Deadline approaching for dust control program

Rural residents who want to lower the dust from passers-by vehicles will get a chance from Bourbon County Commissioners.

The commissioners worked on information to be released about the Dust Palliative Program at Mondays's commission meeting.

The program, through the Public Works Department is making "user fee" dust control available to interested property owners. The program consists of applying Dustgard to rock roads, typically in front of houses and properties, in an effort to control dust created by vehicles, according to a press release from the commission.

Dustgard is composed of magnesium chloride and is a product for dust control, soil stabilization and wind erosion problems. When applied to roads and bare soil areas, it immediately provides cleaner air, greater safety through improved road conditions and helps prevent wind erosion. The salt solution comes from the Great Salt Lake where brine is pumped into a series of ponds, covering over 43,000 acres, then solar evaporation and wind evaporate the solution, according to the Dustgard website.

The cost of the dust control program is by individual property owners who request to participate. The cost of material, labor and equipment is $1.50 per foot with a minimum of 300 feet of road required. The county will proceed with project with a minimum of 15 participants.

"Fifteen participants are needed to keep the price down. We aren't making any profit," said Commissioner Allen Warren at the meeting.

"We have to buy at least 4,500 gallons," Commissioner Harold Coleman said.

The expected life of the dust control product, using this method is several months to one year, depending on weather, road and traffic conditions. Every reasonable effort will be made to obtain the best practical dust reduction. Many variables influence the effectiveness of dust control and the county does not warrant the effectiveness of these treatments. No refunds or re-treatment will be made for poor performance due to required road maintenance, according to the commission press release.

Applications are available at the Public Works Office on the second floor of the Bourbon County Courthouse. Pre-payment must be received by 4:30 p.m., Thursday May 15, in order to participate in this program. Please address all questions regarding this program to Bourbon County Public Works Director Jim Harris (620)768-9690 or (620)224-3800.

At last Fridays meeting the commission:

* Approved starting the process for an engineer to design a new bridge that will replace a low-water bridge located at 145th Street and Tomahawk. Commission Chairman Allen Warren said the bridge is located between Tomahawk and Soldier Road. A Bourbon County Sheriff's Office vehicle has been torn up on the bridge in the past. Commissioner Harold Coleman said the bridge has been "bad" for a long time. Roads and Bridges Director Jim Harris said the bridge could be replaced this fall.

* Approved various road permits. County Clerk Kendell Mason said applications must be submitted to the county before digging into a county road. Permits commissioners granted include a request by the city of Uniontown to cross water lines on Maple Road; a request by AT&T to dig through roads at 882 260th Street and 2371 Maple Road; and a request by Mark Beltz, 2146 205th St., for a culvert.

* During his road report, Harris said progress is being made on ditching on Cavalry Road; the Indian Road project is "99 percent done," and a bridge on 260th Street is open for traffic. He also said the county has recently moved equipment into the Riverfront Park project.

"We're trying to get things done and moving forward," he said.

Harris also said he is looking at using temporary mowers again this year for the mowing season which will begin soon.

* Warren and Albright said they will be attending a Kansas County Commissioners Association conference Tuesday through Thursday in Manhattan, Kan.

* Approved starting the process of gathering information to put out bids for fish food. Warren said last year, bids were in 50-pound bags of floating feed. Last year's deadline for bids was May 31.

* Approved a motion to reopen a vacated portion of Grand Road between 200th and 210th streets. The road was closed a few years ago after landowners petitioned the county. The road is located partially in Scott and Drywood townships. In early April, county resident Marti Tuchscherer submitted a petition to have the portion of Grand Road reopened.

* County resident Mike Goucher, who lives near Hammond, appeared before the commission and said he is upset about recent grading the county did on 225th Street near his residence. He said county workers "did not pack the ditch" and "it's all mud. They put the water line in the street; they dozed dirt onto the street."

"It's like planting a garden and forgetting to seed," he said.

Goucher said he was pleased with Albright, who he said has responded quickly to a road he requested to be fixed but he was "frustrated" about this recent issue.

* Briefly discussed some of the damage from the tornado that struck northern Bourbon County April 27.