The Daviess County Commissioners met in their regular session Tuesday morning. Commissioner Michael Taylor presided in the absence of Commissioner Nathan Gabhart.
The County Highway Superintendent told the Commissioners that he had been in discussions with INDOT regarding road bonds and rebuilding County Road 700 E and several other roads left unfinished by defunct mining enterprises in the county. Winkler said the state understands the county’s problem and is working on a cost estimate to rebuild the roads.
Winkler also reported a tentative agreement for the state to cede ownership of Old US 50 from the west city limits of Washington to the West Fork of the White River, approximately 2.67 miles of roadway. The state will give Daviess County $2.5 million to do needed repairs on the roadway, bridges, and culverts. The commissioners approved the agreement pending some corrections to outdated text in the agreement.
In other Highway Department business, the Commissioners approved Winkler’s suggestion to raise the department’s steel-toed boot allowance from $100 biannually to $140 per year. Winkler noted the safety boot allowance had not been raised since 1998. Winkler also reported that INDOT has notified the county that it will close Troy Road just south of the U.S. 50 bypass to replace a culvert. The dates of the closure have not been announced.
The Commissioners also heard a report from Paul Williams on the county’s workman’s compensation, property, and liability insurance policies. Williams told the commissioners that poor experience over the past year has led to increases in premiums. The Commissioners agreed with Williams’ suggestions to renew the current insurance carriers, with the exception of carving the insurance on property out of the package and seeking a separate carrier.
The Commissioners also agreed to an inter-local agreement to pave the 4H parking lot and approved a surveillance and security policy.
