Resident questions Polk County dust-oil process for Ferns Corner Road; public works staff explains options

A Monmouth resident raised safety and maintenance concerns about Ferns Corner Road during public comment at the Polk County Board of Commissioners meeting on June 18, saying random patches of gravel have been treated with dust oil while the stretch near his property has not.

“My name is Chip North, and I'm from Ferns Corner Road here in Monmouth. Last 20 years, I've been driving the Ferns Corner Gravel Road. I've lost countless tires and, been thrown you know, rock's been thrown at me while riding my motorcycle,” the resident said.

A county public-works official explained that the county’s routine practice for applying “dust oil” (also called lignocite) typically targets sections of gravel roads that have steep grades—either uphill or downhill—to control washboarding and to protect drivability and road integrity. The official said the county also provides contact information for private contractors to residents who want dust control on their road; residents can apply through Public Works, get a cost estimate, and choose to hire a contractor to treat their stretch of road.

“Normally, our process for dust oil, that's what we refer to it as, is the county only applies dust oil to usually areas where there is a hill either going up or down to control washboarding,” the public-works official said. He added that lignocite is the primary product used and that the county can supply names of contractors to residents who wish to fund treatment themselves.

A commissioner said staff would email the resident a link to the Polk County Public Works webpage with application and contact information. The resident thanked commissioners for the response. No board action was taken on the matter; it was recorded as a public comment and staff response.