Lincoln County residents expressed opposing views over possible work on 1030 Road at a special meeting of the County Commissioners on Sept. 16. The Commissioners also approved an extension of the county-wide burn ban at a special meeting on Sept. 21 immediately following a regular meeting.
Some residents spoke out about the drainage and safety issues, while others mentioned that it wasn’t fair to spend a large amount of money on asphalt for 1030 Road -- which District #3 Commissioner Lee Doolen lives on -- when other roads and bridges in the county are also in bad condition.
Some also expressed disappointment that in the meeting it was referred to as a “parting gift.”
At a Commissioners’ meeting on Sept. 8, Doolen asked for $275,000 to do five inches of asphalt on 1030 Road. District #2 Commissioner Marlon Miller refused to second the motion, saying that he could get behind a little gravel, but couldn’t support asphalt when so many roads are already failing.
The road was put on the agenda again at the special meeting, which had all three commissioners present, but no motion was made regarding action.
At the same meeting, the Commissioners voted to continue with WSB pursuing a Department of Transportation PROTECT grant application on behalf of the county. The grant would help to raise roads in the county that are prone to flooding.According to Emergency Management Director Charlotte Brown, there are about 136 roads that have flooded consistently over the last five years.
There are two applications with the grant -- a planning grant and a resilience grant. The planning grant doesn’t require any matching, while the resilience grant has a 20-percent match. The Commissioners voted to proceed with applying and decide on Sept. 21 which path they would take.
The Commissioners also approved the submission of the FY2027 Budget request to the budgetmaker, minus $325,000 out of capital outlay from the fair board account. It was set for a concession stand and restrooms; however, Miller said he didn’t feel like it was necessary for this year.
At Sept. 21’s regular meeting, the County Commissioners approved a grant writing agreement with Bridget Klein and the Sheriff’s Office, as well as District #1’s request to apply for a $150,000 REAPgrant to get another tractor boom.
The Commissioners also approved a resolution to use Use Tax to fund repairs on a tractor for District #1, estimated at around $15,000 to $20,000 for transmission work. They also approved a lease-purchase from C.L. Boyd for graders for District #2. Miller said he plans to lease three, but of the ones going back, he intends to keep one and buy it. The monthly cost comes to $3,186.65.
Under new business, the Commissioners approved a change order of up to $9,500 for H&H Construction for the fairgrounds, due to extra work that could not have been foreseen. They also approved up to $20,000 from CRBI funds to support a REAP grant for Sparks.
The Commissioners approved the surplus of items from the Sheriff’s Office, Emergency Management, Commissioners’ Office and District 2, as well as a resolution for the disposal of equipment from the Sheriff’s Office, Commissioners’ Office and District 2.
Emergency Management Director Charlotte Brown gave an update on the new building, saying the west floor was completed and all that remains of contracted work is the HVAC. Everything else is cosmetic and will be completed internally. She also said that Lincoln County was approved for an EMPG grant and new assets will be coming in once she can get them ordered. Closeout documentation has been submitted for theARPAbuilding grant and reimbursement is pending.