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Commissioners approve $8,500 mower purchase, agree to resubmit bridge grant and extend bridge work due to heavy rain
Summary
The county approved an $8,500 mower purchase for building maintenance, authorized resubmission of a grant application for Ragglesville Bridge 95 replacement funding and granted a 10-day extension for work on Bridge 14 (Old US 50) because heavy rains delayed construction.
The Board of County Commissioners on July 22 approved routine highway department items, including a $8,500 purchase of a lawn mower for county building and maintenance, gave staff permission to resubmit a federal bridge-rehabilitation grant application for Bridge 95 in Ragglesville and extended work on Bridge 14 over Colbert Ditch because flooding has stalled construction.
The actions came during a regular agenda item for the highway department, when Chris, a county highway staff member, described how heavy, concentrated rainfall this season has delayed road and bridge work. "With the extraordinary amount of rain that we've had this year, that's created problems for us and put us behind schedule a little bit," Chris said.
Commissioners approved buying the mower from the commissioners' building and maintenance fund, with the motion passing 2-0. The mower is intended for county building and maintenance use rather than right-of-way work; Chris said the county had been using an older courthouse mower for about a decade and the machine had become unreliable.
On Bridge 95 in Ragglesville, Chris told commissioners the county previously applied for a grant for rehabilitation and did not receive funding; the county can increase its local match to improve its chances. He described a potential full replacement estimated at $4,000,000 with an approximate county share of $800,000 (20 percent). The board approved resubmitting the application when the next call for projects opens (motion passed 2-0).
Work on Bridge 14, the bridge over Colbert Ditch on Old U.S. 50, was delayed because high creek flows prevented completion of the work under the bridge. Chris asked the commissioners to waive liquidated damages and grant a 10-day extension; the board approved the extension (motion passed 2-0). He told commissioners the opening could slip into August and promised to provide updated timelines once conditions dry.
Separately, staff presented an LPA (local public agency) voucher related to the Old US 50 bridge work and asked the board to move forward with reimbursement paperwork to recover 80 percent of eligible costs; the motion to proceed passed 2-0.
Chris also described an informal request from the airport to pave gravel areas near hangars. He said the airport could fund material and labor while the county might donate equipment use if schedules allow. He reported the requested area is about 11,767 square feet and two paving options were priced around $51,000 (exact firm figures to be confirmed). Commissioners did not take formal action on the airport request but asked staff to continue discussions.
Why it matters: The items affect county infrastructure delivery and near-term budgets. The bridge grant resubmission could lead to a multi‑million dollar federal/state project with an eight-figure engineering and construction cost; the mower and paving choices shift small operational costs between departmental budgets.
Details and next steps: Highway staff will resubmit the bridge application when the next grant call is issued, update the board on Bridge 14 schedules after weather clears, complete LPA voucher paperwork for reimbursement, and follow up with the airport on paving scope and timing.
