Commissioners approve $537,199.80 resurfacing payment; federal aid secured for Bridge 51

The Clinton County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 2 approved payment of a road resurfacing invoice to Reath Riley for $537,199.80 and heard updates on several highway projects. The board voted 3-0 to approve the payment after county staff confirmed the engineer had reviewed applicable charges. The payment follows highway department work on a gas-line portion of resurfacing and was presented by the county highway representative, Rick. He told the board that federal aid had been awarded for Bridge 51, located on Mulberry/Jefferson Blacktop, in the amount of $2,188,697 and that the project “won't do anything until 3 years,” adding that construction would likely occur in 2028 or 2029. Rick also reported that the county’s new paver broke down and that a repair would cost about $13,000, which has left paving operations stalled. Rick said crews addressed a separate matter on Bailey Bridge Road (850 West) when an underwater inspection was scheduled: county staff moved material to restore water flow beneath the piers so the bridge could be removed from underwater inspection lists. Commissioner K. confirmed the resurfacing invoice had passed the county engineer’s review and, after a motion and second, the board approved the payment by a 3-0 vote. The highway update did not include a finalized construction schedule beyond the federal-aid timeline; Rick provided the funding amount and an approximate timeframe but said staging and contract details remain to be completed. The county did not announce a contractor or bid schedule for Bridge 51 at the meeting; staff said paperwork and further steps will follow the federal-aid award.