LAKEPORT — Lake County roads may soon have more support after the Lake County Board of Supervisors approved funding Tuesday to have enzymes studied that strengthen the streets.
The sticky, slimy enzyme binds soil below roads into a strong shale-like material that then is covered by pavement or a chip seal, Public Works director Brent Siemer said. A chip seal essentially makes asphalt in place. The enzyme saves money and resources by barring the need for crews to bring in gravel or sand for the durable road base.
“We know it works,” Siemer said. “We don”t know how well it works and how much material to use.”
Supervisors unanimously approved a purchase order for $30,000 to the Chico State University Research Foundation for Permazyme stabilized soil testing. Board members also voted 5-0 to accept $20,000 from the manufacturer of the product, so that the cost to the county will be $10,000. Staff agreed to talk with the manufacturer, Pacific Enzymes, about the county”s contribution and if it could result in royalties to the county.
The California Pavement Preservation Center at Chico State University will do the testing and have results in a few months, Siemer said.
The county has been using enzymes to strengthen roads and save in maintenance for more than 10 years, Siemer said. Using enzymes on all road reconstruction could cut the cost so that Public Works could fix five times as many roads for the same as it spends fixing one road in the traditional way. The state and federal government require proven product results before they will fund projects using enzymes.
Supervisor Rob Brown said he thinks a study is a good idea but questioned why the company that makes the product didn”t fully fund a study before.
Siemer said because the company originally focused on agriculture it hadn”t studied how its products affected road construction. He added that the faster it”s proven the product strengthens roads, the faster the county can get project funding from Caltrans.
Supervisor Jeff Smith said the county contracting for the study on its own soils would provide a benefit.
“It”s going to give us results specific to Lake County,” Smith said.
“It”s win, win for us,” he said.
Rushing said she thinks the county”s contribution could be worth something to the company and asked staff to discuss that with the manufacturer.
Siemer emphasized that the product is safe for the environment as it”s made of organic material, he said.
Siemer will give a presentation on the enzymes, how they”re used and how strong they make the roads at next year”s National Association of County Engineers Annual Conference.
Contact Katy Sweeny at kdsweeny@gmail.com or call her directly at 263-5636, ext. 37.
