Commissioners adopt resolution 2025-16 to amend STIP, reallocate federal pavement and forestry funds

The Columbia County Board of Commissioners voted on July 14 to adopt Resolution 2025-16 amending the county’s STIP (Statewide Transportation Improvement Program). Grant Morgan (referenced in the meeting) explained the amendment reallocates redistributed federal funds and places several projects in the 2028 year to meet federal obligations.

Grant Morgan briefed the board that some projects had placeholder entries and that redistributed funds from prior pavement-preservation and forestry projects would be used. He said he added additional federal money for Keller Hollow Phase 2 and placed future federal funds on the Tucana project, which had not been funded in the last round because funds were used on the Kellogg project. “So just kind of a money game that we're doing. It's all grant funds,” Grant Morgan said.

On the record, a commissioner moved to adopt Resolution 2025-16 “in the matter of amending the STIP as described.” The board called for the question, and the motion carried; the resolution was adopted as presented.

The amendment will obligate redistributed federal funds for pavement-preservation work and ensure the county meets allocation requirements for its STPG (Surface Transportation Program – Rural) program for the year. According to the staff overview, most of the added money is targeted to later years (notably 2028) to align with redistribution timelines.

The record does not include detailed line-item dollar amounts for each project in the motion as read on the floor; staff indicated the changes are predominantly federal grant reassignments and not county general-fund expenditures. Commissioners asked no substantive changes on the record before adoption.

Staff will proceed to obligate funds and incorporate the amendment into the county’s project scheduling and grant accounting.