The Daviess County Commissioners have several items on the agenda for Tuesday’s meeting. Highway Department Superintendent Chris Winkler reported that beams were being set on the Montgomery bridge, with plans to start pouring concrete in August. Winkler also reported that CR 200 will be closed beginning July 17 as coal mining moves across the road. In other highway department business, the Commissioners received bids for an asphalt distributor truck. The bids were taken under advisement until the next meeting.
Next on the agenda, West Boggs Park Superintendent Nathan Rihm discussed water running into the lake, causing phosphorous levels to reach extremely high levels. Rihm told the Commissioners that surrounding property owners could help by being careful with the use of fertilizers near the lake, planting grass in ditches, and moving livestock farther back from the lake. Rihm said the Park is taking other mitigating measures, but they are very expensive and outside the park’s budget. The Park is looking for grants to help offset the expense of the measures.
In other business, the Commissioners received Natalie Smith’s resignation from the WestGate board and named Darren Holder to the open seat. The Commissioners also re-appointed Deron Steiner and Tony Showalter to the Daviess Community Hospital Board.
The Commissioners also received an update on the planning process for the Courthouse renovation. Preliminary plans have the offices of the County Clerk, Probation, and Prosecutor housed in the basement of the Government Center in an open situation. Preliminary plans also have the courts meeting in the Commissioner’s office and, perhaps, the education room at the Security Center. There are still some questions about how early voting for the 2024 primary and general elections will function.
At the beginning of the meeting, Rob McLin of Good Samaritan Hospital told the Commissioners that the services of the Samaritan Center on State Street in Washington would be expanding and that the Center would become Behaviorsl Health Services. McLin also introduced Brock Lough, who will head the Washington center.
