Supervisors approve Secondary Roads DOT FY27 program; county staff outline HMA schedule and maintenance needs

The Crawford County Board of Supervisors approved the county’s Secondary Roads Iowa DOT fiscal year 2027 budget and program during Tuesday’s meeting and heard detailed updates on an upcoming HMA paving project and other road maintenance priorities.

County road staff presented a tentative contractor schedule for an HMA project expected to begin in late June with an initial work‑day schedule that could extend activity into October depending on allowed working days and weather. Staff said a pre‑construction meeting was planned for early May and that the contractor has 80 working days as currently drawn in the schedule.

The supervisors then approved the Secondary Roads DOT FY27 budget and program by motion; the chair declared the motion carried.

Beyond the paving schedule, staff outlined routine maintenance activities — pavement markings, seal coats and targeted crack sealing — and flagged a growing inventory of concrete end‑section failures and culvert deterioration. Staff said some culverts may be repairable with grouting or internal liners rather than full replacement, and that the county is seeking cost estimates and contractor recommendations (including Denco) to assess the lifecycle tradeoffs.

County staff also described logistical issues around contractor staging and millings storage and noted the department is preparing material and staging areas in advance of work. Supervisors emphasized the need to balance long‑term capital choices with short‑term operating budgets and prioritized targeted inspections to avoid pavement failures that could become far costlier repairs.

Meeting materials state the Secondary Roads program submitted to DOT remains technically the DOT’s program for fiscal planning, and the county’s vote formally adopts the priority list and funding as shown in that submission.