Pulaski County Fiscal Court approves bridge funding agreement, joins opioid settlements and schedules road hearing

Pulaski County Fiscal Court members on an unspecific July meeting approved a resolution to accept state funding for repairs to a bridge on Old Shuffle Road, voted to participate in several opioid-litigation settlement agreements, approved routine road and equipment purchases and scheduled a public hearing on removing 3,872 feet of Linwood Road.

The court approved a resolution to accept $886,635 from the state to repair a bridge below the elementary school on Old Shuffle Road and authorized the county judge/executive to sign required paperwork. The presiding official said the bridge has been limited to two tons and “no school buses can be on it,” and thanked the county’s state delegation and Sandra Girdler for securing the award.

The court later went into a brief executive session to discuss opioid-settlement funds, then returned to vote on three settlement items. The court approved participation in the Purdue Pharma/Sackler plan, approved a governmental-entity settlement agreement related to the litigation, and agreed to join a separate settlement involving additional defendants. Each of those motions passed by voice vote after the executive session.

On infrastructure and equipment, the court accepted a single rebid from Triple Crown for concrete materials, approved purchase of 4,000 gallons of patch oil and 6,000 tons of rock for road work, accepted the monthly road list, and approved the purchase of a lowboy trailer to haul an excavator with plans to sell the county’s current trailer in a trade. Road department staff said the lowboy’s lower deck and wooden surface will make securing a tall excavator safer than the existing metal‑deck trailer.

The court voted to advertise a public hearing on a proposal to remove about 3,872 feet of Linwood Road at the western end of the county; magistrates asked that notices clarify the road remains public access to a farm and a graveyard and noted the route connects to Casey County.

In finance actions, the court approved the July bill list, approved fund transfers totaling $1,204,000 (including a $1,200,000 transfer from the general fund to the road fund earmarked for paving and a transfer to move a grant deposited in the fire fund into the general fund), and authorized use of electronic payments for standing payments such as utilities and loan payments. The court’s finance officer said the change follows recent legislation allowing some electronic payments.

Court members also discussed a draft local ordinance to implement Senate Bill 63, which the legislature passed to allow certain utility task vehicles (UTVs) on county roads if the fiscal court opts in. County legal counsel, Chastity, said the statute makes local adoption optional and that vehicles must meet safety equipment, registration, inspection and insurance requirements; she said registration likely will cost about $10 a year and that operators must hold a driver’s license. The court agreed to continue drafting specifics, including which roadways, if any, the court would exclude, and indicated a draft should be ready for the next meeting.

An official update on disaster-recovery services noted the county’s Disaster Recovery Center remains open and that July 23 is the last day for streamlined FEMA filings before residents face a more burdensome appeals process; officials urged residents to read any FEMA denial letters fully and to contact the recovery center or FEMA for clarification. The court said it will continue to publicize SBA and FEMA services while the centers remain available.

A magistrate proposed drafting a resolution opposing recent property revaluations that have increased tax bills for some residents; the court agreed to prepare a resolution for a future meeting.

Votes at a glance

- Approve minutes (June 23): Motion by Mr. Ranshaw; second by Mr. Turpin. Outcome: approved. - Resolution to accept state funding for bridge on Old Shuffle Road ($886,635) and authorize signing agreement: Motion by Mr. Ranshaw; second by Mr. Wheldon. Outcome: approved. - Approve Triple Crown concrete bid (single rebid for concrete material): Motion by Mr. Wilson; second by Mr. Turpin. Outcome: approved. - Advertise public hearing to remove ~3,872 ft of Linwood Road: Motion by Mr. Ranshaw; second by Mr. Strunk. Outcome: approved. - Purchase lowboy trailer (trade/sell existing trailer): Motion by Mr. Strunk; second by Mr. Will. Outcome: approved. - Purchase 4,000 gallons of patch oil: Motion by Mr. Wilson; second by Mr. Turpin. Outcome: approved. - Purchase 6,000 tons of rock: Motion by Mr. Wheldon; second by Mr. Strunk. Outcome: approved. - Accept road list: Motion by Mr. Wilson; second by Mr. Ranshaw. Outcome: approved. - Approve July bill list: Motion by Mr. Whelan; second by Mr. Strunk. Outcome: approved. - Fund transfers totaling $1,204,000 (including $1,200,000 from general fund to road fund for paving; and transfer of a grant deposited in the fire fund into the general fund): Motion by Mr. Ranshaw; second by Mr. Strunk. Outcome: approved. - Authorize electronic payments for standing utilities/loan payments: Motion by Mr. Ranshaw; second by Mr. Strunk. Outcome: approved. - Enter executive session to discuss opioid settlement funds: Motion by Mr. Wilson; second by Mr. Strunk. Outcome: approved (court entered executive session). - Approve participation in Purdue Pharma / Sackler plan (opioid settlement): Motion by Mr. Wheldon; second by Mr. Strunk. Outcome: approved. - Approve governmental-entity settlement agreement (opioid litigation): Motion by Mr. Ranshaw; second by Mr. Wilson. Outcome: approved. - Agree to participate in joining settlement with nine additional defendants (opioid litigation): Motion by Mr. Ranshaw; second by Mr. Turpin. Outcome: approved. - Adjourn: Motion by Mr. Wilson; second by Mr. Turpin. Outcome: approved.

Why this matters

The bridge funding will allow repair of a structure the court said has been weight‑restricted and that currently blocks school-bus access; the opioid-settlement decisions commit the county to the terms of national and regional settlements that will affect how settlement money is distributed locally. Road purchases and fund transfers fund paving and routine maintenance projects countywide. The discussion about Senate Bill 63 and a local opt‑in ordinance starts a county-level decision about allowing certain UTVs on local roads — a change residents and magistrates said merits public input.

What’s next

- County staff said they will finalize bridge paperwork with state officials and expect procurement and start-up steps in the coming weeks. - A draft ordinance implementing Senate Bill 63 will be prepared for magistrate review, with public input sought before any adoption. - The court will advertise a public hearing on Linwood Road and prepare a proposed resolution on property revaluations for a future meeting.