11/3/2009

Saline County officials will appeal to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for extra funds to help rebuild two county bridges that were damaged by floods in May 2007.
The county, state transportation department and FEMA are sharing the cost of replacing the bridges on Halstead Road and Eff Creek Road. FEMA’s share of the cost is predicated on building 24-foot-wide bridges.
However commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to construct the two bridges to be 30 feet wide, in accordance with the county’s standard policy. The county will appeal to FEMA for funds to cover the extra cost.
Commissioners voted after hearing from county department heads Dave Nowak and Neil Cable that 30 feet has been the county’s informal standard on bridges since at least 1980.
“Our history makes it policy, does it not?” Commission Chairman Randy Duncan said.