Taylor County signs termination to a DOT reimbursement agreement to repurpose nearly $1 million

Taylor County commissioners on Nov. 18 authorized the chair to sign a state-funded grant termination agreement that ends a prior FDOT reimbursement arrangement for a contractor road-reconstruction project and allows the county to seek reallocation of roughly $1 million to other local projects.

The county administrator told the board that the contractor resurfacing project reached about 30% design before circumstances changed and the original project did not proceed; DOT has been asked to reallocate the previously awarded funds to other county projects in the same fiscal year. The administrator identified Ashtree and McDaniel as candidate projects and said the county is roughly $1 million short of the estimated $4 million cost for Ashtree; repurposed DOT funds could help close that gap if DOT agrees.

The board considered and approved a resolution authorizing the chair to execute the grant termination agreement; staff noted DOT indicated it would make efforts to fund the proposed alternative projects but did not provide a guaranteed reallocation in writing. Commissioners confirmed the termination covers funding only and does not change land‑ownership or property issues related to the original project.

Separately, the board approved a FDOT construction and maintenance agreement for a LaFirth Avenue sidewalk project and authorized the chair to execute that agreement; DOT funds the construction but requires the county to maintain the sidewalk after completion.

Staff said both actions are part of ongoing coordination with DOT to realign projects and use available state and federal funds effectively. The board asked staff to continue vetting bids and federal requirements before an award is made.