Government Shutdown Has Little Impact On Stearns County Road Project

ST. CLOUD -- Stearns County's Highway Department dug into its own bank account to keep the West Metro Corridor project going during the government shutdown.

Stearns County Assistant Engineer Jodi Teich says they paid less than $3,500 in materials testing and one contract payment of about $685,000. Teich says the materials testing will be paid back through State Aid money. And, the federal money for the contract payment has already been reimbursed.

In the end, Teich says the shutdown didn't impact their fund balance very much but she says had the shutdown lingered it could have drained their highway fund account quickly.