The Washington Times-Herald

Homepage

Discussion

September 6, 2012

Residents want to close Martin County road

By Courtney Hughett Washington Times-Herald

SHOALS — Ron Wyman appeared before the Martin County Commissioners Tuesday with a petition signed by himself, his wife, and fellow property owner Phillip Baker, to close the south end of Baker Road permanently.

Wyman and his wife had been at a previous meeting asking to close the road due to vandalism and theft that was becoming a regular occurrence on their property. The Wymans and Baker are the only property owners on that section of roadway.

County Attorney Dave Lett explained that all contiguous property owners have to be notified of the intent to close the road to which Mary Wyman replied that they and Baker were the only property owners. Commissioner Paul George asked if proof was needed to show that they were indeed the only property owners. Lett said no and told the commissioners that a public hearing was not required and that they just needed to review the matter.

“You need to satisfy yourselves that it’s appropriate to close it and it won’t affect county business or commerce in any way, then you can act on it,” he said.

The commissioners decided to vote on the matter at their next meeting on Sept.18.

James Carter of Perry County, that county’s humane society president, approached commissioners about sending a letter to the state to get the county’s share of the state’s surplus money of almost $2 billion. Carter said that serving as humane society president in his county he attends all of the county council and commissioners’ meetings.

When asking for funding, he is always told by his local government that there is none available.

“I had to figure out a way to get funds,” he said adding that he has been fighting for an animal control officer in his county for six years.

After doing some research, Carter said he learned through various sources that the state plans to spend the surplus to build a highway that connects Indiana to Illinois and goes through Lake and Porter counties. He said this is unconfirmed.

Carter said he didn’t think this was right so he decided to approach all 92 Indiana counties with his idea to try and get the $2 billion split evenly among them all — $2 million over six years for infrastructure only. He said he is only going after the $2 million each because he felt it was a “common sense amount” and was “doable” at only 10 percent of the surplus.

“We made the state look good on the back of the counties, it’s time for the state to pay back the counties,” he said.

He encouraged the commissioners to fight to get money for the southern Indiana counties.

George told Carter to get them the letter he drafted and they would have a look at it.

Highway Superintendent Jim Williams and the commissioners opened bids to replace the bridge on Deep Cut Lake Road. The bids were from E&H Bridge and Grading and CLR Incorporated. Both bids were with the understanding that the county would do the approach work.

The commissioners decided to take the bids under advisement. Commissioner Dan Gregory gave an update on the status of the insurance claim associated with the bridge. He said the engineer with the insurance company took a look at the bridge and said it would be two to three weeks before the settlement amount was decided.

Williams reported the department’s new tractor, recently purchased from Wright Stemle, should be delivered soon as they are waiting on weights to come in to be installed.

Auditor Nancy Steiner presented the commissioners with the one quote received to replace the courthouse front doors and install panic bars. She said that others requested were never received.

Gregory asked if anyone knew about a request from Judge Lynne Ellis about replacing four doors downstairs. Steiner replied that she was told it was to replace two doors coming from the restrooms downstairs into the court offices and the door in the back of the courthouse leading downstairs.

Steiner said Ellis also mentioned the doors leading from the back of the courtroom to the offices. Steiner said Ellis wanted these doors to be locked at all times so  there was no public access to the court offices.

Gregory said he felt that the front doors shouldn’t be replaced until after the budget hearings next week with the county council. The decision on the downstairs doors was tabled.

Steiner noted that the custodian came by the courthouse the other night and all the lights were on and the doors were unlocked again. Gregory asked Steiner to put a note on the doors as a reminder for the last person to leave to lock them.

The commissioners voted to lift the burn ban, effective 8 a.m. Wednesday.

Text Only
Local News
Obituaries
Local Sports
The "Z" Watch
Must Read
Entertainment
State News
Featured Ads
Facebook
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
Poll

Do you have a Summer weather prediction?

Hot drought (like 2012
Wet
Seasonal and pleasant
     View Results
AP Video
Probe Begins After Conn. Commuter Trains Crash NTSB Begins Investigation Into Conn. Train Crash Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools $1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel? Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction Officials: Texas Tornado Likely Had 200 Mph Wind Brothers Arrested in NOLA Parade Shooting
Clicker Ticker
Hyperlocal Search
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide