Franklin County approves $410,000 toward two bridge replacements tied to nearly $5.7M grant

The Franklin County Board of Commissioners on July 22 approved allocating $410,000 in county funds and authorized County Administrator Derek Brown to sign a letter of cooperation for a joint grant application with Osage County that could cover replacement of two bridges. County staff told the board the total grant award, if successful, would be just under $5.7 million.

Derek Brown, the county administrator, described the two bridge locations as on Old 50 Highway west of Homewood and on Stafford Road at the east edge of Centropolis. Commissioner Colton Waymire moved to approve the allocation and Commissioner Donald Stottlemire seconded; the five commissioners present voted unanimously to approve the request. The board’s action authorizes the county to participate in the grant application and to commit the identified local match of $410,000.

The motion recorded in the minutes reads in full that the board approved allocating funding for two potential bridge replacements in the amount of $410,000 and authorized the County Administrator to sign the letter of cooperation. The minutes do not specify a grant-application deadline or a construction timeline; staff will proceed with the cooperation letter and the grant submission. No public comment was recorded on this item.