The Marshall County Council members discussed a funding shortfall for highway department projects already on the schedule for this year.
Highway Superintendent Jason Peters explained that shortfalls are becoming an issue due to inflation and fuel costs with the set projects within the Community Crossings Matching Grant program and the additional paving projects already approved for this year. Work has been contracted to Milestone Contractors North.
The total shortfall amount is about $1.2 million.
Councilman Heath Thornton noted that there are three options to get the funding: the General Fund, Rainy Day and American Rescue Plan Act funds.
Councilman Jon VanVactor stressed that the commissioners recommended that the funds come out of American Rescue Plan Act funds.
The council members voted unanimously to support $1.2 million for the shortfalls for the highway department. Council President Mandy Campbell said these are not additional projects, but projects the county leaders have already approved for this year.
On top of that, Peters said the Highway Department is experiencing shortfalls in the department’s regular 2022 road program. He said about $1.7 million is needed to complete this year’s road program which was previously approved by government leaders.
The council unanimously voted in support of that additional appropriation with the use of American Rescue Plan Act funds, and if the commissioners do not support that, the council voted by majority to appropriate $1 million from the General Fund to cover the shortfall. Councilman Tim Harman abstained from the vote.
The council did approve a $750,000 additional appropriation in the Motor Vehicle Highway budget for operating supplies.
Peters said he is hoping that a process working with recycled asphalt could save the county money.
“I think we’ve all seen the asphalt millings and how well they’ve done on the secondary roads. They’ve been a huge benefit to us as far as cost savings. I mean, at $65,000-$70,000 a mile opposed to $240,000-$250,000 a mile. If this process works that we’re planning to try, to me that’s a major game changer for us going forward on these secondary roads,” said Peters.
He is expecting 85,000 ton of millings from the U.S. 30 paving project that will be available to the Highway Department for recycled asphalt projects. Space has been expanded at the department to accommodate that product.
