and begin paving, with the highway department planning to pave a 10‑mile road this year and anticipating roughly 25 miles of new hard surface countywide when accounting for county and other partner work. Commissioners also heard that the county’s new striping machine is assembled and mounted on a truck and that staff plan to pilot striping on lower‑priority roads before using it on busier paved roads to improve lane delineation on hills and curves. The highway director raised concerns about unmarked pedestals and vegetation; he urged coordination with RTC and other utilities to mark pedestals so mowers do not strike them. The vouchers were approved on motion by Commissioner Keith, seconded by Commissioner Cook; the vote was 3–0.