County moves forward on roadwork: $640,036.50 chip-seal contract approved; road-and-bridge update details equipment and FEMA work

The Saline County Board of Commissioners approved the award of the 2026 bituminous chip-seal contract to Heft and Sons LLC for an estimated $640,036.50 and heard an update from the Road & Bridge administrator on recent maintenance and recovery work.

County Engineer Justin Mader presented the bid results and recommended accepting the low responsive bid. He told the commission four bids were opened April 21 and staff’s recommendation aligned with the project’s available contractual-asphalt budget, which has a $1.6 million line item. Commissioner (Speaker 3) moved to approve RFA 20 26-61; the motion passed by voice vote.

Road & Bridge Administrator Darren Fischel provided a bimonthly report covering March–April 2026. He listed recent activities including the purchase and delivery of two motor graders, DuraPatch pothole repairs countywide, culvert replacements and pipelining under hard-surface roads to reduce future trenching. Fischel noted the department trenched for electrification at Brookville Fire Station to park a motor grader on county property.

Fischel said the department completed winter tree and brush clearing at roughly 110 sites and is progressing with planned road rebuilds and replacements. He reported work to secure FEMA reimbursement for last July’s storm damage is ongoing; staff await a second adjuster visit to finalize damage estimates. On Ohio Street reconstruction, staff said the contractor paused to work on a KDOT job and rain has delayed progress; the work could take another month to a month and a half to complete once active again.

Commissioners and staff discussed local dust-control measures on Shilling Road and truck traffic impacts associated with a nearby sandpit.