The Jefferson City Council approved a couple of summer projects that are part of an ongoing maintenance program.

The Council approved Denco to crack-seal in the southwest portion of town for $48,416. Public Works Director Dave Morlan says the contractor will remove the old tar in the crack, air blow the rest of the debris from the crack and seal it with tar again. He explains why the city continues to do this type of project on an annual rotation basis. 

“Whatcha doing is preventing the water from getting down through the cracks in the street and especially in the spring and fall, that freeze/thaw, when you get water in the cracks and stuff, that’s what causes your potholes and breaks your streets up is that freezing. By sealing it up, you’re keeping the water out from running down in it and it prolongs the life of it (the street).”  

The other project the City Council approved was for seal-coating with Blacktop Service Company for $45,105 for the north-south part of town that is near the water tower. Morlan describes what this process entails for gravel areas and some alleyways.

“They’re applying like a tack oil to it and they’re putting a wash, like pea-rock on it then. And that gets packed in and it sticks, and that levels out your surface and smooths it up some, and makes it a hard surface then.”   

Morlan adds that seal-coating is also on a regular rotation where different portions of town will have this service done to it. Local Option Sales and Services Tax (LOSST) funds are used to pay for both of these projects.