News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The Fentress County Road Supervisor will ask the county commission again, for a $1.5 million loan Monday night.
Road Supervisor Joey Reagan said he has not met with any county commissioners or county officials since the request failed in July. Reagan said there should be federal money coming the county’s way after declaring two natural disasters this year.
“There’s going to be FEMA money in the future to help pay this note off,” Reagan said. “The finance director, his pencil doesn’t figure that in.”
Reagan said he does not know the full amount of funding FEMA could send, but believes it will be a significant amount of money. Reagan said his persistence on the issue is because the county has 120 miles of gravel roads, that he said have been passed over for improvements for too long.
“In the 2nd District we’ve got 64 (gravel) roads total in that district, which is west Fentress,” Reagan said. “A lot of these roads have been looked over in the past needing tar and chip on them. District Five has got 48 in it.”
Reagan said if the highway department secured the capital outlay note, work could begin before the FEMA reimbursement comes in. However, Reagan said he does not know if a compromise can be reached on the amount.
“The last time, they were offering up to $1 million and they voted it down,” Reagan said. “The $750 (thousand) they voted it down. So my opinion, they’re against road improvements.”
Reagan said the reason he is sticking to $1.5 million even after the last request failed is to address all the county’s gravel roads. He said work is too far behind in his department to keep playing catch up.
