By Sally Petty, Staff Writer
Three coal companies — Black Beauty, Solar Sources and Little Sandy — attended the Daviess County commissioners’ meeting Monday morning for an annual coal meeting and worked to resolve some road issues.
Commissioners spoke with Little Sandy Coal Company and landowner Mark Toy about formalizing right-of-way along CR 650E south of CR 300S. Little Sandy mined through the road, then replaced it, and Toy wanted a written document from the county showing right-of-way so he can install a fence and not have to worry about moving it later.
Highway Superintendent Larry McLin will write an easement document for 40 feet of right-of-way. Toy said if the county later decides to pave the road, requiring 50 feet of right-of-way, he will move the fence himself.
Commissioners encouraged Solar Sources to improve CR 900E south of U.S. 50 where the road surface is failing. McLin added that the state Department of Transportation plans to improve the intersection of CR 900E and U.S. 50 sometime this year, adding turning lanes. Commissioners wanted Solar Sources and Black Beauty coal mines, which share responsibility for upkeep of the road, to repave it and install pipe this spring.
They also asked Black Beauty for better stone on Corning Road, which currently has large rocks which are hard on personal vehicles.
A representative of Solar Sources said the company will be removing a cable across a road near Bob Hart’s property in the next two weeks. Hart has been lobbying to get the formerly abandoned Bob Hart Road open, and the coal company wouldn’t do so until the state Department of Natural Resources released its bond money.
In other business
ROAD GRADERS
The county has made money renewing a lease for two road graders with McAllister Machinery in Washington. The lease for two of the highway department’s graders has run out, and the county had the option to purchase the 2004 CAT graders for $107,000. However, they are worth more now than when they were originally leased, so McAllister bought them for $144,000 each and applied the county’s profits on the deal to the next three-year lease, reducing it to $16,835.55 per machine per year. The county can purchase these machines after three years for $130,000 each.
RTC
Commissioners authorized a permit for RTC Communications to install 30 miles of fiber-optic cable along county road right of way to upgrade facilities north of Montgomery. A&C; Communications from Kentucky has won a bid to complete the work near Plainville, Cannelburg and Montgomery. About a mile of cable will be installed along the Cannelburg Road, and commissioners told a company representative that the company will be responsible for moving the cable when the road is expanded. Commissioners also asked that RTC notify homeowners in the areas where the cable will be installed before the work begins.
NECS
Commissioners approved an agreement with NECS including some revisions by county attorney Jeff Hayes.
The tax recovery company from Jasper told commissioners in January the company could find the county some extra money by reviewing records to see if the clients have overpaid any taxes. The company charges 35 percent of the amount recovered for their services.
BRIDGE DECK
Two companies bid to replace the deck on bridge 98 spanning Prairie Creek at CR 800N. Commissioners accepted the low bid of $32,499 from CLR, Inc., pending approval by the County Council.
ASBESTOS
Commissioners received one quote to remove 60 feet of asbestos around ductwork in three houses the county has purchased near the courthouse. Toltest quoted $11,000 to remove the asbestos, a bid commissioners felt was far too high. They appointed Commissioner President Steve Myers to negotiate the price and tabled any further action.
