When it’s time to work, Oktibbeha County Road Manager Victor Collins says his favorite temperature is above 52 degrees.
That temperature is what he calls “the magic number” needed for hot asphalt to properly stick and adhere to roads during county paving projects, and Collins knows he has a dwindling supply of warmer days ahead this year for work.
“I’m thinking we’ll have another two weeks or so where we consistently stay above 52. After that, it’s going to be harder to do these paving projects,” he said.
During those 14 days — or however many mild days the county experiences — Collins said his crews will push ahead with Maben-Sturgis Road and other paving projects. The road department will also tend to rebuilding, grubbing and other road maintenance work associated with Pat Station, Self Creek and Summertree roads.
Non-paving projects are also dependent on the weather, as winter historically brings rain that can slow workers’ progress.
Collins said he’s hopeful his department can complete as much work as possible before slowing down from December to early March, when conditions again become favorable. A recently-purchased paving machine, he said, has allowed crews to step up their efforts, but the county could stand to update its grubbing equipment. On personnel numbers, Collins said his staff “is looking pretty good” but will have some experienced workers retiring soon.
“We’ll do as much as we can when we can, but it’s just been so hard to read the weather lately,” he said.
Once the calendar turns to 2017, Collins said his crews will finish any incomplete 2016 projects then turn its focus to St. Mark Road and the rest of Oktibbeha County’s four-year road plan.
In August, supervisors unanimously approved a $3.66 million plan through fiscal year 2019 to guide infrastructure projects, which includes 10.23 miles of paving. One month later, the board approved a 1-mill tax increase to fund either its road and bridge repair line item or service debt associated with a potential road bond.
Supervisors last week approved a $4.5 million-maximum bond intent notice to service the county-maintained portion of Blackjack Road, from its Mississippi State University entrance at Hardy Road to Bardwell Road, and scheduled a 7 a.m. Thursday work session to discuss a possible second bond issuance.
The $4.5 million Blackjack Road bond is not expected to necessitate a tax increase, but the 1-mill increase will not fund a $10 million-maximum bond pitched by District 2 Supervisor Orlando Trainer. Other supervisors, including District 1 Supervisor John Montgomery, said they would prefer a bond package — about $4.5 million to $5 million — that would not require an additional tax hike.
Few city projects remain
Most Starkville paving projects were completed earlier this year, but City Engineer Edward Kemp said outside contractors will tend to portions of West Main Street and Banyan Road this year.
Banyan Road was the focus of a sanitary sewer project that replaced failing piping along the key tie-in to Starkville’s wastewater system. Road work was required after workers bored under South Montgomery Street.
Pothole patching will remain the city street department’s main focus, Kemp said, as crews focus on maintenance.
“With the weather turning cold and wet, it’ll definitely cause a lot more potholes to pop up. We can’t patch holes when it’s too cold or if they’re full of water,” he said.
Starkville residents can report pothole issues to the street department by calling 662-323-9676.
Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch
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