MonticelloLive

    Now that the essential hot weather is here we are commencing our chip and seal projects.  We are still checking roads on schedule, but are not grading as much because it is so dry in some areas.  If we grade when it’s too dry the dirt turns to powder, blows away and the road gets that “rub board” feeling.  We are checking the routes though.
     Last Monday Florence Road, Mount Tabor Road, Brixie Road and Shultz Lane were graded.
     Bud Jordan Road, S. Comino Road and Collins Lacey Road was bush hogged.
     Equipment was moved to Sanderlin Road for chip and sealing to begin. 
     The water truck was worked on. 
     Tuesday saw routes checked after the scattered rains.  Two trees were removed from the roads.
     Class 2 chips were hauled to South 16th Section Road and a project near Monticello Schools.
     Chip and sealing was done on S. 16th Section Road and the school project. 
     Collins Line Road was bush hogged. 
     On Wednesday Collins Line Road and Buddy Beaty Road were graded; others were checked.
     Hot mix was hauled to the site near the school.
     Bulloch Road was bush hogged.
     A trip was made to Little Rock to pick up more grader blades.
     Oil was sprayed for chip and seal on Sanderlin Road.
     Thursday Old Hwy 65, Young Road and Selma Collins Road were graded; others checked.
     Silver Mount Church Road, Bayou Road, Drew 133 and the east end of Barkada Road were mowed. 
     Old Hwy 13, Drew 22, Old Deane Road, Bordeaux Road, N. 16th Section Road, Florence Road, Jose Chapel Road and Jose Chapel Cut-off Road were patched.
     On Friday Panther Break Road, Skipper Bridge Road and Magnolia Lane were graded.  Others checked. 
     Firing Range Road, S. 16th Section Road, S. Comino Road, Collins Line Road and Four Mile Creek Road were patched. Chip and seal continued.
     The backhoe was taken to Plantersville Road.  A tree was removed from a road. 
     The Mack truck was serviced.  
     My Monday began at the courthouse and shop.  Then I helped carry a truck from Comino to Collins before returning to the courthouse for office tasks and calls the rest of the morning.  After lunch I also carried fuel to a grader on Lambert Road checking roads along the way before returning to the courthouse chores for the rest of the day. 
     Some areas got a shower or two overnight Monday.  We were fortunate to get 2.6 inches at my house. 
     Tuesday I went to the courthouse and shop before leaving to go to Little Rock to the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department to attend the bidletting on summer road projects.  Drew County got two (2) projects funded.  One highway department job will resurface a part of Gaines Street in Monticello. For the other project, Drew County will receive $164,999.99 to chip and seal part of Selma Collins Road.  When we bid on our own roads, we save money because the state pays us like a contractor.  
     Bradley County Judge Keith Neely went with me.  They were funded a project too. 
     Returning to Monticello, I checked messages and returned a few calls before going home.
     Wednesday began at the office before carrying a truck from Collins to Jerome for the bush hog operator.
     Then I returned to the office for the rest of the morning.
     At 2:00 p.m. I attended the monthly Cornerstone Coalition meeting.  This was largely a discussion of their legislative agenda for the upcoming legislative session.
     Thursday started as usual.  Then I went to see the chip and seal project on Sanderlin Road before returning to courthouse work.
     Later I attended the monthly SEAEDD meeting in Pine Bluff.  Leaving there, I followed Judge Neely to Warren to get a band for two pipes. 
     Courthouse chores finished the day. 
     Friday began at the courthouse and shop.  Then I checked Bowser Road, Lakewood Estates Road, Dow Russell Road and others in the area to see what needs to be done. 
     After I’d returned to the office, I visited on the phone with an aide to Senator Mark Pryor about cellulosic fuels and Senator Pryor’s efforts to ease the fuel crises in thus country. 
     Office tasks completed the day and the workweek.
     Another 4-tenths inches of rain fell Saturday.  At least some of us got a tad.  Hopefully we will get more before long. 
     On Sunday we attended the “open house” at the new and remodeled St. Mark’s Catholic Church.  It is a wonderful, open-air type structure.  I’m a Baptist, but I admire their efforts and results.  It is a beautiful building and they should be congratulated. 
     That about covers this past week.  Please remember mosquito dunks and please don’t litter our county.
     Have a great week!!