Jasper County committee approves $300,000 for rock to repair dirt roads

The Jasper County Transportation Committee voted to approve $300,000 in county funding to purchase rock and other aggregate for spot repairs on dirt roads.

Jim, a county staff member, told the committee that the county received $300,000 last fiscal year for the same purpose and asked the committee to repeat that allocation. "Last fiscal year, you guys were gracious enough to give us $300,000 to rock county dirt roads," he said, adding that the county has been using the material for spot repairs at the worst locations rather than full-mile paving.

The request was presented as a continuation of the county’s maintenance strategy. Jim said last year the county paid about $63.70 per ton for the material (down from about $67 the year before) and that roughly 310 loads were placed during the season, with about 30 loads left in the yard. He estimated that fully graveling a mile at a 5-inch depth would require about 1,630 tons — a figure he used to illustrate why the county focuses on spot repairs to stretch available funds.

Committee members questioned alternatives and operational constraints. One member asked whether reclaimed asphalt millings could be used; Jim replied that millings need scarifying blades and different grading equipment to be regraded successfully and that the county’s graders currently lack the necessary scarifying teeth. "If you're using milling material, you're putting your 5 in is going to last you longer," a committee member said during the exchange; Jim cautioned that without the right regrading tools potholing and maintenance problems would follow.

A motion to approve the $300,000 request was made and seconded; the committee carried the motion by voice vote. Committee members noted the county has added two new dump trucks to help distribute material. "The motion carried," the chair said following the vote.

In other business, Leo reported that a local hole repair project in the Susan area had been completed. Staff also told the committee the transportation fund balance is "right at $2 million," and the committee was advised that city representatives will ask for funds next month for a turn lane at Holly Hill Park (name as pronounced in the transcript varies). The meeting adjourned after a motion to close was approved.

The committee did not record individual vote tallies or name movers and seconders in the transcript; motions were approved by voice votes as noted above.