(KNZA)--The Brown County Commission is considering the development of a long range road improvement plan for the county.

Josh Keithley, with Lincoln, Nebraska-based Midwest Engineering, met with the commission Monday to discuss how his firm can assist the county.

Commissioner Rich Lehmkuhl said he believes the county needs a long range plan for fixing its roads.

The county currently has 280-miles of hard surfaced roads, with several portions of those roads failing.

Keithley said they would start by doing a pavement assessment, which would include a visual inspection and taking and analyzing of core samples. He said they would then work with the road foreman to prioritize road improvements.

In other business, Leland Hanson, representing volunteers at the Eternal Hope Family Life Center in Hiawatha, met with the commission to request $4,000 in American Rescue Act Plan funding from the county for the purchase of 155 tons of rock for the east parking lot and alley. Hanson noted the many activities held at the center.

Commissioners took the request under advisement, with the commission now set to begin reviewing ARPA funding requests on October 10 instead of October 17.