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Commissioners and state representative examine county's roads and bridges Clarke County Engineer Sam Noble and the county commission met Tuesday with State Representative Thomas Jackson for an overview of the county road and bridge system. Noble had invited all the state legislative delegation for the county for a tour of the system Tuesday "to make sure they are familiar with the situation that we are faced with, the increase in costs in trying to maintain our roads and bridges." In a Nov. 15 letter sent by Noble to the county commission, "although the very successful county bridge replacement program of 2000 resulted in the replacement of more than 500 bridges throughout the state, the condition of the interlocking county road and bridge system is at a critical point if Alabama is to meet the needs of its citizens." County Commissioner Patricia DuBose applauded one passage in the letter at Monday's commission meeting. "The vast majority of the paved county roads were constructed as part of the 'Farm-to-Market' system almost 50 years ago. The roads were initially established to help farmers move their produce to market, but today carry a high volume of both automobile and truck traffic." A recent "infrastructure assessment…reveals that approximately 10 miles of paved roads achieved an assessment 'grade' of between 71 and 79 and needs repair as soon as possible." Cost of resurfacing the roads is estimated at $917,443, the letter reads. "Some 1,576 bridges remain in need of replacement in the county system," Noble said in the letter. Three bridges in particular are categorized as structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. The cost to replace those bridges is $1,046,361.00. Noble pinpointed four bills that will be introduced in the 2008 regular legislative session: • a bill that would shift the collection of statewide motor fuel taxes from the wholesale point to the refinery; • a bill that would authorize counties to levy a local gasoline and/or motor fuel tax in an amount not to exceed five cents a gallon. Proceeds would be used only for construction - not purchase of equipment or for salaries; • legislation to link the rate of gasoline and motor fuel fees to a ratio between the amount of gasoline sold in Alabama and the cost of road construction; • a bill to clear the way for a second county bridge bond issue of not more than $275 million. Other business In other action from the two commission meetings, Noble reported that the industrial access road for the new Louisiana Pacific mill cannot yet be officially opened. There is still work to be done on the turn lanes on Highway 43. Officials with the Alabama Department of Transportation and Goodwin, Mills and Cawood architects were expected early in the week. "We've got some places where the thickness on the wearing surface is not what it's supposed to be," Noble said. Commissioner Rhondel Rhone said Tuesday that LP officials told him they would need the access road open in the next two weeks. • The commission approved the $33,000 grant agreement with the Alabama Department of Public Health to purchase a truck, sprayer and chemicals for mosquito spraying in 2008. • The commission approved a $28,410 proposal from Dunn Construction of Coffeeville for repairs to buildings at the Clarke County Board of Education. "This work desperately needs to be done," said commissioner Paul Bradford. • A temporary position was approved for the probate office to replace a clerk who will be out on medical leave.
• Permanent status was granted for sheriff deputies Patrick Champion and Robert Bost.
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