Commission tables decision on road‑widening demo; staff to return cost estimates for Appleton Road project

Meriwether County public‑works staff asked the board to consider extending a planned equipment demonstration into a month‑long rental to complete shoulder widening on a heavily trafficked section of Appleton Road.

Staff described Appleton Road as a 5.5‑mile stretch with heavy truck traffic whose edges are “crumbling,” and recommended either renting the demo equipment for a month to do the work in‑house or contracting the work out. Staff provided initial rental costs for the road‑widening equipment — $5,900 per month — and additional rental estimates for required support equipment: a broom ($48.50 per month) and a roller ($2,500 per month). Staff indicated the project would also require leased trucks (estimated $800–$900 per day) and approximately 513 tons of asphalt (about 33 loads). Staff estimated a full repair could cost roughly $55,000, though estimates included variables such as patching, leveling and top courses.

Commissioners questioned whether county staff had time and equipment to operate the rental and asked staff to obtain contractor quotes, rental terms and whether vendors would extend rentals for inclement weather. Staff said they would collect quotes and bring back a full cost comparison for doing the work in‑house under a month rental versus contracting it out.

A commissioner moved to table the decision about extending the road‑widening demonstration and the potential month rental until the June 24 meeting; the board voted to table and requested detailed estimates for equipment, trucks, asphalt and contractor bids to compare options.