Tekoa to chip-seal streets

The city of Tekoa will chip-seal five roads this summer in a project estimated to cost $75,000. The roads, which are now gravel, will effectively be paved once work is complete.

Howard, Sophy, Elizabeth, Truax and Lebo streets are residential roads as short as three blocks long.

“We’ve been wanting to do this,” said Tekoa Mayor John Jaeger.

The funding for the project will come out of the city’s streets fund and general fund.

Tekoa’s Public Works Department will perform the preparation work to the gravel while a crew from Whitman County Public Works will complete it, spreading a layer of asphalt oil over the roads.

In addition, at the Tekoa City Council meeting March 16, town representatives granted approval of up to $15,000 to Public Works Supt. Duane Groom to buy a street roller.

“We plan to be doing this for three to four summers, so it’ll pay us to buy a roller rather than rent one,” said Jaeger.