Published: July 27, 2009 01:33 pm      

Roads damaged by rains getting repaired

By Adam Sulfridge / Staff Writer

Road damage caused by June 4’s heavy rains will finally be repaired in the coming week.

Mudslides occurred on Dal Road, which connects Savoy to Hwy. 904, and also on Tackett Creek Road. The damage wasn’t immediately repaired, however, because county officials hoped to recoup some of the cost of repairs by applying for federal funds.

Through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, money is available to help cover the cost of repairing such damage if it affects a natural waterway. The funds exist to assure that repairs are done properly so that the waterway will not be adversely affected.

Whitley County Judge-Executive Pat White, Jr. and Mike Siler, who’s described as the county’s “road guy,” recently gained approval from the Dept. of Agriculture, and during a special meeting of the Whitley County Fiscal Court last Friday, bids were accepted and contracts awarded for the repair jobs.

The Court, minus Magistrates David Myers and Mike Baird, who did not attend, approved a $28,750 bid for the Tackett Creek project. They also approved a $33,260 bid for the Dal Road project. Fortunately, though, Whitley County won’t be paying for the majority of that work; 90% of the cost will be covered by the Dept. of Agriculture.

Work will begin today (Monday), and both projects are expected to take 10 days or less to complete.