Saline County directs staff to confer with Salina on Shilling Road dust control after years of complaints

The Saline County Board of Commissioners directed county staff on June 17 to open discussions with the City of Salina about dust-control and roadway upgrade options for Shilling Road east of Ohio Street, a half-mile section that residents and county staff say has produced repeated dust complaints.

The move follows a detailed presentation by Justin Mater, Saline County engineer, who outlined the road’s history, past agreements with Johnson Sand, and five alternatives: take no additional action; county-funded magnesium chloride dust treatment; cost-share with the city; cost-share with city, Johnson Sand and homeowners associations (HOAs); and upgrading the half-mile to asphalt. The commission voted to have staff begin conversations with the interim city manager and report back; the motion carried with a voice vote.

Mater told commissioners the dust problem is driven largely by truck traffic from Johnson Sand and the removal of a tree row on the north side of Shilling Road by recent residential development. He said Saline County last provided a countywide dust-control program in 2008 and that a 1998 interlocal agreement says the county retains ownership and responsibility for Shilling Road east of Ohio Street.

Mater gave cost estimates: a single magnesium chloride application would cost about $6,260.80 for the treatment itself and roughly $20,000 in preparatory work (aggregate/base) for the half-mile the county would treat; annual preparatory and reapplication costs could add more. He estimated converting the segment to asphalt at roughly $750,000. He also noted the county holds a Shilling Road farm fund (account 450) with a balance of $105,014.94 that could be used toward road work.

Commissioners and residents questioned whether Johnson Sand had met conditions in conditional use permits requiring the operator to “participate in dust control and road upgrades.” Mater said the CUP language was vague and that a 2005 agreement with Johnson Sand had required participation on the east half of the road; county records show the county ceased routine dust-control applications in February 2008. Commissioners asked staff to confirm whether Johnson Sand has performed dust control in recent years and to seek the city’s view on cost-sharing, interim paving, or annexation.

Residents who spoke at the public-comment portion described heavy dust, safety concerns near intersections, and health worries over dust-control chemicals. Kelly Dunn, a Stone Lake resident, said the tree row removal and rising vehicle counts have worsened the problem and called asphalt a long-term solution rather than repeated chemical treatments. Another speaker warned about potential groundwater effects from chloride products.

The commission did not approve immediate dust-control spending. Instead, it voted to have county staff initiate a discussion with the City of Salina about dust control, cost-sharing and long-term options, and to return with recommendations at a future meeting.