Public works weighs in‑house paving, hot-box demo and staffing needs to cut contractor costs

Meriwether County public-works leaders told commissioners April 22 they are evaluating whether in-house hot patching and paving could reduce contractor costs but that labor, CDL drivers and specialized trucks are needed to run a sustained in-house program.

The question matters because in-house paving could lower per‑ton costs and reduce reliance on contractors, but it requires tradeoffs in staffing, vehicles and scheduling across county roads.

Staff said the county currently pays about $240 per ton to an outside contractor and that, if the county acquired a hot box and necessary equipment, a rough internal cost estimate might be about $80 per ton — a potential savings if sufficient crews and trucks are available. Public Works also noted the patcher equipment has a heating mode some new hires discovered, which may improve patch performance.

Commissioners cautioned that dedicating crews to paving could strain other road maintenance work if too many employees are reassigned. The public-works director was asked to produce a full cost plan within two weeks, including personnel requirements and equipment quotes; staff said a manufacturer demo machine could be used to widen narrow roads and test feasibility at no cost for a short period.

The board also received updates that Tremmel Road work is underway by contractor Piedmont and that other culvert and bridge repairs are scheduled. Commissioners said they will review vehicle-surplus options, coordinate with the sheriff’s office on replacing pursuit vehicles, and fold these items into the capital-improvement and 2025 SPLOST planning process. No formal vote occurred.