Public works demonstrates chip‑seal equipment after Live Oak Park test paving

City staff showed council video and photographs from a recent test paving in the Live Oak Park area and described how new equipment can enable the public works department to perform more street repairs in‑house.

The presentation, given by a maintenance staff member identified as Gary, described steps used on the test stretch of Bendygale (the road name is referenced in the presentation) and showed the city’s newly acquired distributor and rock spreader. Gary explained the operation: crews cut the road edges, applied oil at a controlled application rate using calibration pads, spread aggregate with the hopper‑fed spreader and then rolled the surface with a rubber‑tire roller.

Gary explained the distributor’s nozzles can disperse from 0.2 to 0.55 gallons per square foot; the team initially tried 0.3 gal/sq ft, increased to 0.4 for better coverage and used a pre‑coated rock in the second application. He said the equipment included heaters for the binder and calibration/scale systems to confirm application rates during spreading.

Council members who viewed the demonstration praised the work and asked operational questions. One council member asked whether the crew had used the equipment elsewhere; Gary said the test was the first operational use and prior appearances were for demonstrations such as parades. Staff said additional ancillary equipment remains to be purchased before city crews can scale up the program.

Staff argued the in‑house capability will reduce contractor costs and allow the city to maintain more streets on its own timeline. Council members thanked the crew and encouraged continued deployment.