Highway committee reviews budget adjustments, County Z paving and County J bridge progress; staff prepare for winter
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Summary
Adams County highway officials reported an increase in state general transportation aid and related budget adjustments, said about $11.5 million has been paid to the County Z contractor, reported County Z paving is expected to finish this month, and gave a status update on County J bridge work and winter preparations.
Adams County highway staff on Oct. 9 reported adjustments to the department budget after an increase in state general transportation aid, updated the committee on major projects including County Z and County J, and outlined operational preparations for the winter season.
A county administrator and human-resources manager told the committee they updated the highway budget to reflect the state-provided increase to general transportation aid and boosted projected revenue to account for an additional county highway improvement award; overall, the 2.60 fund increased by roughly $224,000, and modest increases were made in the 700 fund for charges for services, wages and operating supplies.
Pat, highway department staff, said the department is balancing a fund-balance deficit by deferring some maintenance projects from 2025 into 2026 and 2027. “So that so we have to balance the funds out when we present the budget,” Pat said, explaining that planned projects were deferred to later years to address a negative fund balance. Pat also explained LRAP funds are dedicated to improvement projects and do not qualify for routine maintenance work such as seal coating, so two seal-coating projects were deferred for that reason.
On projects, Pat reported the County Z work is on schedule and nearing completion, with asphalt paving expected to be finished pending weather. “We are up to $11,500,000.0 paid out to the contractor at this point,” Pat said, and staff expect paving to be complete by the end of the month, with shouldering, guardrail, striping and final sign work to follow. For the County J bridge project, staff reported abutment pours scheduled for Oct. 10 and Oct. 16; the contractor has recovered schedule after a short delay caused by complications arranging a de-energization of an ATC high-voltage line.
Operationally, the highway department has completed mowing and shoulder work for the season, finished several small concrete repairs under special DOT agreements, and completed a pulverize-and-pave project for which the department is awaiting final bills and LRAP reimbursement. Equipment updates include a truck conversion sent to a vendor and an expected delivery of a new storm truck next week for winter operations. Personnel updates: the department currently has two vacancies; hiring closed and staff reported 12 applicants for the recent posting.
Committee members set the next meeting date for Nov. 13 and discussed follow-up items including documentation for deferred projects and reimbursement claims.