County engineer updates board on paving, bridge inspections and state-aid reimbursement risk

Tommy Avant, the county engineer, briefed the Claiborne County Board on May 4 about active road and bridge projects. He said crews were paving Gordon Station Annex Road and listed other planned roads (including Dorsey Lane and LaCasse Road). Avant said the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) had approved reimbursement for the Gordon Station EWP project and quoted a reimbursement figure of about $125,062.17.

Avant also said state aid has reviewed bridge plans and that inspections and plan approvals are scheduled; he warned supervisors that state-aid money for certain projects could be rescinded if the work is not completed by July. He said staff had prepared contracts and purchase orders and that he would coordinate signatures with the county administrator and the board president.

Why it matters: Delays that risk state-aid rescission could force the county to forgo external funding for road and bridge work or require reallocation of local funds to complete projects.

The board asked follow-up questions about contractor coordination and outreach to ensure projects stay on schedule; Avant said he would continue to coordinate inspections and project advertising and return with updated timelines to the board.