Scott County weighs funding options after flood damage, adopts right-of-way permit fees

Scott County highway officials told commissioners on June 3 that recent flood damage on Leota, Bethlehem, County Line and Orpring roads produced material and labor overages that exceed current line-item budgets. Kevin, speaking for the highway department, said material overages include about $60,545 for rock and roughly $83,410 for structure work, with labor and equipment estimated at about $59,700, leaving the county to consider how to cover roughly $203,655 in additional costs.

The department outlined several funding options for the board: draw from the local road-and-street budget (about $194,388 currently available), use $200,000 in the NBH paving line, or apply the county’s portion of a CCMG grant match (about $139,612). Highway staff cautioned that gas-tax revenue timing may tighten certain funds through the rest of the year and urged commissioners to weigh near-term needs against future pavement program capacity.

The board also voted to adopt an ordinance establishing a right-of-way permit-fee schedule for the county highway department and to create a permit fee fund to hold those revenues. Commissioners approved the fee rates by voice vote; the ordinance number will be added to the minutes after the meeting.

Why it matters: repairing structures and replacing or hauling material can be materially more expensive than budgeted line items allow. The choices the commissioners make about which fund to use affect both immediate repairs and pavement work planned later in the year.

What’s next: Highway staff will present detailed recommendations for which funds to use and whether a formal appropriation or transfer is needed before work proceeds.