ARPA funds improve county roads

Kayli Martin news-herald.net

Federal funds allocated by Loudon County commissioners mean fresh pavement and smooth rides on local roads.

The Loudon County Highway Department had been receiving American Rescue Plan Act funding for several months. The money was part of a stimulus package from the federal government to improve and assist the U.S. economy after the shutdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Loudon County Commission voted last year to split $5 million in ARPA funds allocated to the county, with $500,000 going to each commissioner. The idea was to focus on projects and organizations best suited for each of the seven districts.

Billy Pickel, road superintendent, said his department has received close to $2 million to resurface county roads and create a new mowing crew with extra tractors.

He said the work required no money from reserves, no debt and no tax increase.

“We’re able to do a lot this year,” Pickel said. “We’ve been very blessed with some incredible opportunities. It’s unfortunate circumstances that brought about the ARPA money, but it’s exciting to get to utilize the availability of those funds for our roads because, honestly, they could have just about spent that money on anything.

“I think it’s a great show of support to this department and my office and the relationships,” he added.

He estimates the department would have needed five to six years to complete some of the projects without ARPA funds.

Work on Fork Creek Road included paving nearly three-quarters of a mile from Highway 11 to Philadelphia City Park. The portion of the road is located within Philadelphia and required a resolution and interlocal agreement between the city and county.

District 4 Commissioner Gary Whitfield set aside $120,000 of ARPA funding for the road.

“That was a nice one to be able to get taken care of,” Pickel said.

District 6 Commissioner Adam Waller has began looking to use $380,118 of his ARPA money for roads in his district, including Coulter Shoals Circle and Blackberry Ridge Drive.

“I’m just excited that we’re able use the ARPA money to go back and directly impact the people that live in my district,” Waller said. The extra money frees up tax dollars for other needed projects, he said.

The road department has received extra state help following the April passage of the Transportation Modernization Act. Pickel said the county normally receives $188,000 but this year got a one-time allotment of nearly $3 million.

Hines Valley, Watkins, Steekee and Ritchey roads will be resurfaced because of the extra funding.

“We were very fortunate to be able to get that because to do Hines Valley, to do Steekee Road, if I did those roads out of our regular budget it would take almost all of our money,” Pickel said. “We typically have $700,000-750,000 set aside in our regular operating budget to do resurfacing.”

He said Hines Valley Road alone would cost $600,000.

As the county grows, Pickel said there is an increase in workload and a change in expectations. Becoming even more efficient will be imperative, he said.