Huntingdon Council Declines Grant for Williams Street Bridge Project

Huntingdon’s Town Council voted to decline the remaining funds from a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) at their meeting on Tuesday, October 28, that was originally intended for the Williams Street bridge project.

OTHER SOLUTIONS - Mayor Chad Edwards explains more economical alternatives for the Williams Street project to the Council. Jesse Joseph/Carroll County Observer

Mayor Chad Edwards explained that bids for the project came in more than $100,000 over budget.

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“I hate to turn down money,” Edwards told the council, “but it’s just not a good option for us right now.”

Huntingdon had already drawn down $44,495.79 in design and administrative fees for the project, but will decline the remaining $187,047.21 in grant funding.

Edwards said he is discussing alternative solutions with Public Works Director Ronnie Breeden.

They discussed replacing the bridge with culverts instead of a full rebuild.

“The county has done that in a few different places,” he said. “You don’t have to have inspections, and while culverts are expensive, they’re not near as much as this project would have been. We can maintain them if we need to.”

Edwards estimated that installing culverts and riprap could cost between $15,000 and $20,000, which is a fraction of the project’s original price tag.

Interlocal Agreement with Carroll County E-911

The council also approved an interlocal agreement with the Carroll County Emergency Communications District to connect the Huntingdon Police Department’s dispatch operations with the county’s computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system.

Kristy Meggs, director of the Emergency Communications District, said the system will streamline emergency response across agencies.

INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT - Kristy Meggs explains the benefits of the agreement with Huntingdon's Council. Jesse Joseph/Carroll County Observer

“Right now, county dispatchers take the call first, then have to transfer it to Huntingdon, and your dispatchers have to reenter all that information,” she explained. “With this system, they’ll see it live the moment it comes in. It’s going to cut confusion and improve response time.”

The county will provide and maintain the software and mapping system at no cost to the town.

Huntingdon will provide the necessary hardware and internet connection.

“It’s been running smoothly for McKenzie for about two years,” Meggs said. “This just brings Huntingdon up to the same level of efficiency.”

Other Business

The council approved several other ordinances.

Ordinance 644 amends the town’s travel regulations for municipal employees by increasing per diem rates.

Ordinance 645 increases building permit fees for the first time since 2010. Edwards said the change was needed to offset rising costs of inspections and permitting.

Ordinance 646 updates the town’s Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) program, which reestablishes the advisory committee and clarifies compliance standards within the municipal code.

The Council also approved adding a $3 flat-rate credit card processing fee for customer transactions through the Department of Finance and Administration effective January 1, 2026, and accepted Dale Kelley Drive and Addison Drive in the Huntingdon Industrial Park South into the town’s street system.

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Huntingdon Council Declines Grant for Williams Street Bridge Project

Nora Pauline (Polly) Wherry Mitchell

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Huntingdon Council Declines Grant for Williams Street Bridge Project

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Nora Pauline (Polly) Wherry Mitchell

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