Dust control 'more immediate concern' for commission

~ Officials will hear options from county highway administrator Scott Bechtold on Thursday.

Residents who took part in a public hearing on county roads showed so much concern about dust control that the Cape Girardeau County Commission wants information about the costs of taking action.

In their meeting Thursday, commissioners will hear options from county highway administrator Scott Bechtold, Commissioner Jay Purcell said Tuesday.

Commissioners have asked voters to approve Proposition 1, a half-cent sales tax, on Aug. 8. The $5.9 million the tax would raise would be split between eliminating property taxes dedicated to roads and accelerating the county's road paving program. A portion would also be dedicated to increasing the number of patrol deputies in the sheriff's department.

"We always thought that paving of the roads was a larger issue," Purcell said. "Paving of the roads is important, but a more immediate concern is dust control."

Commissioners want more input from residents on whether dust control is an important enough issue for increased spending, Purcell said. That's why they are putting it on their Thursday agenda, hoping to attract more ideas from the public as well as hearing about costs.

Input required

"We want a plan that will address dust control and the long-term paving program," Purcell said. "That will require the input of our citizens."

There are several substances that can be used to control dust.

Spraying oil on the road is one option, but it can leave a residue on cars that travel a road soon after spraying and washes away after a relatively short time.

Calcium carbonate is another compound used for dust control because it absorbs moisture from the atmosphere, keeping a liquid layer on the road. One of the drawbacks of calcium carbonate is expense, Bechtold said at a recent commission meeting.

The meeting is the first that will address concerns raised at the public hearing, Purcell said. Commissioners begin their meeting at 9 a.m. in chambers on the third floor of the County Administration Building in Jackson.

rkeller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126