Butler County public-works staff updated commissioners on the county’s chip-seal and striping program and answered questions about localized repairs to a damaged bridge abutment.

Director Curtis Mader told the commission crews were finishing chip sealing on township roads and would move on to striping beginning Sept. 1; he said the Nebraska contractor performing striping does not do parking-lot stalls, so the county will solicit a separate contract for those areas. “We have our striping coming in September 1,” Mader said. He added that fog sealing — an additional surface treatment meant to give chip-sealed roads a darker, asphaltlike appearance and limit loose chips — had not been done on some northern routes and may not be planned immediately for all roads.

Commissioners asked about specific locations. Mader described a large void beneath the approach to a bridge south of a hill on North Portland Road and said crews would likely need to excavate about 10 feet to repair the void at the abutment. “There’s a big void … 10 feet by 5 feet,” Mader said, describing the extent of deterioration under the bridge surface.

The board discussed timing and cosmetic concerns: one commissioner said residents often perceive chip-sealed roads as a downgrade and emphasized the value of fog sealing on higher-traffic routes. Mader acknowledged scheduling complications because unusually hot weather and flooding delayed the normal spring schedule and said crews plan to do fog sealing in cooler early-morning conditions when feasible.

On intersection safety, the commission discussed state-led safety studies for Rock Road, Webb Road and Greenwich Road and the county’s involvement in corridor planning. Commissioners also reviewed local issues on Highway 254 near a school (discussed separately by staff) and small operational changes such as moving stop signs a few feet to improve sight lines.

Staff confirmed mowing and weed-control constraints due to equipment availability and said two mowers were in service to maintain county rights-of-way. The board requested staff to follow up on several localized concerns, including loose aggregate on a section of county road and the bridge void repair.