The Saline County Commission heard plans for a dust control project on Schilling Road east of Ohio Street during their July 15 meeting, with County Engineer Justin Mader announcing a cost-sharing agreement with the City of Salina.
According to Mader, the county has been working with city officials to address dust concerns on the western half-mile of Schilling Road. The city has agreed to share the cost of implementing dust control measures to evaluate their effectiveness.
"We're just going to give this dust control a try," Mader told commissioners. "This is not something that we're thinking we're going to do multiple times a year and every year after that. We're just going to try it this one time and see how it works."
The project, estimated to cost approximately $6,500, will be split 50-50 between the county and city. Scottwood Industries provided the quote for the magnesium chloride application, which Mader noted is the only company in close proximity that provides this service.
Mader explained that logistics will be challenging since Schilling Road is a dead-end street providing the only access to a sand plant. To minimize disruption, officials plan to schedule the dust control application for a Saturday afternoon when the sand plant isn't operating.
"Literally the truck that shows up with the mag chloride, they drive down one side, spray it, drive down the other side, spray it, and they're out," Mader explained.
Commissioner Hay raised concerns about the project, questioning why Johnson Sand, which operates in the area under a Conditional Use Permit (CUP), wasn't contributing to the cost. Mader clarified that the existing agreement with Johnson Sand only requires them to provide dust control on the eastern half-mile of the road, while this project addresses the western section.
The commission took no formal vote on the matter, with Mader indicating that plans would proceed with the test application unless directed otherwise.
