Ty Barger, Ouray County Road and Bridge superintendent, updated commissioners on winter maintenance on Feb. 4, reporting that crews completed roughly 70% of County Road 24A crack sealing and will continue sealing other segments, perform spot grading and work on escarpment road segments in coming days.

Barger said the department uses a product engineered for winter installation that bonds at low pavement temperatures, and crews use a million‑BTU heat lance to prepare cracks before sealing. He acknowledged social‑media questions about what appeared to be surface material lifting on tight curves of the escarpment, and said the contractor product and application method were chosen to perform in current conditions and that the lifts appear to be surface smears rather than failures of in‑crack bond.

Commissioners asked for the product name and encouraged Road and Bridge to share technical information publicly; Barger said he would provide the product name and technical details and preferred to respond directly to constituent concerns.

Separately, commissioners discussed prior work‑session direction about County Road 9, where private parties have been plowing to a residence in an area not on the county’s winter‑maintenance map. County staff described right‑of‑way encroachment permits as a temporary administrative tool while a longer winter‑maintenance agreement or intergovernmental arrangement is negotiated. The board instructed staff to return the completed right‑of‑way encroachment permit or a ratification request to the next meeting agenda so the board can review and, if desired, ratify the permit before Road and Bridge issues it.