Spencer County judge says ARP allocation tops $3.75M; bridges, $1.8M in paving planned
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Summary
County Judge Executive John Riley told the Fiscal Court Spencer County was allocated more than $3.75 million under the American Rescue Plan but that federal guidance is still pending. He outlined bridge repairs and said the county plans roughly $1.8 million in spring–summer road paving from Flex and discretionary funds.
County Judge Executive John Riley told the Spencer County Fiscal Court on March 15 that the county’s allocation from the federal American Rescue Plan would be “in excess of $3,750,000,” though he said county officials were still waiting for federal guidance on allowable uses.
The judge’s report to the court also summarized ongoing and planned infrastructure work. Riley said the new Washburn Lane Bridge over Elk Creek is open but the contractor must remove the old structure before the project is complete. He said the county is working on the replacement of a bridge on Little Elk Road after an engineering inspection downgraded that structure to a 3-ton limit, and that the Highway 44 bridge replacement at the Spencer–Anderson County line remains under way.
The county plans a substantial road program this spring and summer: county staff and the road department are preparing for a Flex Fund paving allocation in addition to discretionary road paving projects, which Riley said will total “over $1,800,000” alongside several subdivision paving jobs. Todd Burch, the county’s road foreman, is managing several of those projects and coordinating bridge work the court reviewed in the meeting packet.
The court packet included an inspection letter from consulting engineer Qk4. In that letter, Qk4 engineer Jeremiah Littleton recommended reducing the posted load on the Little Elk Road bridge from 13 tons to 3 tons, saying that overloads had caused further section loss and that a lower limit was necessary to prevent further damage. Littleton wrote that the bridge requires follow-up work and is being prioritized with the county’s engineers.
Riley also reminded the court the county is transitioning website and email hosting and moving to a new phone system — a project he acknowledged has demanded significant staff time — and noted continuing work on FEMA projects, including the East River Road bridge replacement.
Why it matters: Local officials said the federal ARP dollars expand options for infrastructure and pandemic recovery spending, but the county must wait for formal federal guidance to finalize allocations. The bridge inspections and load postings affect local traffic safety and emergency access; the planned $1.8 million paving program will change surface conditions on county roads and influence maintenance budgets and timelines.
What’s next: Riley said the county will share guidance and recommended uses for the ARP funds once federal rules are published and will continue to brief the Fiscal Court as projects progress.