Highway administrator warns of tight county budget amid Ross Doyen Bridge reimbursement delay

Rod Michaud, Cloud County’s Highway and Weed Administrator, told the Board of County Commissioners on Sept. 22 that the county will face an "exceptionally tight" budget for the remainder of the year because construction costs for the Ross Doyen Bridge are awaiting reimbursement.

The comment came during the board’s regular session in Concordia, where Michaud asked officials where cash flow could come from if reimbursements were delayed. Chairman Michael Cleveland and the commissioners said County General funds could be tapped to bridge timing gaps.

Why it matters: the Ross Doyen Bridge project has generated near-term construction expenditures that the county expects to be reimbursed later; delays in reimbursements can force reallocations from other funds or require short-term borrowing. Michaud’s question flags a potential cash-management challenge for county officials as they close out the fiscal year.

County officials did not announce specific dollar amounts tied to the bridge reimbursement at the meeting, and no vote or formal budget amendment was taken. The issue was presented as an operational concern to inform commissioners’ oversight of county finances.

The board’s discussion was part of a broader meeting that included Health Department updates, support for a drone demonstration project, expense approvals and a personnel resignation.