Local News
Commissioners prepare for I-69 impact
The Daviess County Commissioners held a portion of their Monday meeting at the Daviess County Highway Department Garage where they discussed plans for the Interstate 69 project.
“They’re building overpasses ahead of actually building the interstate,” said Phil Cornelius, county foreman.
The commissioners along with Cornelius and County Highway Superintendent Larry McLin discussed routes for contractors working on the interstate. County roads 700E, between 1650N and 1700N, and 1200N, between 575E and 500E, were decided upon for the overpass bridges for which the bids will be out on Wednesday. The speed on those bridges was set at 30 miles per hour by the commissioners. Other overpass bridges speeds are still in negotiation. Select, highly-trafficked roads with overpasses will be set for 55 mph.
Speed limit for local, gravel access roads was set at 30 miles per hour.
On industrial roads, commissioners set the specs at a minimum theoretical equivalent 4, which will aide in lengthening the life of the road.
Also mentioned was the possibility of future work on a county bridge.
“We’re looking to do hydrology work for construction on bridge No. 315 to determine the proper size structure,” Cornelius said.
The bridge is located on CR 600S, between 850E and 900E.
In other business
Trending Contract
County Assessor Dennis Eaton requested the commissioners sign the trending contract.
“Every year we compare the sales to the assessed value and see whether we trend up or down each year,” he said. “If we don’t do the trending, we don’t get any money.”
The commissioners signed the contract.
Project Lifesaver
Diane Beasley requested the commissioners consider a program called Project Lifesaver. The program is designed for at-risk individuals suffering with diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Down’s Syndrome and autism.
Individuals in need of assistance purchase a bracelet worn around the wrist that emits a tracking signal. In the event of a person becoming confused and wandering around, the sheriff’s department has a transmitter that can located the individual.
Monroe County has Project Lifesaver in place.
The commissioners requested Beasley find out the exact costs and report it to Commissioner Tony Wichman.
Property and Casualty Insurance
One of the county insurance providers, Paul Williams, reported to the commissioners that they’d be saving money with the alliance program.
“We’re starting out at, at least $5,800 less than we did last year,” Williams said.
With Workman’s Compensation, Williams said there is “an increase in pay roll by 1.5 percent, yet our premium is going down.”
Highway
Department
Quotes were opened from Herb Equipment, Evansville, and Macallister Machinery on a second-hand motor grade, and the commissioners recommended accepting the quote from Macallister, which was the lowest.
The issue of road bonding was brought up by McLin as something for the commissioners to think about.
A letter will be sent to Congressman Brad Ellsworth and Senator Richard Lugar requesting Cannelburg Road be included in their special projects.
Edwardsport Road
Sheriff Steve Cox was seeking clarification from the commissioners for the treatment of Edwardsport Road, which has a 10-ton limit year-round. Cox said many trucks over the limit are driving that road, and the road is tearing up. Last week there were several tickets issued on that road and one arrest made there.
McLin said several of the trucks are from Perdue Farms, and there was a truck route created especially for them in the past.
“We can’t afford to lose 10 miles of blacktop especially when we’ve built them a truck route,” McLin said.
Cox was advised to continue ticketing those exceeding the weight limit.
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