Delaware County highway staff brought a proposal May 8 to convert several recurring gravel-maintenance roads to permanent paved surfaces, presenting two principal options and asking the redevelopment commission to evaluate funding eligibility and tradeoffs.

The highway representative said staff inspected neighboring counties' chip‑and‑seal work and contrasted that with full asphalt, noting life‑span and maintenance differences: "On the asphalt ... it's gonna be 8 years up to the high side of 12 years, 11 to 12 years, and that means no maintenance," the presenter said. By contrast, the longevity of chip‑and‑seal applied over an unknown gravel subbase is uncertain and may require a fog seal (about $12,000 extra) to lock aggregates in place, the presenter said. He estimated annual gravel‑maintenance costs at roughly $20,000–$25,000 for the affected roads and noted those recurring expenses reduce resources available for other county pavement work.

Commissioners asked whether the candidate roads sit inside or near TIF or CREED districts; legal counsel advised CREED funds can be used to improve road infrastructure within five miles of a CREED district. The commission did not vote to repave at the meeting. Instead, members directed staff to prepare a map showing which roads are adjacent to or would improve traffic into TIF or CREED districts and to report back with eligibility and cost information. One commissioner urged a prompt response: the board asked for answers by the next week so they could consider funding options without delaying the county's maintenance schedule.

Why it matters: The decision would shift recurring maintenance expenditures into a capital investment and reduce annual gravel‑maintenance workloads, but it requires matching funds and confirmation that specific roads are eligible for TIF/CREED financing. Commissioners balanced long‑term pavement life and reduced maintenance against unknowns in subbase conditions and immediate budget impacts.

No final paving awards were made; staff will return with maps and eligibility findings for future action.