Putnam To Conduct More Paving Amid Contractor Struggles

The Putnam County Road Department will conduct more paving projects as it becomes increasingly harder to rely on contractors.

Randy Jones is the Putnam County Road Supervisor.

“I’ve never been in favor of us doing the paving, but they leave us no choice when they come and bid the work and keep promising to do the work,” Jones said. “I promise the people that I’m going to pave a certain road and it don’t never happen. It don’t look good on the Putnam County Highway Department and it reflects back on the contractors too.”

Jones said the Improve Act has caused many contractors to focus on bigger and higher-paying projects.

“The highway departments get more money out of the gas tax and also TDOT gets a lot more money,” Jones said. “The contractors are gonna go where they can lay 40 thousand tons for the state instead of laying five or six thousand tons for the highway departments. They’re gonna go where the big dollars are at.”

Jones said he can remember when contractors would call and ask for jobs about three or four years ago.

The County Commission approved a budget amendment last month, allowing the department to purchase a paver. Another budget amendment will be considered next week for purchasing a roller and new employees.

“This money is not new money that’s coming out of the county,” Jones said. “This money is money that’s coming out of our budget and we’ve just moved it from one line item to another line item.”

Jones said more paving projects will be conducted by the county as contractors become busier and more focused on larger projects.