Resident says Little Soap Road erosion has persisted for years; county outlines temporary stabilization plan

A Wapello County resident described five years of erosion and recurring loose aggregate on Little Soap Road and pressed supervisors for more direct attention to the problem during public comment.

"My name is Kurt Zuline. I live at 2704 Little Sof Road and I don't know where to start. I've been battling this for five years," Kurt Zuline said. He said previous repairs have failed, that the road washes out after rain and that loose asphalt chips and rock end up in his yard and create safety and access problems.

County secondary roads staff told the board they have been exploring a short‑term stabilization treatment that strips sod, mixes a chemical stabilizer into the shoulder soil and is expected to last five to seven years—long enough to bridge the interval until a full widening and reconstruction project can be scheduled. Staff said the process requires careful moisture control and is likely to be performed in late summer or early fall when conditions are suitable.

Zuline said only some supervisors or staff have visited his property and urged more timely attentive follow‑up. Board members and staff described budget and scheduling constraints, said they are tracking Little Soap Road on the project list, and noted planned reactive repairs ahead of a full reconstruction that may take place in future fiscal years.

The board did not authorize immediate full reconstruction at the meeting; staff will continue short‑term repairs and return with scheduling details for the stabilization work.