Commissioners approve $38,000 to finish County Road 60 study ahead of federal-aid application

The DeKalb County commissioners voted July 6 to authorize up to $38,000 to finish an engineering study for County Road 60 so the county can apply for federal aid in November.

Ben, the highway presenter, told the board the study has advanced to stage 1 but needs roughly $38,000 to be completed. "We are within ... about $38,000 of finishing that study," he said, recommending the county pay the balance so engineers can finalize plans in time for the federal-aid application cycle.

Staff said the preliminary engineers' estimates for fixing the problematic peat-saturated section point toward bridging the area, with construction costs currently estimated at about $17,000,000. That would carry a 20% county match — "what, 4 and a half million somewhere in that vicinity," Ben said, citing the preliminary figure. Commissioners repeated that the exact match would depend on final bids and that most construction costs would come later rounds if the grant is awarded.

Commissioners debated fiscal capacity and timing. One member said county funds that currently help roads are scheduled to disappear in roughly 18 months and urged the petitioner to seek council approval for the match. The presenter said completing stage 1 now would allow a timely federal application and produce more reliable cost estimates.

After discussion, a motion to pay the $38,000 to finish engineering using county funds was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote. The motion passed 3 to 0.

What happens next: staff will finish stage 1 plans, seek council concurrence for any required local match, and prepare the federal-aid application for the November cycle. The study documents are expected to support a grant application that—if funded—would later obligate the county for the required local share based on final construction bids.