County proposes $500,000 culvert replacement fund and considers UV liner option

The Highway Commissioner asked the committee to approve a $500,000 culvert replacement allocation in the 2027 capital plan, saying proactive replacement a year in advance reduces later settlement and the need for follow‑up repairs after paving. "So we're requesting $500,000 for that," the commissioner said.

Staff described material choices: concrete, corrugated metal and modern plastic liners; in some locations a UV‑cured liner that avoids deep excavation can extend service life an estimated 75–100 years. The commissioner cautioned availability and price volatility for culverts can affect budgeting because vendors provide only short quotes (about 7–30 days), so ordering early mitigates inflation risk.