MONTGOMERY— Gov. Kay Ivey has awarded a $75,000 grant to assist Clay County in repairing a county road that was washed out by recent heavy rains.
The Community Development Block Grant will enable the county to repair a section of Fuller Road that was washed away in late March when more than six inches of rain caused Loombeam Creek to overflow and wash out a pipe beneath the road. The washout has impacted about 60 residents who travel the section of the road regularly along with school buses and mail service vehicles which must now take detours.
“Alabama weather can often bring sudden and destructive consequences as Clay County residents who regularly travel on Fuller Road recently experienced,” Gov. Ivey said. “I am pleased that funds are available to repair the weather-related road damage that has inconvenienced local drivers. These repairs will enable residents to resume their usual routes and will ensure that emergency agencies and public services like mail carriers and waste disposal operators have quick access to homes in that area.”
CDBG funds will be used to purchase materials needed to make the necessary repairs and extra improvements to ensure the road, located near the Mellow Valley community, is able to withstand damage in similar weather occurrences in the future. The Clay County Road Department will provide labor on the repairs.
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grant from funds made available by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
“Unexpected emergencies can take a toll on the budgets of cities and counties,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said. “ADECA is pleased to join Gov. Ivey in helping Clay County resolve this situation in a timely manner for all affected by the road damage.”
Gov. Ivey notified Billy Robertson, chairman of the Clay County Commission, that the grant had been approved. The county is supplying $21,410 in local funding and labor to complete the project.
ADECA administers an array of programs supporting law enforcement and traffic safety, economic development, energy conservation, water resource management and recreation development.
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