Each late winter, with the approval of the Board of County Commissioners, the Public Works Department has an enrollment period for residents wishing to purchase a “dust palliative” treatment for the road fronting their property. This is a user-fee program, so the property owner pays up front for the estimated cost of applying the dust palliative material. In addition, the user-fee also pays for the road to be prepared for the dust palliative, the application of the dust palliative. The dust palliative is typically applied in late spring. The most common dust palliative products are calcium chloride and magnesium chloride. Both products consist of a “brine solution” found naturally in various regions of the U.S.A. The products have been found to control dust by attracting moisture from the atmosphere causing dust to “clump” together. This aids in dust control in two ways. First, the road surface tends to form a hard crust that does not have loose dust particles. Secondly, larger and heavier dust particles do not float about as much.
Franklin County does not guarantee the results of the product. We simply provide an enrollment service to allow the collective purchase of the product in a large enough quantity to achieve an economical solution. Once the enrollment period has closed, then departmental staff reviews each location to determine if it has been marked properly. The quantity of dust palliative required to cover the locations is then calculated and a bid process is initiated.
Once the bid has been awarded, large tank trucks are used to apply the product to the locations throughout the County.
Please note that the road must be properly graded by the Public Works Department prior to application of the dust palliative. In addition, occasional grading may be required should hazardous potholes develop within the treatment segment of the road. Degradation of the dust-controlling properties of the dust palliative may occur. If you have any questions, please contact the Public Works Department at (785) 229-3550.