The Jefferson Street Department is beginning some of its upcoming projects for the summer.

Public Works Director Dave Morlan says an ongoing project is sealcoating the city’s alleyways. Morlan points out that this year crews will be doing the northeast portion of town. He describes the prep work that needs to be done before sealcoating can happen.

“What they have to do there is they go in and if there’s a lot of good rock they’ll pull it out, grade the surface, get it to height. Then they’ll put more white rock in to establish a good base for when they come in and sealcoat.”   

Morlan explains the process of sealcoating.

“They put down some oil and then they put pea rock over it. It creates a hard surface. It’s not a long-term solution but it’s a couple to three years before we have to go back and treat it again.”     

Morlan adds after these alleys are done, every alley in town will have been sealcoated within the last 4-5 years.