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Clay County weighs RAIF bridge requests and awards Garfield Township funding as bridge needs pile up
Summary
Commissioners reviewed Rural Access Infrastructure Fund applications, met with LTAP to clarify scoring and carry‑over rules, and approved a 2023 award to Garfield Township while noting several county bridges and culverts need higher priority and larger funding.
The Clay County Highway Department and the Board spent substantial time in 2023 reviewing bridge and local‑road priorities and applying for state RAIF and Bridge Improvement Grants (BIG). Highway Superintendent Rod Polley and SD Local Traffic Assistance Program staff briefed commissioners on program rules, allowable matches, and the need to prioritize failing structures.
The Commission discussed several township applications, including a large Garfield Township repair across Baptist Creek. State LTAP staff noted awards are prioritized by condition and program rules, and grants can be banked from year to year to allow larger projects. Commissioners ultimately approved an award of $197,770.97 to Garfield Township from available RAIF funds but recognized the program’s end-date and legislative constraints mean some townships may still need additional funding or sequencing of work. Commissioners also awarded bridge deck and overlay contracts for county structures and discussed short‑term solutions where major bridge replacement is not immediately feasible.
