County public works reports paving progress, road maintenance and a local oil spill complaint

Duchene County public-works staff told commissioners on Sept. 15 that contractors have nearly completed several paving and chip-seal projects and that crews will next focus on Tabby Mountain, Park Road and selected spot repairs.

Public-works presenter said crews used a 3/8-inch chip seal in places and plan to return to finish remaining sites once a hot plant is available. The department also said it will coordinate with a milling company about reuse options and will discuss shoulder machine work when funds are available.

During the update a resident raised a concern about an apparent oil spill from a truck on Highway 40. The resident described images showing oil flowing down a slope into yard and roadside dirt, estimated the spread at several feet wide and urged public-works staff to check how much oil may have been lost and whether coring or remediation had been done. Commissioners and staff agreed to follow up with county road crew contact Jeff to confirm whether coring or other inspections had been performed at the marked locations.

Why it matters: Road maintenance decisions affect travel safety and county budget planning for resurfacing, culverts and drainage. The resident’s report about a vehicle oil leak raised potential environmental and maintenance concerns that county staff said they would investigate.

Ending: Public-works staff also reported ongoing coordination with adjacent town crews and upcoming shoulder and drainage work, and the commission asked staff to pursue follow-up about the oil incident and potential coring at painted sites.