Judge Gabbard Discusses Road Funding & Maintenance, City-County Bridge Improvement Program, and Funds for Spay/Neuter Program

The Fiscal Court last met on June 26, 2025. We adopted the budget for FY-26 at that meeting and opened bids for blacktop and stone. In The Judges office, we answer around an average of 150 phone calls per week. A high percentage of those calls are for road maintenance requests. The price of road materials did increase slightly for the upcoming year so unfortunately, we will see less money to work on roads with this year. 

We apply every year for programs that the Transportation Cabinet offers through the office of Rural and Secondary Roads to try and obtain as much assistance as we possibly can. Those include Flex Funds, which can only be used for resurfacing existing blacktop roads, County Priority Projects and the City, County Bridge Improvement Program. To apply for County Priority Projects, we submit an application, along with pictures and estimates for repair requesting funding. The Request is sent into the State Highway District office, evaluated and sent to Legislatures for selection. Once the Legislators meet, they can select projects for funding based on the Highway Districts evaluation and the Fiscal Courts Recommendation. 

This past year I submitted 3 roads for consideration of funding. Those being Lodge Hall Road, Chadler Road and Maulden Owsley Road. The road that was selected by Legislatures and the State Highway District office for funding was the Maulden Owsley Road. All 3 roads are in need of repair and we would have loved to have received funds for them all, however we are thankful for what we will receive. 

The City-County Bridge Improvement Program is a new program that runs through the Office of Rural and Secondary Roads in conjunction with the local State Highway District. To apply we are required to submit an application, detailed estimate and design for repair to Rural and Secondary Roads requesting funding for bridge repair. Once the application is received and reviewed the State Highway District sends out their bridge Inspector to look at design and repair and gives a recommendation for consideration of funding. We recently submitted all the required documents for reconstruction of the bridge on Bean Pole Road. The Commissioner of Rural and Secondary Roads contacted me yesterday to let us know the bridge on Bean Pole had been moved into phase 4 and was now being considered for funding. To my knowledge, that is the final step before funding approval. I am hopeful we will receive funds soon as we currently have this bridge closed to all traffic. 
 
We have submitted a grant application to the Department of Agriculture requesting funds for spay and neuter of pets for Jackson County. We have received these funds in the past but did not receive any last year. I made a call to the Commissioner of Agriculture last week and he gave me the information we needed to get signed up and considered for funds. We are hopeful to be approved.

Have a blessed week