Concerns raised about county’s first attempt at prime-and-seal work
McLeod County’s first try at a prime-and-seal road project may need some fixing up, the County Board heard at its Nov. 4 meeting.
The county used funds generated by its wheelage tax to use the prime-and-seal method to provide a blacktop-like surface on Tagus Avenue, west of Lake Marion.
Pete Maiers, chairman of the Collins Township Board of Supervisors, said residents were disappointed with the results.
Maiers said he rode with the construction crew during the application, and the result was an inconsistent surface with ruts.
Maiers said one problem was that trucks would park on the shoulder and the packed surface “would just sink away.”
He also said that he felt that the surface prep work compacted the dirt and gravel too much, so that the oil didn’t penetrate deeply enough.
Highway Engineer John Brunkhorst said it was the county’s first attempt at the process, and it also was the contractor’s first experience with it.
Commissioner Sheldon Nies said the county definitely needs to look at the product and try to provide a fix in the spring. For more, see the Nov. 12 print edition of The McLeod County Chronicle.