Johnson County still has about 135 miles of gravel roads. One of the issues that comes with living on a gravel road is dealing with the dust created by traffic. The dust gets in the air, on your vehicle, in your house, and it can be a nuisance. To help with this issue, the Board of County Commissioners approved a dust control cost sharing program for 2020. In the program, a product is sprayed onto the gravel road in front of your home to help reduce the dust. The road will still look like a gravel road, but the dust created by traffic is significantly reduced.

As part of the dust control program, the county will pay for half of the cost to apply the product with the resident paying the other half. To be eligible for this program, residents must be living on a gravel road in the unincorporated area of Johnson County. The program will cover a 400-foot treatment area in front of your home. It will be limited to the first 100 people who sign up.

Application of the treatment is planned for May and June, depending on the weather and demand for the program. There are no guarantees as to the effectiveness and longevity of the dust control treatment. It is hoped that it will last the dry summer months. Annual reapplication is recommended.

In a few weeks, Public Works will release pricing information and start accepting applications. If you wish to be notified about the program once it begins, please contact Rob Callahan at 913-715-8363.