Pulaski County court approves $2.57 million county road aid, $523,024 flex grant and small safety grant

Pulaski County Fiscal Court voted to accept state road funding and related road-safety programs and approved the county road list during its meeting.

The court approved a county road aid resolution committing $2,566,585 in state aid beginning July 1, a roughly $170,000 increase from the current year, and directed the county clerk to return the signed resolution to the state. The court also approved participation in a Safe Streets & Roads data-collection program through the Lake Hermanad district that makes $10,150 available for identified safety improvements, and accepted $523,024 in flex funds for county road projects.

The county’s presiding official said, “We’re gonna approve $2,566,585 for next year on the county road aid from the state, beginning July 1 and I have to pass this resolution and agreement through court and get it back to the state level.” The court then moved the resolution and carried it by roll call.

Court members also approved specific road actions: placing a 25 mph speed-limit sign on North River Road and adopting the department’s road list. Wayne, representing the road department, asked for approval of the road list; the court admonished residents to be patient because the work would take time.

All related motions were approved by the court at the meeting; roll-call votes were recorded for the larger funding resolutions.

Votes at a glance

- County road aid resolution (state aid beginning July 1; $2,566,585): Motion by Mr. Wheeland; second by Mr. Ranshaw. Roll-call recorded yes votes; motion passed. - Lake Hermanad district Safe Streets & Roads participation (grant/participation authorization; $10,150): Motion to carry forward; mover Mr. Ranshaw; second Mr. Turpin; motion passed. - Flex funding resolution (allocation $523,024 for listed roads): Motion by Mr. Ranshaw; second by Mr. Strunk; roll-call recorded unanimous approval; motion passed. - Speed-limit sign (North River Road, 25 mph): Motion by Mr. Strunk; second by Mr. Ranshaw; motion passed. - County road list (department road list for work): Motion by Mr. Ranshaw; second by Mr. Strunk; motion passed.

The court noted the flex funds represented an increase of a little more than $50,000 over the current year’s flex allocation. Officials said the Safe Streets program identifies high-crash county-road locations but does not mandate improvements; the state provides data and the county chooses how to respond.

The court then moved on to departmental reports.