Jackson County officials told the Fiscal Court that heavy rains and floods over several days caused widespread damage to bridges and roadways and prompted the county to request state emergency declarations and federal assistance.

Judge Scott (identified in the meeting as the county judge) said many roadways and bridges were damaged after rain totals "upwards of 5 inches and more over a 4 day span," prompting state emergency declarations and meetings with FEMA representatives. He told the court the county road fund cannot cover the current scope of repairs and said the county will need federal reimbursement to repair bridges and roads damaged in the floods.

In a prepared report shared with the court, Judge Scott contrasted county road aid allocations for two years: fiscal year 2016 county road aid of $1,101,504.74 and fiscal year 2025 aid of $1,295,701.26 — an increase of $194,196.52. He then contrasted that modest allocation increase with rising asphalt prices, which he said rose from $68.10 per ton in 2016 to $119.10 per ton this past year. He said the county laid 12,897 tons of blacktop in the past year and that, at 2016 prices, the work would have cost about $800,000 less. "That's the difference," he said, arguing that state allocations have not kept pace with rising material costs.

Court members discussed bridge closures and federal inventory requirements. Judge Scott said a bridge on Main Poe Road that measures more than 20 feet is in the federal bridge inventory and has been closed; the county has submitted estimates and applications through the state's bridge program and is waiting on approval. He also mentioned a state program the general assembly approved, described in the meeting as "safe funds," which could provide upfront funding without the long reimbursement wait typical of FEMA grants; the judge said he would distribute details to the court.

The court discussed immediate response actions taken by road department crews, state emergency declarations and FEMA site visits. Officials said they had submitted multiple bridge claims to FEMA and were working to document damages and costs. One court member said the road department had roughly 75% of the needed patching material on hand but that extreme rainfall had overwhelmed drainage and infrastructure in several locations.

Officials asked the public to be patient while repairs proceed and said some roads remain closed pending state or federal approval for repairs. No new county revenue source was adopted during the meeting; officials said they will pursue available state and federal programs and consider internal options for raising additional road funds if allocations do not increase.

The transcript shows the court discussed road maps and a list of county roads to submit to the state; the court asked members to review the draft list by district before it is filed with the state.