Auditor Shelia Garling said the funds are available in CEDIT, which currently has a balance of nearly $1.7 million, but she would have to make an additional appropriation.
However, Nathan Origer, the executive director of the Pulaski County Economic Development Commission, spoke up from the audience and said that spending nearly $54,000 to pave a gravel road that only seems to affect two residents doesn’t seem like a good investment. Rather, the CEDIT funds, he said, would be more effective and better suited being spent on real economic development expenses. He said paving the road would cost a lot of money, especially when it only affects two county residents.
To add another complication to the matter, Fox said he is not sure whether the road is owned by the county or if it is a private road. Until that question could be answered, the council tabled the matter to allow time for Fox to determine who truly owns the road.
