(KCII’s Chance Dorland)
Many residents questioned whether a public vote could decide to accept or deny the project, and the not Washington County Supervisors. County Auditor Bill Fredrick said the Board was exercising power given to them by a 2009 amendment by the state legislature that allows the county to “undertake projects, including roads [and] bridges … without having to have a vote if they’ve received a presidential disaster declaration.” According to County Engineer Patterson, four presidential disaster declarations have been declared in Washington County since 2007.
