GENTRY — A road repair and repaving project is currently underway in Gentry from the intersection of SWEPCO Road and Pioneer Lane (next to the high school practice field) to the corner of Taylor Orchard and Marion Lee Roads (at the corner where the Gentry Fire Department substation is located). Benton County is doing the repair and paving work and the city of Gentry is paying for materials for that portion of the roadway inside the city.
A portion of the road just west of Crowder Avenue and to the railroad overpass on Taylor Orchard Road is in the county and the county is paying for both materials and labor for work there.
The city's cost was estimated to be close to $73,000 for materials used inside the city. The amount is in the current city budget for road and street repair but will be approved by the council for the project. Kevin Johnston, Gentry's mayor, said a request would be made to the council on Monday to pay up to $80,000 for materials used in the project so that there would be a little extra in case additional materials need to be used to finish it.
Johnston called the project a bargain for the city since the county is providing the labor and equipment without charge to the city. He also said SWEPCO may contribute toward a portion of the costs since the street and road were heavily used during the retrofit project at the Flint Creek Power Plant.
Barring weather-related delays, the county planned to finish up the project by early next week.