Lancaster County agrees to apply PermaZyme to Oldfield Street in Waverly; city to pay $21,343.48

Lancaster County commissioners on Nov. 4 approved an interlocal agreement with the City of Waverly for county crews to regrade and apply PermaZyme to a portion of Oldfield Street, from North 141st Street to Canongate Road within Waverly's corporate limits. The city will pay the county $21,343.48 for the work.

Pam Dingman, Lancaster County engineer, explained the process: crews will regrade and compact the gravel road and then apply PermaZyme, an enzyme binder the county has tested at three other locations. Dingman said PermaZyme "continues to harden for a couple of years" and, based on Midwest research, "the life is 5 to 10 years" when installed correctly. She also warned that the product requires a window of favorable temperatures (three consecutive days without evening temperatures under 40 degrees) to be applied successfully.

A Waverly official said the city has applied for grant funding to eventually pave the corridor; the cost of a full paving project was estimated around $3,000,000, and the city plans to add a walking trail when paving occurs. Commissioners and city staff described the agreement as a collaboration that allows the county to share equipment and expertise while addressing dust and traffic concerns on a road that now serves growing residential development.

The board moved, seconded and approved the interlocal agreement by roll call. The county said the PermaZyme application is intended as an interim improvement while longer-range funding for paving is pursued.

The county did not specify a firm schedule beyond watching for suitable weather windows; if optimal application conditions do not occur in early November, staff said they would wait until spring.