Holmes County granted extension of FEMA roads project

HOLMES COUNTY – Contractor C.W. Roberts is set to start work on paving the remaining 13 roads listed on the $22 million FEMA road project as soon as permits come in, according to County Engineer Rod Adams who updated the commissioners when the Holmes County Board of
County Commissioners met in regular session on July 6. 

The extension request was made last month and approved on the federal level, which gives the county until December 4 to have all work completed to avoid losing the remaining funding balance of $3.8 million.  Adams says this will allow enough time to complete all 13 roads, stating the original August 2 deadline would have been impossible to meet due to having to wait on permits.

In all, more than 40 miles of road will be paved on Old Mill Road, Valee Road, Peak Road, Bradley Road, Steverson Road, Flowing Well Road,  Beall Packing Road, HooverÂ’s Mill Road, Sand Path Road, Hathaway Mill Road, Oak Grove, Coursey Road, and Bush Road.

Representatives with the Department of Environmental Protection are on the roads this week checking for environmental impacts before ultimately issuing the permits. 

In other business, commissioners tasked Bob Jones with preparing an application for the COVID19-Community Development Block Grant which, if granted, will
allow for improvements to be made to the Holmes County Council on
Aging. Jones will also be working on procuring professional services
that are required to obtain before applying for the grant. 

The
board also approved submitting a change directive on the Small County Outreach
Program resurfacing and drainage project on Highway 179. The change will
have contractors adding a one-inch cap on the road that will help to protect the base. Contingency funds from the project totaling $150,000 will cover the cost of Roberts and Roberts completing the directive should Florida Department of Transportation approve the use of the funds. 

Finally, commissioners were given an award from PRM Insurance for filing fewer workman’s compensation claims than surrounding counties.

Holmes County Board of County Commissioners will meet again in special session on July 27 at 5:01 p.m. to set the millage rate and a tentative budget hearing.