County engineer outlines road work, millings and proposes $432,131 grader order
June 16, 2026 | Mills County, Iowa
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County Engineer Jacob Ferrell told the Mills County Board of Supervisors the county's secondary road work is advancing and asked the board to accept several related items.
Ferrell said rejuvenation spray work is completed on one road after traffic-control issues and that crews are finishing asphalt on L63 with shoulders and center- and edge-line rumble strips planned under a highway-safety grant. "They're going to be 6 in wide. So they're wider than the rest of the county. That is a requirement to get those safety buttons," he said, describing the planned permanent pavement markings and safety hardware.
The engineer said the county's yard is nearly full of asphalt millings and discussed contractor practices and storage constraints; county staff and supervisors agreed to evaluate options for handling the material. Ferrell also reported an arrangement with the county landfill: effective immediately, storm-related tree debris from county crews, cities and residents may be dropped at the landfill at no charge to aid cleanup.
On equipment, Ferrell said he would bring a request next week to authorize ordering a Caterpillar grader to reserve a unit now that in-stock machines are scarce. He gave an estimated price of $432,131 before trade-in; the department budgeted $365,000 and typically expects $60,000–$80,000 for a trade-in, so final net cost will vary after trade-in value is applied.
The board approved the FY27 secondary road salary schedule during the same segment; the schedule takes effect July 1, 2026 and follows the step-based pay system previously approved. The board carried the motion to accept the salary schedule.
Ferrell said rejuvenation spray work is completed on one road after traffic-control issues and that crews are finishing asphalt on L63 with shoulders and center- and edge-line rumble strips planned under a highway-safety grant. "They're going to be 6 in wide. So they're wider than the rest of the county. That is a requirement to get those safety buttons," he said, describing the planned permanent pavement markings and safety hardware.
The engineer said the county's yard is nearly full of asphalt millings and discussed contractor practices and storage constraints; county staff and supervisors agreed to evaluate options for handling the material. Ferrell also reported an arrangement with the county landfill: effective immediately, storm-related tree debris from county crews, cities and residents may be dropped at the landfill at no charge to aid cleanup.
On equipment, Ferrell said he would bring a request next week to authorize ordering a Caterpillar grader to reserve a unit now that in-stock machines are scarce. He gave an estimated price of $432,131 before trade-in; the department budgeted $365,000 and typically expects $60,000–$80,000 for a trade-in, so final net cost will vary after trade-in value is applied.
The board approved the FY27 secondary road salary schedule during the same segment; the schedule takes effect July 1, 2026 and follows the step-based pay system previously approved. The board carried the motion to accept the salary schedule.
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