State road money reserved for Oconee

At the request of Oconee County roads and bridges department, $1 million dollars worth of state “C” Fund money will be reserved for Oconee County projects to go for contractors’ bids this summer.  Mack Kelley, the county director of public works, presented the request this morning to the “C” Fund Committee and it was approved without objection.  The reserved money consists of $540 thousand which was designated for this year, along with an identical $540 thousand that is anticipated for next year.  Kelley explained a change in strategy for his department as it goes about trying to address the county roads.  The county solicited bids for this year but attracted only one bidder whose bid, Kelley said, was 30% higher than a year earlier.  It’s Kelley’s hope—and that of others at this morning’s meeting—that once the state succeeds in replenishing funds for road and bridge work, contractors will take heart and ramp up their operations so they’ll have the equipment and employees needed to do the jobs.