Nevada County Quorum Court Approves Short-Term Loan to Expedite Wildcat Road Bridge Project

Prescott, Arkansas | July 28, 2025 In a special session held on Monday evening, July 28th, the Nevada County Quorum Court convened to address urgent funding needs for the Wildcat Road bridge replacement project. The meeting, called by County Judge Mike Otwell, opened with an invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance before moving swiftly onto the agenda. The bridge project, which will replace seven 60-inch culverts with a more durable box culvert structure, was approved for funding by FEMA last year. However, delays in the disbursement of federal funds have left the county in a financial bind as the contractor awaits payment. David Gummeson, Nevada County’s Emergency Management Coordinator and Fire Chief, informed the court that while most of the work is being handled by county crews, the box culvert construction was contracted out. “FEMA has approved and is paying for the bridge, but there is a delay in getting the funds, and the contractor needs to be paid,” Gummeson explained. To avoid further delays and ensure the project remains on schedule—particularly with the start of the school year approaching- the court unanimously approved a motion allowing Judge Otwell to secure a short-term loan. The loan, expected to be repaid within three months, will cover the contractor’s payment until FEMA funds arrive, which Gummeson estimated could be within 10 days.

The Wildcat Road bridge is one of several infrastructure projects in the county following severe flood damage. According to previous reports, the bridge and others like it, including one on Landfill Road, are part of a broader recovery effort funded primarily through FEMA, with the county contributing in-kind labor and equipment.

The meeting concluded with no further business, and the court adjourned.