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Roads department flags culvert, bridge repairs and heavy‑equipment replacements as SPLOST priorities
Summary
Roads staff described aging equipment, rising material costs and a backlog of culvert and bridge repairs; they asked the board to consider multi‑year funding to replace graders, excavators and to address bridge pile‑encasement needs.
Roads and public‑works staff briefed the Board of Commissioners on equipment replacement needs and a backlog of culvert and bridge repairs that officials said have been aggravated by rising material and hauling costs.
Staff described key needs: replacement of aging graders and track loaders, an additional excavator to reduce scheduling conflicts, replacement skid‑steer units and the need to keep up with gravel and culvert purchases. Officials noted gravel costs have risen sharply (from roughly $7 per ton several years ago to $21–$25 per ton in current solicitations) and that these recurring costs strain annual operations. They reported recent pile‑encasement bids for bridges (Roger Mill and two Danielsville bridges) were being solicited and that Roger Mill alone could require multiple encasements.
Roads staff also noted the county has pursued state DOT bridge‑repair funding but that many local bridges are aging and patch work is not sufficient; one staff speaker estimated cumulative grant and other outside funding secured in recent years at $25–30 million, but said without SPLOST continuation more local capital projects would be difficult to pursue.
Commissioners and staff discussed whether to use SPLOST, bonds or other mechanisms for larger consolidated projects such as relocating or consolidating shop facilities, and asked for detailed bids and phasing information for the board’s capital planning process.
Ending: Staff said they will return with detailed bid results and cost breakdowns for specific culvert and bridge encasement projects and with equipment replacement schedules keyed to procurement timelines.
