Pulaski Commissioners to Hold Executive Session to Discuss Combs Reimbursement

The Pulaski County Commissioners have a tough decision on their hands after a family relocated by the Bridge 291 project submitted receipts for expenses after their deadline. Jeff Larrison with United Consulting told the commissioners that they have already paid $78,546 to the Combs family for expenses incurred by their relocation following the county’s acquisition of their parcel, but the family recently submitted receipts for $19,468 worth of expenses after the receipt deadline of Aug. 21, 2013.

Larrison said these are expenses that the county had no control over and are natural in projects such as this. He said by rule, expenses that are incurred must be submitted for reimbursement within 18 months after the acquisition process began, which was Feb. 21, 2012. Three invoices came in after the deadline, Larrison said, and the county must decide whether or not to pay them.

INDOT will reimburse the county 80 percent of the expenses that were submitted in a timely fashion, but Larrison said he doubts INDOT will offer up more funds for these additional late expenses.

County attorney Kevin Tankersley said it would have to be discussed in an executive session, because if the commissioners decide not to pay it, they could face litigation. The commissioners will soon discuss the potential costs and their position on the matter in an executive session.