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County staff warn road maintenance capacity shrinking as overlay miles fall
Summary
Road and bridge staff told commissioners that annual overlay mileage has fallen from about 14 miles to 9.5 miles, and driver shortages have left the county with few available drivers—staff urged budgeting changes and persistent grant applications to address infrastructure needs.
Road and bridge staff told the county commissioners the county's pavement maintenance program has less capacity than in prior years and flagged staffing shortages that affect routine operations. "We used to get 14 miles of overlay. We are down to 9.5 miles of overlay per year," Ryan said, noting the county now schedules chip-seal and overlay in quadrants and is trying to maintain a five-year reseal rotation.
Ryan described tight staffing: drivers have left and the department is down to a small crew, which has forced supervisors to step in to run trucks, reducing time for other duties. Commissioners agreed they need to revisit the road-and-bridge budget and consider options for restoring fleet and crew capacity. The board discussed pursuing state bridge and road grants and soliciting letters of support from nearby cities to improve chances in future funding cycles.
Commissioners asked staff to prepare budget scenarios and to meet with county leadership to outline options to sustain the road program for 2026–27.
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