Bridge fund dispute much ado about nothing

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A plan to use $25-million to repair or replace the worst county roads and bridges has become a dispute between urban and rural counties.<br/><br/>The funding bill would allocate the

Sunday, April 2nd 2006, 9:30 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A plan to use $25-million to repair or replace the worst county roads and bridges has become a dispute between urban and rural counties.

The funding bill would allocate the money to the state-administered County Bridge and Road Improvement Fund.

The Association of County Commissioners of Oklahoma devised a plan to distribute the $25-million equally among the state's 77 counties.

Trouble is, the association has no authority to decide how the state money will be distributed. And state Transportation Department officials say they have no authority to delegate that duty.

Still, Oklahoma County commissioners suggested legal action to stop the plan's implementation.

Association officials and rural county commissioners say the state formula should be set aside for the emergency bridge money because it's heavily weighted toward urban areas.