The Pike County Commission agreed to establish a committee that will investigate financial issues with the Pike County Road Department.

“We could possibly have some cash flow problems in the near future,” said County Engineer Russell Oliver.

Those potential problems are over work being done on roads that were damaged by December flooding, that is depending on funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

“The FEMA reimbursements have been slow in getting to us,” Oliver said.

Oliver said that FEMA is awaiting approval from Congress to grant the funds.

“We don’t know when the FEMA reimbursements will come in,” he said. “I could check the mailbox Friday and there could be a check from FEMA in it.”

But if there is a significant delay in those funds reaching the county, the road department will be forced to come up with a way to cover costs in the interim.

Oliver said that will be a task for the committee.

Commissioners Ray Goodson and Charlie Harris volunteered to sit on the committee, which will also include Oliver, County Attorney Allen Jones and County Administrator Harry Sanders.

In other business, Sanders told the commission that the return rate of the 2010 census for citizens in Pike County was lower than hoped for.

Sanders said it’s crucial for people in the community to return census questionnaires so county funds can be allotted properly.

District 1 Commissioner Homer Wright agreed.

“It means more money for the county,” he said.

Chairman Jimmy Barron encouraged everyone to spread the word about the importance of returning census questionnaires.