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Highway superintendent proposes rental‑rate changes, discusses New Underwood Road weight limits and opens aggregate bids
Summary
Highway Superintendent Troy Eastman presented proposed annual equipment rental rates and recommended adding operator charges and mileage; commissioners discussed lowering New Underwood Road load limits, speed limits, and creating permit fees; the board opened bids for grama aggregate and magnesium chloride.
Troy Eastman, Meade County highway superintendent, presented proposed annual equipment rental rates on April 9 and recommended clarifying that all equipment rentals include an operator and that mileage and mobilization should be charged when crews must travel from the shop.
Commissioners discussed adding an explicit operator charge to each equipment line, establishing a separate labor or flagger rate, and including mobilization mileage starting when crews leave the shop. Eastman and commissioners agreed to revise the rate sheet and return a cleaned-up version for action at the next meeting.
New Underwood Road Eastman and commissioners discussed growing pavement deterioration on New Underwood Road. The road currently has a 7‑ton per axle limit; commissioners discussed lowering the limit to 80,000 pounds (80,000 lb) total or an alternate axle‑based limit and adding a permit/fee structure for overweight loads. Enforcement challenges were raised: sheriff’s deputies lack permanent roadside weighing equipment and the county typically relies on Highway Patrol enforcement and weigh‑station citations. Commissioners asked highway staff to prepare a proposal for the next meeting that could include weight‑limit modification, a permitting fee schedule that could follow the state formula, and potential speed-limit changes for parts of the road.
Bid openings At a 10:00 a.m. public bid opening, highway staff read three bids for 1‑inch gravel base course material: Rogers Construction Inc. ($10/ton, material only), Pleasant Valley Gravel ($11/ton, $1/ton loading), and Western Construction ($13/ton, limestone, loading included). Riprap and surfacing prices varied among bidders. The board also opened two bids for magnesium chloride: Rosene Construction (material only $1.289/gal; applied $1.4709/gal) and Dustbusters Enterprises (material only $1.2409/gal; applied $1.3409/gal). Commissioners will receive staff recommendations at a future meeting.
Why it matters: Load limits, permit fees and speed limits can extend pavement life and reduce repair costs; clear rental and mobilization rates help manage county equipment use and liability.
Next steps: Highway staff will rewrite the rental‑rate schedule with operator and mileage clarifications and return it for board action. Staff will also prepare a weight‑limit/permitting proposal and speed‑limit notice for New Underwood Road for the next meeting; staff will recommend aggregate and magnesium chloride bidders after review.
